2020 ACEC Nebraska Merit Awards

To celebrate E-Week 2020, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Nebraska Awards announced the winners of the Merit Awards. IP Design Group was presented two awards for their corporate headquarters building’s acoustic systems and the Live NoDo mixed-use building’s technology integration!

Several innovative techniques were used throughout the headquarters space in order to solve acoustical concerns without detracting from the overall aesthetic. The first, hidden in plain sight and seen by every visitor, is the custom wood wall panels featured in the entryway. The wood has micro-perforations that allow sound to travel through to the insulation located behind. In this way, the feature adds warmth to the atrium while reducing sound reflection.

It was important to the owner that visitors in the lobby could see into the telecommunications and mechanical rooms; however, due to their location behind the reception desk, it was important to both visitors and the receptionist that noise be properly managed. For this reason, the acoustical team provided recommendations for equipment room walls and windows, resulting in a custom installation to reduce sound transmission and provide a clear view to the telecommunications and mechanical equipment.

The training room features a state-of-the-art audiovisual system for meetings with people from all over the world. Therefore, proper acoustical design was essential so that the microphone system can effectively pick up the voice of the speaker, as well as audience members, without introducing distracting background noise. Through an acoustical analysis represented in the additional graphic, the team discovered that much of the sound that hit the back wall, bounced back into the room. To help alleviate this, the two projection screens are acoustically transparent, so when the sound bounces back off the wall, it goes through the screens to be absorbed by hidden acoustical insulation.

To learn more about IP Design Group’s acoustic’s team and services, check out our recent “Ask IP Design Group” article, “What is an Acoustical Consultant?”

For the full list of 2020 ACEC Nebraska Merit Award winners, check out the Omaha World Herald article!

Interior and exterior views of 1201 Cass' Wired Certified spaceExterior view of the MCL Construction corporate headquarters.