HOME > WHO WE SERVE > ArchitectS
Acoustic Design Support for Architects
Acoustics designed in, not retrofitted on, from schematic design through construction management and field validation.
The Acoustic Problem Nobody Owns Until It's a Change Order.
Acoustic failures rarely show up at the ribbon-cutting. They surface about six months after occupancy, and by then the change-order budget is gone and the fix costs roughly ten times what it would have at schematic design.
It also reflects on you. Acoustics is one of the few systems a client judges with their own ears on day one, and the one no single trade owns, so it slips through the gap between architecture, mechanical, and interiors.
Memtech Acoustics closes that gap. We model the room, engineer the assemblies to real STC and IIC targets, and write Division 09 language that survives value engineering.
Then we come back and field-test the result, so your design intent is proven with data, not assurances.
You keep the client relationship and the design credit. We make sure the acoustics protect both.
It also reflects on you. Acoustics is one of the few systems a client judges with their own ears on day one, and the one no single trade owns, so it slips through the gap between architecture, mechanical, and interiors.
Memtech Acoustics closes that gap. We model the room, engineer the assemblies to real STC and IIC targets, and write Division 09 language that survives value engineering.
Then we come back and field-test the result, so your design intent is proven with data, not assurances.
You keep the client relationship and the design credit. We make sure the acoustics protect both.
Common Challenges We Solve.
Open plans that pass on paper but fail on speech privacy once occupied.
Rated demising walls that never hit their STC because of flanking paths.
Reverberant lobbies and dining rooms that undercut a Class A impression.
Mechanical and structure-borne noise that isolation was never coordinated to stop.
Acoustic scope value-engineered out, returning as a punch-list callback.
LEED and WELL acoustic credits pursued too late to document.
How Sound Behaves in the Spaces You Design
For Architects
Assemblies Engineered to Real STC and IIC Targets
A wall is only as good as its weakest path, and the weakest path is usually not the wall. Partitions that die at the ceiling grid, shared plenums, unsealed penetrations, and door and glazing details can give back 10 to 15 of the STC points the assembly was drawn to deliver.
So we engineer the whole separation: the barrier above the ceiling, the plenum and deck flanking paths, and the door, glass, and mechanical interfaces. The rating you specify becomes the rating the built wall delivers.
Floor-to-floor gets the same discipline. Footfall and mechanical vibration travel through structure, so IIC and the isolation details are designed together, not after a complaint.
You get assemblies specified to real field performance, with the details that make a lab rating survive the site.
So we engineer the whole separation: the barrier above the ceiling, the plenum and deck flanking paths, and the door, glass, and mechanical interfaces. The rating you specify becomes the rating the built wall delivers.
Floor-to-floor gets the same discipline. Footfall and mechanical vibration travel through structure, so IIC and the isolation details are designed together, not after a complaint.
You get assemblies specified to real field performance, with the details that make a lab rating survive the site.
For Architects
Acoustics at SD
The cheapest time to solve an acoustic problem is before it reaches the drawings. We join at SD or DD, model reverberation and isolation against the program, and flag where geometry, volume, or finishes will fight the intended use.
Mechanical noise gets decided here too. We coordinate with your MEP and structural engineers to place isolation, duct treatment, and equipment before they lock, instead of chasing a rooftop-unit complaint on the top floor later.
The payoff is hitting RT60 and speech targets with the finish palette you want, not the one a remediation crew forces on you after occupancy.
Design-assist plugs into your process on your timeline, so acoustics moves with the set instead of holding it up.
Mechanical noise gets decided here too. We coordinate with your MEP and structural engineers to place isolation, duct treatment, and equipment before they lock, instead of chasing a rooftop-unit complaint on the top floor later.
The payoff is hitting RT60 and speech targets with the finish palette you want, not the one a remediation crew forces on you after occupancy.
Design-assist plugs into your process on your timeline, so acoustics moves with the set instead of holding it up.
