NEWSLETTER 2014 OBERT RADFORD EWMAN RS T U D EB N T A W A R DN F U N D

2014 AT A GLANCE Yiying Hao Adam Lawrence Paul Faculty Advisor: Jian Kang Faculty Advisor: Bob Celmer December 31, 2014 completed another University of Sheffield University of Hartford successful year for the Newman Fund. “Effects of urban morphology on urban “Acoustic evaluation of Austen Arts Center, Newman Medals were awarded to 19 stu- environment from the perspective of Trinity College for Smith Edwards McCoy dents, bringing the total to 290 at more masking effects” Architects” than 58 schools of architecture, - ing, and music technology since the Robert Healey Zhao Ellen Peng program began in 1985. Of particular note Faculty Advisor: Bob Coffeen Faculty Advisor: Lily Wang is the increased participation from schools University of Kansas University of Nebraska – Lincoln and programs outside North America. “Investigations into the sound absorbing “How room impacts com- properties of gypsum wall board” prehension from talkers and by listeners Five student teams received Wenger priz- with varying English proficiency levels” es in 2014 for their meritorious design Christina Higgins work juried and displayed at the ASA Faculty Advisor: Stephen Dance Ariana F. Sharma Student Design Competition held at the London South Bank University Faculty Advisor: David T. Bradley 167th meeting of the Acoustical Society “An investigation into the Helmholz Vassar College in Providence, RI. There were sixteen total resonators of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, “Effect of installed diffusers on sound field entries submitted to the SDC from a num- London” diffusivity in a real-world classroom” ber of different universities. Li Hui Jonathan Sheaffer The 2012 Schultz Grant project was com- Faculty Advisor: Yan Xiang Faculty Advisor: Bruno Fazenda pleted by Michael Ermann and joins the list Tsinghau University University of Salford of teaching tools sponsored by the Newman “The research on human response of stay- “From source to brain: “Modeling sound Fund. ing in extreme silent environments for propagation and localization in rooms” eight hours” The Advisory Committee extends its appre- Fiona M. Smyth ciation to students, teachers, consultants, Acadia Anne Kocher Faculty Advisor: Hugh Campbell professional supporters and friends of the Faculty Advisor: Michelle Vigeant University College Dublin Fund whose extraordinary voluntary efforts Pennsylvania State University “From concept to application: Analytical make the work of the Fund possible and “Investigation of subjective components frameworks in thoroughly enjoyable. Corporate sponsors of overall acoustic quality using binaural in a contextual study of three Anglican with interest in the realm of architectural recordings made in Hartford’s Belding Cathedrals” acoustics have been especially supportive Theater” Yun Jae Sohn recently. We would also like to make spe- Zachary Nasipak Faculty Advisor: Umberto Berardi cial note of appreciation to the staff at the Faculty Advisor: Kimberly Riegel/David T. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Acoustical Society offices in Melville, NY Bradley “Acoustic corrections of classrooms at the who help the Fund’s operation run so seam- Vassar College Worcester Polytechnic Institute, from intel- lessly. “Numerical prediction of sound scattering ligibility to learning improvements” Lily Wang from surfaces with fractal geometry” Ashwin Thomas Carl Rosenberg Ian Patrick Faculty Advisor: Erica Ryherd Faculty Advisor: Bob Coffeen Georgia Institute of Technology Co-Chairs of the Newman Fund Advisory University of Kansas “Simulated and laboratory models of air- Committee “Investigations into the sound absorbing craft sound transmission in residences” properties of gypsum wall board” Christopher Michael Vincent 2014 NEWMAN MEDALS Faculty Advisor: Bob Celmer In 2014, 19 students were awarded University of Hartford Newman Medals. “Acoustic evaluation of Austen Arts Center, Trinity College for Smith Edwards McCoy Jay Bliefnick Architects” Faculty Advisor: Lauren Ronsse Columbia College Chicago Chiemi Wakabayashi “The development and analysis of a large Faculty Advisor: Yashushi Shimizu variable acoustics space” Tokyo Institute of Technology “Wooden box for brass (Student Design Dane Bush Competition)” Faculty Advisor: Ning Xiang Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute Leo Weber “Room-acoustics investigations of beam- Faculty Advisor: Stephen Dance forming performance using coprime linear London South Bank University microphone arrays” “Investigation into the application of an 2014 Newman Medalist Ian Patrick for sound attenua- (University of Kansas) with faculty advisor tion with airflow” Bob Coffeen VIEW PAST NEWSLETTERS AND DOWNLOAD