Meet Our Panel of Acoustic Experts
The Listen to Design panel event included a diverse group of acoustic experts discussing the industry temperature of integrating acoustic design elements into environments. Topics evolved from basic outcomes and purposes of a designed acoustic setting, to how these concepts can be presented to potential building owners.
Learn more about each panelist below and tap the button to hear insights from the session.
Ethan Bourdeau,
Associate, Standard Development, Sound Concept Lead, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
“There’s always room for more research related to the way that better acoustic design can impact people in various spaces.”
Ethan serves the Standard Development team at IWBI as the subject matter expert in acoustics. He has experience as an acoustical consultant specializing in listening rooms, performing arts venues, sound-masking system design and commercial/residential design. While earning his B.S.E. in Acoustical Engineering and Music, Ethan conducted and published research proving the significant difference in air and noise quality above and below The High Line park in New York City.
Ryan Biziorek,
Associate, Acoustics, Audio Visual, Theatre Consulting Leader, Arup
“Acoustics is influencing the behavior or the practices or the goals of any environment that we’re designing—and we need to address that from the get-go.”
Ryan is a technical expert and project manager for various building types, including arts, civic, educational, commercial and infrastructure. His skills include building service noise and vibration control, room acoustic modeling and calculations, and public address and audiovisual systems design. He is also involved in the operation and development of the Arup SoundLab, a virtual reality room where clients can experience the acoustics of existing and modeled buildings.
John LoVerde,
FASA, Principal, Director of Architectural Acoustics, Veneklasen Associates
“Good acoustics marries the need of the interaction between the human and the space with what the space wants to be.”
John has been acoustical consultant for the design of housing developments, condominiums and single-family residences, as well as educational buildings, performance venues, hotels and resorts, office campuses and hospitals. He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and has published over 100 technical papers. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University and master’s degree in Acoustics from the University of California.
Michelle Osburn,
NCIDQ, LEED ID+C Senior Associate, Workplace Strategy Senior Consultant
“We have made a move from designing by function, to designing by etiquette.”
As Chicago practice lead for Workplace Strategy and interior designer, Michelle has a unique set of skills concerning business workflows and space planning. In her career at Accenture, she was responsible for designing and implementing business process and technology changes that transformed companies. As Workplace Strategy consultant, Michelle collaborates with clients to understand how they work and translates their needs into productive and efficient space strategies.
Claire Walsh,
Creative + Trend Consultant
“Silence and the idea of quiet has become quite luxurious.”
Claire is a trend forecaster and color specialist. She led CMF, retail, design and branding advisory projects for Stylus in New York City and served as Stylus’ editor of events and senior editor of product design in London. She has consulted for Elle Decoration, Reebok, LG, Samsung and Levi’s. Claire’s experience spans styling clients in Australia and work in several U.K. publications. She is the author of three design books, and regularly contributes to design titles.