For Architects
Our Approach & Capabilities
Every project has its own program, budget, and finish standard. We start from the design intent and the targets it implies, engineer to those numbers, and verify them in the field.
Our capabilities include:
- Room acoustic modeling and reverberation time optimization
- Sound isolation analysis and partition design (STC/IIC improvement)
- Speech privacy and sound masking system design
- Vibration control for mechanical and structural systems
- Material selection that meets both performance targets and finish standards
- Installation coordination and post-completion verification testing
For Architects
Project Types We Support
We support architects and design teams across the building types where acoustics decides whether the space works:
- Corporate offices, headquarters, and open-plan workplaces
- Courthouses, civic, and government buildings
- Laboratories, cleanrooms, and advanced-manufacturing facilities
- Libraries, museums, and cultural spaces
- Houses of worship and performance venues
- Restaurants, hotels, and hospitality
- Fitness, wellness, and recreation
- Mixed-use developments and residential over retail
- Conference centers and boardrooms
For Architects
Specifications That Survive Value Engineering
Acoustic value engineering is rarely a real saving. It is a transfer of risk to closeout, where retainage is held and the owner relationship is decided.
So we write Division 09 language precise enough that a substitution has to prove equivalent performance, not just a lower price.
When a VE proposal or substitution request crosses your desk, we review it against the acoustic targets and tell you plainly whether it holds or hands you a punch-list problem in twelve months.
The spec becomes a document you can defend, not a starting point for erosion.
So we write Division 09 language precise enough that a substitution has to prove equivalent performance, not just a lower price.
When a VE proposal or substitution request crosses your desk, we review it against the acoustic targets and tell you plainly whether it holds or hands you a punch-list problem in twelve months.
The spec becomes a document you can defend, not a starting point for erosion.
For Architects
Acoustics That Disappear Into the Design
Acoustic treatment has to look like it belongs. A client walking the finished space should read it as designed, not retrofitted.
We offer architecturally integrated treatments (panels, clouds, baffles, draperies, and barriers) in textures, colors, and shapes that work with your finish package. Many can be specified to disappear into the design while measurably changing how the space performs.
When it helps, we use acoustic modeling and before/after playback so a client can hear the difference before capital is committed, and compare options at different price points.
The result is quiet that serves the design, not treatment bolted on after the fact.
We offer architecturally integrated treatments (panels, clouds, baffles, draperies, and barriers) in textures, colors, and shapes that work with your finish package. Many can be specified to disappear into the design while measurably changing how the space performs.
When it helps, we use acoustic modeling and before/after playback so a client can hear the difference before capital is committed, and compare options at different price points.
The result is quiet that serves the design, not treatment bolted on after the fact.
For Architects
Integrated Design & Install Solutions We Deliver
Fully integrated solutions that deliver measurable acoustic performance.
Featured Case Study
Auditorium Proscenium Redesign
A school district wanted to update its auditorium's stage proscenium for a cleaner look. Memtech Acoustics measured first, proved the existing curved reflector was doing real acoustic work, and redesigned it to preserve sound projection to every seat.
Highlights:
- RT60 and C50 measured on site with Class 1 instrumentation.
- An acoustic model confirmed which proscenium geometry was load-bearing.
- A redesigned reflector and diffuser delivered as 2D CAD drawings and a report.
- Updated aesthetic, with sound projection to every seat preserved.
Trusted By
Architects and design teams bring Memtech in early to protect acoustic performance from schematic design through closeout.
Past performance spans healthcare, education, worship, hospitality, and commercial projects across Michigan and the Midwest.
AIA Michigan and CAM member · 25+ years · 2,000+ projects delivered
AIA Michigan and CAM member · 25+ years · 2,000+ projects delivered
Why Memtech Acoustics?