FORMS - VISIT THE NEWMAN FUND WEBSITE AT: www.newmanfund.org SPOTLIGHT ON FUND University’s May commencement ceremo- COMMENDATIONS ny. It has always been a wonderful surprise (Four $700 Wenger Prizes) ADVISOR BOB CELMER for the students/parents for the recipients to be recognized at such an auspicious Per Hultcrantz, Rasmus Gabrielli, occasion. Agnes Nerelius Chalmers Institute of Technology Bob has been an active contributor to the Göteborg, Sweden ASA, serving on the Education Committee since 1984. He was the first to form a Simon Larsson, Martin Nygren, UHartford student chapter of the GBC/ May Hanna ASA in 2003, followed by formal student Chalmers Institute of Technology chapter status and committee membership Göteborg, Sweden with ASA national in 2007. A hallmark Jens Ljunggren, David Svahn, activity of the club has been their annual Monica Loria “Don’t Go Deaf Day,” in which students Chalmers Institute of Technology provide free hearing screenings, ear plugs, Göteborg, Sweden and use the Acoustic Lab’s Binaural Head to check sound levels of student’s personal Chiemi Wakabayashi, Arata Onoshima, Bob Celmer earned his Bachelor of headsets. Bob has been honored to serve on Mina Nakagawa Science in Mechanical with the Newman Fund Advisory Committee Tokyo Institute of Technology an Acoustics Concentration in 1978 from since 2009. Tokyo, Japan the University of Hartford. He went on to Penn State where he earned his Masters At the Indianapolis ASA meeting, Bob and Doctorate in Acoustics in 1980 and Celmer was elected a Fellow of the 2015 STUDENT DESIGN 1982, respectively, while studying psycho- Acoustical Society “for contributions to COMPETITION AT ASA IN acoustics under Dr. Gordon Bienvenue. undergraduate education in acoustics.” PITTSBURGH, PA Bob programmed a mainframe DEC PDP- As an avocation, Bob plays the piano 10 interfaced with an analog computer to and hosts a weekly jazz radio program on The 169th ASA meeting in Pittsburgh, PA simulate critical bandwidth widening in WWUH-FM. (May 18 – 22, 2015) hosted the annual sensorineural hearing loss. Student Design Competition. The compe- In 1982, he rejoined the University of 2014 STUDENT DESIGN tition involves the design of a performance Hartford as an Assistant Professor of venue addition to a casino and hotel facility at the urging of COMPETITION in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and undergraduate acoustic education pioneer is described in greater detail in the program Conrad J. Hemond, Jr. Mr. Hemond men- The 2014 Student Design Competition was for the meeting, and on the Newman Fund tored Bob, involving him in many of the judged in May at the 167th ASA meeting website (newmanfund.org). active acoustic consulting projects that he in Providence, RI. A distinguished panel of acoustical consultants, architects, and edu- Through the continuing generosity of the regularly undertook in the Hartford area. Wenger Foundation, there were again one Upon Conrad’s retirement, Bob was named cators evaluated each of the 16 submitted entries from several universities. First Honors Wenger Prize of $1250, and Director of the Acoustics Program and four Commendation Wenger Prizes of Laboratory in 1985. Along the way, Bob Participation in the competition requires $700 each, awarded to outstanding student became a registered professional engineer an enormous effort, and each of the entries design team posters, selected by a jury of in 1986. He was promoted to the rank demonstrated an extraordinarily high qual- distinguished professionals. of Full Professor in 1994, and received ity of student work and understanding of the University’s Roy. E. Larsen Award for acoustic design. All of the participants are Please contact Norm Philipp at Pittsburg Excellence in Teaching in 1995. “Dr. Bob” congratulated on a job well done. State University ([email protected]) (as he is known around school) has also for further information and details of the been voted ‘Professor of the Year’ by stu- Student Design Competition program. dents within his college 9 times. FIRST HONORS Bob’s role as Program Director has ($1250 Wenger Prize) 2014 ROBERT BRADFORD given him the opportunity to grow and Lucas Johnson, Wesley Axtell, Rachael NEWMAN STUDENT strengthen the University’s two acous- Kline tic engineering programs: a BSME with University of Hartford AWARD FUND CONCERT Acoustics Concentration and a unique Hartford, Connecticut, USA BSE Acoustical Engineering & Music pro- The annual 2014 Newman Award Fund gram, done in cooperation with The Hartt concert took place in June for the sec- School Music Conservatory on campus. ond year at the home of Parker Hirtle in Bob spearheaded the effort to successfully Lexington, Massachusetts. achieve ABET accreditation status for the The topic