Ron Sauro of NWAA Labs (left) and PNW Chair Dan Mortensen at PNW Section meeting June 22, 2023. The Meeting was live and on Zoom.
PNW capped its season with its annual business meeting (elections), followed by a presentation on acoustic testing and materials by Ron Sauro of NWAA Labs of Elma, WA, USA. 16 person attended in person (10 AES Members) and 37 via Zoom (10 members)
Section elections were conducted by Committee member James D. (jj) Johnston, after determining that a quorum was present, considering both those in-person and on Zoom. With no new nominations or objections, the slate and Bylaws amendments presented the previous month were approved by acclamation. The 2023-2024 PNW officers will be:
Chair: Dan Mortensen
Vice-Chair: Bob Smith
Secretary: Gary Louie
Treasurer: Lawrence Schwedler
New Committee (2 year terms):
-Jess Berg
-Micah Hayes
-Erin Shellman
-Matthew Sutton
-Jayney Wallick
The new Bylaws document is available on the PNW website.
Ron Sauro then gave his presentation on Architectural Acoustics in Flux (redux), meaning this was an update to his presentation given to the PNW Section several years ago. Ron runs NWAA Labs, an acoustic test facility specializing in the testing of speakers and acoustic products such as doors, windows, and treatment products and materials. His facility is built in the massive spaces of a never-completed nuclear power plant.
After a review of his background and of the NWAA facilities, results were presented of tests of architectural materials for diffusion, absorption, and diffraction. Traditional test methods were discussed, as well as problems and possible improvements. Excellent results from a new polyester product were also presented.
Ron's Powerpoint slides and a Zoom video will be available from the PNW website.
