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Michael Jarzabkowski and Associates

General Acoustic Consulting

Nearly all of our acoustics projects involve noise and vibration control with many facilities requiring ambient noise levels below Noise Criteria (NC-15). Some projects by nature require less stringent acoustics and noise and vibration control. Such projects are typically residential, commercial, and educational facilities. These projects could include offices, conference rooms, classrooms, gymnasiums, multi-family units, dining halls, restaurants, courtrooms, jury rooms, and other spaces were ambient noise levels and privacy are important.

South Norwalk Lofts, Norwalk, Connecticut

A high-level multi-family residential project with 34 units that required good sound isolation between each dwelling space. We made sure that all the walls and floor-ceiling assemblies met the sound isolation recommendations for a high quality multi-family residential project. We worked with Bienfield Wagner Architects, and Spinnaker Development (the owners) to ensure that the STC and IIC ratings were well above building code requirements but still within a reasonable construction budget.

Ballet School of Stamford/Zanghi's Restaurant, Stamford, Connecticut

A commercial building on Summer Street, managed by Pyramid Real Estate Group. The second floor was occupied by The Ballet School of Stamford which had three large dance studios. Below them was the intimate dining space of Zanghi's Restaurant while the floor-ceiling assembly between them was a timber joist system with wooden planks and a sheetrock ceiling below. The impact noise from the ballet dancers above reached 97dB in the restaurant below. We designed a lightweight floating floor and a spring-hung ceiling system that would decrease the noise level by 40dB.

Yoahan Mall Restaurants

The restaurants at the Mall had for a long time been using 4 foot axial fans for exhaust from their kitchens on the third floor level. This was not a noise problem until a high-rise condominium complex was build on the adjacent property. The residents complained and Yoahan received a summons from the City Council. We were engaged to investigate the extent of the problem and gave the clients a solution within their budget considerations that minimized the problem of downtime due to renovation logistics.

Shah's Motel

A common situation with the noise generated by the kitchen exhaust fans annoying the motel guests. We did tests and provided drawings and specifications for relocation of the fans and redesign of the ductwork with specialist duct sound attenuators which were required to solve the problem.

Wisma KLIH

Wisma KLIH in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur added three additional floors to their 24 storey building. The mechanical services were not vibration isolated correctly and as a result the structure was exposed to vibration and noise which was very noticeable throughout the top three floors.

Our solution was a full investigation and redesign of the mounting systems for the chiller towers, pumps, chilled water piping, and related mechanical services.

LTG Development Inc.

We were contracted by LTG Development as their noise and vibration consultant in a litigation case with the DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Council). Their construction project involved excavation and earthworks for a new 25 storey building in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur. They had been fined for noise annoyance and required independent noise surveys, reports, representation, and recommendations so they could continue work and prove compliance with the code.

Due to the poorly written noise annoyance code in force at that time (technical specifications - noise section) we were able to prove that they had not violated the regulations and they were allowed to continue with the works without costly modifications. Due to our presentation, the Kuala Lumpur City Noise Code was updated about a year later and a technical loophole was closed.

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