was “Music Therapy: The interdisciplinary BSE program in 2010 on Healing Power of Music.” Emily their first attempt. (The BSME/Acoustics Bevelaqua, co-director of Connecticut program has been accredited since the Music Therapy Services, led the group in 1960’s). Given his student’s diverse back- song as she performed and discussed her grounds, Bob has drawn on his extensive experiences working with a wide range consulting experience to coordinate var- of client populations, including children ied sponsored senior projects in the areas and adults with varying disabilities and of audio, musical instruments, hearing/ ailments. Prior to the presentation, guitar- psychoacoustic studies, in ist Lyle Brewer performed jazz during the hospitals, classrooms, jet engines, and space 2014 Student Design Competition “First reception. station components, as well as architectural Honors” honorees Lucas Johnson, Rachael acoustic design. For the latter, Bob has Kline, and Wesley Axtell (University of During the evening, guests enjoyed the nominated several students for recognition Hartford) architecture of Parker’s home (which he with Newman Medals. It is his tradition to designed along with most of its furnish- keep the news about the Newman award ings), as well as the still expanding collec- a secret, waiting to announce it at the tion of his wood sculptures and wonderful views off his elegant back deck. LEO BERANEK'S 100TH Leo Beranek’s Contributions to the Field of A friend of the Newman Fund, David Blackstock Transportation Noise by Carl Hanson (past President of the Acoustical Society of BIRTHDAY, CELEBRATED America and Professor of Physical Acoustics at and Community Noise the University of Texas, Austin) guided the edi- Assessment by Sanford Fidell tors to the wonderful history of the Department of for the University of Texas, from Leo Beranek and Concert Hall Acoustics which the following excerpts are taken.. by Benjamin Markham (Reproduced from the University of Texas, Leo Beranek: Technology, Business and Austin's Department of Physics webpage: Civic Visionary by David Walden www.ph.utexas.edu/utphysicshistory) First, among the illustrious alumni of the Interspersed are short “sidebar” stories, University, there is this brief biography: including illustrious photos by several of Leo’s friends and colleagues. Under the “1938-39-Robert Bradford Newman (1917- initial three of the six essays is a “Timeline 1983) earned a BA ’38 and MA ’39 studying for Leo’s Remarkable Century Riding the under Professor C. P. Boner, who inspired him to Waves” constructed by Andy Carballeira develop a life-long love of architectural acoustics. Photo by Abbott Imaging and Bill Cavanaugh, past editor of the From Boner he acquired a professional skill in On September 14, 2014 Leo Beranek, Newman Fund Newsletter and Co-chair tuning organs and a strikingly effective style of a charter member of the Newman Fund Emeritus of the Advisory Committee teaching by use of amusing anecdotes to illustrate Advisory Committee, celebrated his 100th respectively. Finally, there is a centerfold important points and drive them home. He later birthday. Friends of the Fund had several “Leo Beranek in Pictures” assembled by studied physics and architecture at MIT. He was opportunities to help him celebrate. the guest editors. Newsletter readers inter- invited to become the third partner in with Bolt, Beranek and Newman, later BBN Technologies. Symphony Hall Event Sept 19, 2014 ested in scanning the entire Leo Beranek 100th Birthday Tribute issue on the The firm was formed to undertake the acoustics The Greater Boston Chapter of the consulting on the United Nations Permanent Acoustical Society of America held an Acoustics Today website should navigate to: www.acousticstoday.org Headquarters. BBN became a premier acousti- enormously successful event at Boston cal consulting firm, garnering many high profile Symphony Hall with a Friday afternoon PHOTOS OF STUDENTS assignments. Newman was professor at MIT concert and reception attended by over and at Harvard.( by R. H. Bolt & L. L. Beranek 100 Chapter members and guests. Around in J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 75(6), June 1984.).” half of the attendees were students from two ASA student chapters: Northeastern There is a further description of Professor Boner’s University and University of Hartford. At work: the reception, guests and students were “C. P. Boner—a professor physics who has taken able to meet and talk with Leo and his wife quite a fancy in the structure of pipe organs… Gabriella. He has written several magazine articles on the Liz Lamour, GBC Chair and event orga- harmony structure of the instrument…with nizer, called the group to order for a few some assistance he built the pipe organ in the brief guest introductions, a toast to Leo, Physics Building… One of the students who the of Happy Birthday, and Leo was most active in the research and rebuilding cutting his cake (pictured above). It was of organs with Dr. Boner was Bob Newman.” reported that Leo exclaimed, “it was my “1930-Austin’s Majestic Theater (renamed best birthday yet!