News & Insights

Matt Whitney and Kristin Hanna, from Salas O’Brien, presented a whitepaper at the 184th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). Their paper, The Benefits and Challenges of the Collaborative for High Performing Schools Acoustical Performance Requirements in Colorado K-12 Schools was first published in Volume 153, Issue 3 of The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

The Collaborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS) is a national organization that provides technical resources for school design, construction, operations, and maintenance standards. It also provides a verification program, which includes an acoustical performance prerequisite and enhanced acoustical performance credits. This presentation explored the benefits and challenges of the various acoustical prerequisite and credit requirements, including reverberation time (RT) targets, background noise criteria, and interior and exterior sound isolation, through the design and construction of several projects in Colorado. By comparing the theoretical benefits to the practical applications of these requirements, improvements to constructability were proposed. Additionally, the financial impact of pursuing a CHPS certification was examined, especially for school districts with limited financial resources.

Matt Whitney, based in Salas O’Brien’s Boulder office, is a consultant in architectural acoustics, sound isolation, and noise/vibration control. His work spans various educational institutions, performance venues, and entertainment spaces. Matt holds an M.S. in Architectural Acoustics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a B.S. in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Kristin Hanna, CTS’s expertise bridges acoustics and technology serving an array of market sectors with a focus on environmental and room acoustics. Currently based in Omaha, she holds both a Masters and Bachelors of Architectural Engineering from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.