As specialist acoustics consultants, Clayton Acoustics Group brings considerable “value-added” services to every project. We seek to develop a strong dynamic relationship with our clients, encouraging them to work with us step by step as we strive for excellence throughout both design and construction. We believe it is vitally important to discuss all potential solutions, even those which at first may not exactly fit the program or prior expectations. Likewise, our advice may extend well beyond mere acoustics considerations into the realms of architecture, organization, technology, politics or management. Our goal is to identify and design the best solution to meet the users’ needs, within the owner’s budget, and then see the project through to proper completion.

Architectural acoustics consulting for houses of worship and performing arts facilities typically includes room interior acoustics, sound-isolation, mechanical equipment noise and vibration control, and a speech-reinforcement sound system. We view these four disciplines as highly connected parts of a whole, as they are interrelated in complex ways and all are of critical importance to the success of a high-quality worship or performance space project.

For projects large and small we assemble an appropriate “project team” with just the right mix of specialist consultants to address the particular needs of each client. It is our standard practice to work vigorously for the full integration of all acoustics requirements into the architectural, liturgical or technical fabric of each building design. Experience has repeatedly shown that for acoustics, especially, big results are achieved only through big actions; half-measures rarely bring even half-results.

A cooperative and professional working style between consultants, engineers and architect during design, and later with the contractors during installation, helps ensure the success of any project. In our experience the best results are achieved when the owner, users and design team share a vision for the final artistic result and are able to work productively with the contractors to achieve it.

We are very flexible about how we work—each project is unique and each requires a different work plan. Just a few of the many consulting approaches we have undertaken: solo design, collaboration as a member of a design team, and cooperative design-build shared with an owner-appointed contractor. Our project tasks typically include: participation in design and construction meetings, site visits and surveys, acoustic test and measurements, coordination with other design disciplines, phone conferences, written reports, review and comment on design work by others, design outlines, formal construction documents with drawings and specifications, contractor bid evaluations, review of shop drawing submittals, on-site supervision, progress site visits, user training, and final project commissioning.

Clayton Acoustics Group is an independent professional consulting firm which works only for facility owners or other design professionals. We are consultants and designers, not contractors, installers or equipment resellers. Occasionally we are early adopters of esoteric and cutting-edge technologies—which we view as excellent new tools in the acoustician’s bag of tricks—and this often requires a close working relationship with manufacturers and their engineering and sales staffs during development and testing cycles. We do not, however, have financial or business interests in the product manufacturing companies or contracting firms we may recommend. This independence allows us the necessary freedom to best represent the needs of our clients throughout a project.

For each and every project Clayton Acoustics Group brings its considerable experience and singular expertise in the highly-specialized area of worship-space acoustics fully to bear on the room acoustic design, plus recommendations for sound isolation and noise control measures, as well as the design, documentation, testing, evaluation and implementation of successful speech-reinforcement sound systems.