“ Students from Columbia College Chicago at Paramount Theater) underwent a renovation ASA Providence 2014 including a new sound system. Management ASA Events at the 168th Meeting contacted Professor Boner and asked if he would Indianapolis 27-31 Oct 2014 be interested in the large Estey pipe organ and, if Leo and Gabriella were feted at several par- so, could he remove it immediately. He enlisted ties and receptions in Indianapolis, includ- some students and they moved it to the campus. ing a special tribute session Tuesday after- Apparently the State Theater did likewise. From noon chaired by Bill Cavanaugh and Carl these a single organ was assembled by Boner and Rosenberg with papers from colleagues and students he hired under a government program, one by Leo himself “Recent Research on College Youth Administration, CYA.” Concert Hall Acoustics.” (Incidentally Leo presented a second paper, in another ses- And this excerpt comes from the memories of sion “Reciprocity Calibration of Condenser Professor Wilson Nolle, and is part of the UT Microphones”) Austin Physics Department History Katie Hom (University of Kansas) received “By the fall of 1938, when I enrolled in UT as The Fall 2014 Issue of Acoustics Today- a graduate student in physics, Boner was fully A 100th Birthday Tribute from ASA her Newman Medal and Master of Music Education degree in 2013 engaged in research with several graduate stu- The Acoustical Society devoted the dents and in design projects (including eventu- entire fall issue of its popular quarterly ally the new Music Building), and had lost inter- magazine to Leo’s centennial birthday. Carl TEXAS ROOTS FOR BOB est in the physics organ. I enjoyed playing on it Rosenberg and Bill Cavanaugh served as NEWMAN’S INTEREST IN occasionally. Robert B. Newman, a graduate guest editors for the issue. Carl and Bill’s student, had been present during at least some of guiding concept was to have six major ACOUSTICS the installation work. He was the person to con- essays on various aspects of Leo’s multidi- sult when a trouble-shooting need arose, and was mensional professional life: For over 25 years, the Newman Fund has been supporting the teaching of architectural acoustics my main source of information about the organ. and following the inspiration of Robert Bradford In the late 1940’s he entered graduate study at Leo Beranek’s Role in the ASA by Charles MIT in architecture. After he completed work at Schmid Newman. Professor Newman was an exem- plary teacher and believed that an education in MIT, his combined knowledge of acoustics and Leo Beranek’s Contributions to Noise and architectural acoustics was an imperative for any architectural design made him a highly admired Control by Bill Lang and George architect. But where did Professor Newman’s consultant until his early death.” Maling inspiration come from? LAYMON MILLER TO BE edge and research with others. Laymon’s ROBERT BRADFORD many contributions to acoustics will con- HONORED IN 2015 BY tinue to benefit acousticians, consultants, NEWMAN STUDENT ASA, INCE, AND NCAC and students for years to come. AWARD FUND During 2015 the Acoustical Society of Our distinguished colleague Laymon America, the Institute of Noise Control ADVISORY COMMITTEE: M. Miller was born on July 27, 1918 in Engineering, and the National Council of William Cavanaugh, Co-chair Emeritus Texas. Laymon attended the Texas College Acoustical Consultants scheduled events to Mary Shaw Newman, Honorary Chair of Mines and in El Paso and honor Laymon Miller as follows: Carl Rosenberg, Co-chair excelled in math and physics. He com- Lily Wang*, Co-chair pleted his Bachelor of Science degree in Acoustical Society of America Elizabeth L. Lamour*, Newsletter Editor 1938 and enrolled in a doctoral program at At the spring 2015, ASA Meeting, in [email protected] the prestigious University of Texas Physics Pittsburgh, PA, a Tribute Session (1pAA) Department in Austin. Laymon completed honoring Laymon Miller was scheduled Christopher Blair Ronald Freiheit the requirements for his Master’s degree for Monday afternoon 1PM to 5PM David T. Bradley* K. Anthony Hoover before he was 21, and was well along in May 18, 2015. See the 169th Meeting Daniel Butko* Elizabeth L. Lamour* his requirements toward a PhD in par- Program for details on the ASA website: Andy Carballeira* Alicia J. Larsen* ticle physics when WWII intervened. In www.acousticalsociety.org. Robert