The Quiet Site

Elk Grove High School in Chicago has spent years waiting for the FAA to start soundproofing their buildings. Now, after years of patiently waiting for funding, the FAA has decided to scratch Elk Grove from the list. But why?

The FAA says that O’Hare has created new flight paths on their runways and that the school would then experience a reduced level of noise. The real problem, however, is that the new flight paths won’t be fully operational for at least a few years, leaving students inconvenienced until they are in full force.

After appealing for permission from the Planning Commission, the gorgeous pizza restaurant in Calistoga known as La Prima was given permission to host live music performances within its establishment.

The restaurant has to make a few small changes. They have to make space for additional parking and, of course, add some additional soundproofing to the establishment. If all goes well, the conditional approval could turn into a permanent change.

The planning commission voted 4-o to allow the approval to go through. Neighbors, on the other hand, plan to continue to appeal because they wanted the application denied. Why not let La Prima at least give it a try, eh?

The newly renovated Saraton Theatre will open in Grafton in March of 2010. The theatre, complete withnew seats, new electrical cables, advanced audio assistance materials, redriven nails, and a new sewer system (amongst other things) is slated to open in March of 2010. By then, officials hope, all of the new projection equipment will be in the building and fully operational.

The theater does, of course, have few other special features. Our favorite is the new soundproofing they’ve added to the walls, ensuring nearby businesses and neighbors won’t be disrupted during performances. The renovated theatre should be amazing when it opens!

Out in Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania, residents are up in arms. There is a wood pellet manufacturer in the area and nearby neighbors insist that the company makes way too much noise.

Lawyers for the pellet making factory, TreeCycle, insist that the company has taken extreme measures to lower the decible levels at the plant. Plainfield Township representatives insist that the plant is violating noise ordinances and has asked them to stop all operations.

TreeCycle has built soundproof covers for their equipment and has built a 12 foot wall to help absorb sound before it leaves the property.

So what do you think. Has TreeCycle acted fairly? We think so.

The nightlife in Paris, for those of you who are familiar with the area, used to be bustling with activity. Now, as the skies grow dark the streets of Paris tend to become a bit quieter. It’s still well-lit and gorgeous but things are growing silent. As time has gone on, more and more establishments have opted to close during the evening hours.

But why?

Paris was once home to a myriad of neighborhoods famous for partying but over the past few years the party goers have moved out and a more sophisticated crowd has moved in. The type of sophisticated who prefer soundproofing their homes to opening their windows to enjoy the music.

Can Paris be saved?

A groupof people from the Paris music industry have banned together to create a petition. They’re asking the city to offer public funding that can be put towards soundproofing some of the area’s hottest electronic music establishments. If they don’t get what they ask for the city’s music scene, which has already seen losses to London and Berlin, may disappear completely.

Scott Rothstein, a lawyer from the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler firm in Florida, is facing the scrutiny of federal agents. The FBI believes that Mr. Rothstein may have misappropriated millions of dollars worth of investment funds.

Rothstein has not admitted to any inappropriate deeds and no one knows for sure whether or not he is cooperating with or has met with federal authorities.

What we do know is that Rothstein conducts business in a very strange setting. Mr. Rothstein has a private entrance to his firm as well as a private elevator. He has high-tech monitoring equipment outside of his office suite and has had soundproofing materials installed all around his office.

We like soundproofing – we don’t like shady dealings. We can’t wait to see how this case plays out.

A new hotel has opened in New Delhi, India and it’s already receiving rave reviews. The Hotel Le Roi, owned by the Roi Hotels India Pvt. Ltd company, stunned visitors who expected the hotel to be similar in nature to the chain’s other boutique hotels and hostels. What they found in place was a huge surprise.

Hotel Le Roi is definitely a boutique hotel, featuring a mere 50 rooms, but the amenities found within its walls put it on par with some of the larger hotels in the area. Inside you’ll find marble floors, electronic key card systems, minibars, high speed internet, and much more.

The hotel is located in a very busy area of the city known as Paharganj. Despite it’s bustling location, the hotel has managed to include a number of sound control elements to ensure visitors are able to relax in a serene and peaceful setting. Sounds like Hotel Le Roi may be worth checking out if you ever venture towards India!

When route I-595 opened 20 years ago, sound wasn’t a problem. The road carried drivers through miles of farmland where commuting wasn’t top priority.

Today, however, the community has grown and the state of Florida has approved projects to begin soundproofing the highway, protecting nearby homes from the drone of passing motorists, of which there are more than ever before.

The problem? The public can’t seem to figure out just how the government is deciding which communities will receive their sound wall panels first (if ever). Some have accused the government of targeting the higher-value homes of millionaires first, possibly for political reasons. Those accusations  have been denied. The Florida DOT insists that they use a formula to determine how many homes will benefit from the construction of each wall, comparing it to the cost to determine which area goes first.

More than 21 neighborhoods qualify for sound barriers. Only time will tell how many will be completed – and in what order.

In January of 2010, Skidmore College will officially open its new Zankel Music Center. The culmination of a $32.5 million budget and years of work, the 55,000 square foot building will become the new home for every music program Skidmore College offers.

The building was funded partially by the now deceased Arthur Zankel, the parent of two alumni and partially by some government grants.

The Zenkel Music Center has a 600-seat concert hall, a flexibile stage, and three separate and unqiue wings. Our favorite feature, of course, is the set of specially crated doors designed to keep sounds within the center. The entire building was built with sound in mind but the 600 pound soundproof doors located in some parts of the building are simply amazing.

The Zenkel Music Center will be open to students in January and a formal dedication will take place later in the year when the building is 100% complete.

The United States Air Force is currently reviewing a list of air force bases at which it may house the newest figher plane, the F-35.

While bringing the F-35 to any base promises huge positive econimic impact, neighbors have a more pressing concern. Noise. Lots of noise.

Despite the fact that some really appreciate the sound of a figher aircraft, the Air Force does recognize that the F-35 is 12 times noisier than the currently used A-10. Some claim we shoudn’t complain about the noise made by aircraft used to protect our freedoms while others beleive in their rights to live in a pleasant environment.

It’s not fair to label those who are concerned about noise unpatriotic. Noise levels, when ridiculously high, can have a huge impact on the health and well being of any individual.

So will the US Air Force offer soundproofing alternatives to those around the bases they choose? Only time will tell.