- Precision Over Guesswork
We begin with by acquiring comprehensive data at your location. Our designs are not based on assumptions. - Full-Service, No Shortcuts
We’re Michigan’s only full-service firm. We design it, source it, and install it. - Certified Experts, Not Salespeople
Your project is led by engineers and trained acoustical analysts. We speak the language of results and compliance. - Consultative, Not Cookie-Cutter
No two environments are the same. We tailor every solution around your space, constraints, and business goals. - Quiet With Great Aesthetics
From conference rooms to corporate headquarters, our solutions are as aesthetically refined as they are acoustically effective.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When in the design process should I bring in an acoustic partner?
As early as schematic design. Acoustic problems caught at SD cost roughly one-tenth of the same problem corrected after occupancy, and early involvement lets us hit targets with your intended finish palette instead of a retrofit. Memtech Acoustics provides design-assist support from schematic design through field validation.
Can you write acoustic specifications we can drop into our Division 09 set?
Yes. Memtech Acoustics authors Division 09 acoustic specification language precise enough that a substitution must demonstrate equivalent performance, not just a lower price. We also review value-engineering proposals and substitution requests against your acoustic targets before they become a closeout problem.
How do you make sure the built assembly actually hits the STC we specified?
Through construction management. Memtech Acoustics stays on the project during construction, reviewing submittals and coordinating the trades so the rated assembly gets built the way it was drawn, then field-testing it after installation. Most STC shortfalls come from flanking paths above the ceiling and unsealed penetrations, which we catch during construction rather than at a failed final test.
How do you coordinate with our MEP and structural engineers?
We coordinate directly with your MEP and structural engineers from schematic design forward. Mechanical noise, duct-borne sound, and structure-borne vibration all get decided in those trades, so Memtech Acoustics reviews equipment selections, isolation details, and penetration layouts before they lock. Early coordination keeps acoustics out of the RFI pile.
How do you set the RT60 and STC targets for a given space?
We set targets from how the room is used, not a generic table. A classroom follows ANSI/ASA S12.60, which holds reverberation to 0.6 to 0.7 seconds; a private medical office holds a different RT60 and a higher wall STC for speech privacy. Memtech Acoustics matches each space to its governing standard or the measured benchmark for its type, then designs to that number.
What is the difference between sound masking and sound isolation, and when does each apply?
They solve different problems. Sound isolation blocks sound from moving between spaces and is governed by the STC of the walls, floors, and doors. Sound masking adds a low, engineered background sound that covers speech so conversations stop carrying, which is how Memtech Acoustics addresses open offices and speech privacy. Isolation is construction; masking is a tuned electronic system. We specify whichever the space needs, and often both.
Do you help document LEED and WELL acoustic credits?
Yes. Memtech Acoustics provides the modeling, design criteria, and post-construction testing that LEED v4/v4.1 EQ Acoustic Performance and the WELL Sound concept require, documented for your reviewer. Bringing the acoustic scope in early is what makes the credit achievable.
Can you work from our Revit or BIM model, or do you need separate drawings?
Yes, we work from your BIM model or your drawings, whichever you use. Memtech Acoustics builds the acoustic analysis and 3D reverberation modeling off your plans, then returns RT60 and STC targets, material specifications, and assembly details formatted to drop straight into your set.
How is an acoustic engagement priced, and roughly what does it cost?
We price by scope and phase, not by the hour, so you have the number before work starts. A single-room measurement and RT60 assessment typically runs $1,500 to $2,200; a design-assist engagement through SD and DD is a defined fee tied to specific outputs like modeling, drawings, and validation. Memtech Acoustics prices this way because catching an issue at schematic design costs about one-tenth of fixing it after occupancy.
What do you need from us to get started?
Send the floor plans, the program with intended use per space, and your finish intent. That gives Memtech Acoustics enough to identify the spaces at risk and set RT60 and STC targets. Reflected ceiling plans and mechanical drawings sharpen the analysis, and for an existing building we add a site visit. Most engagements start within a week of receiving a usable drawing set.
Let’s Engineer the Right Solution, Together.
Let's Get Started. Contact Us.
Talk to our experts. We’ll assess your needs and recommend a solution that works for your project.