Celmer Norman Philipp* October 1941, Harvard University’s Dr. Robert Coffeen Kenneth Roy Frederick V. Hunt visited UT in search of Institute of Noise / Stephen Dance Gary Siebein people to join his top secret Underwater USA Peter D'Antonio Michelle Vigeant* Sound Lab (HUSL) in Cambridge. In conjunction with NCAC, INCE/ USA M. David Egan Ewart A. Wetherill Laymon was one of three individuals the has developed a new Medal Award for Donna A. Ellis* Ning Xiang Physics Department faculty elected to join “Excellence in Acoustical Consulting” in Timothy Foulkes the HUSL staff effective on October 10, honor of Laymon Miller. The award will * Past Newman Medalists 1941. Thus began Laymon’s illustrious pro- be presented in odd numbered years by fessional career in acoustics. NCAC and in even numbered years by Laymon remained at HUSL through the INCE to an individual for his or her sus- SPONSORS: end of WWII in August 1945, then joined tained contributions to the acoustical con- The Newman Fund is part of the the Ordnance Research Laboratory (ORL) sulting profession. Acoustical Society Foundation Fund under at Pennsylvania State University, and found the aegis of the ASA Technical Committee himself back in Cambridge in April 1954 OUTSTANDING SUPPORT on Architectural Acoustics. The Fund is as a member of the newly formed and fast honored to be supported by the acous- growing acoustical research and consult- FROM CORPORATE tics community through personal con- ing firm, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc. AND PROFESSIONAL tributions, the support of the Advisory Throughout Laymon's professional career Committee, and outstanding Corporate at BBN, he taught courses in noise and SPONSORS and Professional Sponsors. We would like vibration. His teaching was so effective The Newman Fund is very grateful for the to extend our sincere gratitude to the indi- that many clients including Baltimore outstanding support from our growing list viduals and organizations that make this Air Coil, Caterpillar, and the U. S. Army of Corporate Sponsors. The lead support fund possible. Corps of , retained him to write for the Student Design Competition comes technical manuals as well as teach short from the Wenger Foundation, named for courses to their engineeering personnel. Harry Wenger, the founder of the Wenger The Fund encourages donations during In 1962, BBN named Laymon its first Corporation, who worked with many the year. Tax deductible donations can Principal Consultant, a distinguished posi- acoustics consultants and Bob Newman in be made to: tion that carried with it a six-month sab- particular in development of their products The Robert Bradford Newman Student batical every five years. Laymon and his for the music education industry. Award Fund wife Lucy used his first sabbatical to travel Other corporate sponsors in the last c/o The Acoustical Society of America and teach courses in noise and vibration three years have included: AcoustaCorp, 1305 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 300 control throughout the United States and Golterman & Sabo, MBI Products, Pliteq, Melville, NY 11747-4300 Canada. After BBN retirement in 1982, Pyrok, Shanon Corporation, and the Shure Laymon continued to guest lecture at the Corporation. Tel: 516-576-2360 courses taught annually by his colleagues Fax: 631-923-2875 Bob Hoover and Reggie Keith in Houston, Many professional consulting firms have Email: [email protected] Texas. also been engaged and supportive, and these firms include: In 2004, the Board of Directors of NCAC asked Laymon to produce a compilation Acentech, Acoustical Design Collaborative, of all of his articles on noise and vibration Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Cerami & control, including many that he had writ- Associates, Charles M. Salter Associates, ten for the NCAC’s quarterly magazine: Metropolitan Acoustics, Oxford Acoustics, The NCAC NEWSLETTER. With typical R. C. Coffeen Consultants in Acoustics, and Laymon Miller enthusiasm and vigor, he Siebein Associates, Inc.. took on this gigantic task of pulling togeth- On-going support has also come from er, with the assistance of NCAC Newsletter these professional organizations serving the Editor Neal Shade, the prolific writings architectural acoustics field: The National of an entire professional life. In 2013, Systems Contractors Association, and the the complete manuscript for “An NCAC National Council of Acoustical Consultants. Anthology in Noise and Vibration” was at the printers awaiting page proofs for final review by Laymon and the NCAC edito- rial staff, when, on October 21, Laymon passed away peacefully in his sleep with his beloved Lucy at his side. He is remembered for his enthusiasm in sharing his knowl-