Board

Arthur van der Harten

Arthur has been a practicing acoustics consultant for more than a decade, and in that time has worked with many of the best architects and consultants in the business. Concurrently, he has also been running the Pachyderm Acoustical Simulation open source software project, and has had the pleasure of meeting some of the brightest and most talented people who could be using the software. He has worked as an acoustical consultant at Kirkegaard Associates in Chicago, The Foster + Partners Specialist Modelling Group in London, and Acoustic Distinctions in New York. His work includes the Koningin Elizabethsaal Antwerp, Hamer Hall in Melbourne, The Bloomberg Square office building in London, and various others. Open Research is his way of honoring the great experiences he has had sharing the software, and the investment of each user who has helped to inform and grow the software. Together, we can create a platform that grounds the growth of the science of acoustics, and provides access to all.

Andrea Hance COllins

Andrea Hance Collins has over 10 years of experience providing education programs in museum and classroom environments. She currently works as the Senior Manager of Programs for Stepping Stones Museum for Children. Her programs have focused on many topics including diversity issues, STEAM and maker education, theater and yoga. In addition, she has consulted and volunteered for educational and environmental organizations such as Library for All, Estonian Wind Energy Association, International YMCA and Advocacy Lab. She received her M.S. in Tourism from Arizona State University and still has a passion for travel, learning and experiencing new things! Her experience in non-profits and STEAM educational programs helps to inform broader outreach and education for people of all ages.

Isak Worre Foged

Isak holds an MSc.Eng.Arch. from the Institute of Architecture and Design, Aalborg University and Master or Architecture from the EsArq, International University of Catalunya, Barcelona, a license to practice architecture, MAA and civil engineering, IDA, and PhD from Aalborg University. As a Professor at Aalborg University he co-heads the Research Group for Tectonics in Architecture and heads the Utzon(x) Research Group for Advanced Design (www.utzonx.aau.dk). He also has co-founded a research-based architectural studio AREA in Copenhagen.

Tomas Mendez Echenegucia

Tomás Méndez Echenagucia is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington’s department of Architecture. His research is focused on the use of simulation, computational geometry and optimization algorithms to make building components more sustainable. He holds a double degree in Architecture from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Politecnico di Torino, as well as a PhD in Architecture and Building Design also from the Politecnico di Torino. He has practiced as an architect and consultant in Europe and South America. His work includes several research pavilions and prototypes, including the “Armadillo Vault” for the Venice Biennale in 2016 and the ETH Pavilion in New York City in 2015. He recently completed a five year postdoctoral researcher position at the Block Research Group in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich, where he was a project lead in the HiLo research unit, currently under construction. Tomás is a co-developer of the COMPAS framework, an ecosystem of modeling, design and simulation tools, ranging from Finite Element Analysis to geometric acoustics. 

Davin Huston

Davin Huston is a creative technologist, who is currently a Technology Designer of Distinction at IMEG.  He has years of experience in IT integration, acoustics, and in audio/video design.  His goal is to always help move those industries forward in new and innovative ways through the use of new software techniques and tools to help people make the best solution for their projects. Prior to his current position, he was an associate professor of practice in the School of Engineering Technology at Purdue University.

Partners

Partners in Education

Pachyderm has been used by many world-leading institutions in higher education. Among them are the Aalborg University, the Politechnico di Torino, University College London, Rhode Island School of Design, The Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, RMIT, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, the University of Washington, and many others.

Higher education plays a vital role in fulfilling the mission of the project. If you wish to involve Pachyderm in your design curriculum, please get in touch. 

Partners in Childhood development

We are also seeking opportunities to improve education on sound for all people, starting at an early age. We hope to partner with children’s museums and education programs to bring quality educational materials to all. If you would like to help, please get in touch.

Partners in Industry

One of the ways we seek to advance the science is by expanding the software to suit various applications. A long history of inquiry and invention has made our efforts useful to many leading professionals in design and acoustics. We are actively seeking partners in the development of algorithms for building systems acoustics, detailed analysis of finishes, and outdoor noise prediction. If you would like to work with us, please get in touch.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Support Open Research

Help us raise awareness of sound in the built environment. Your contribution keeps our tools up to date, and helps us seek out new opportunities to make sound a priority in our daily lives.

For more information…