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Case Study

Beacon Tower, Seylynn Village

Year Completed

2015

Capital Cost

$90M

Total Size

211k sqft.

About This Project

Beacon Tower is a 24-storey residential high-rise with 196 suites and four penthouses, the first of three towers in the new Seylynn Village development in North Vancouver, BC.

Scope of Services

BKL was hired to assess

  • the impacts of traffic noise from nearby Highway 1 on the residences in Beacon Tower,
  • the impacts of mechanical noise (elevators and cooling towers) on the residences in Beacon Tower, and
  • assess Beacon Tower’s compliance with the District of North Vancouver’s noise bylaw.

Using a 3-D noise model that incorporated existing and future traffic levels as well as on-site noise measurements, BKL predicted how traffic would affect noise levels inside the dwellings and compared the predictions against criteria established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and local noise bylaws. The model revealed that residences on the northeast corner of Beacon Tower would require additional acoustical design elements, notably upgraded windows, spandrel panels and sliding doors, in order to meet the indoor noise levels established by local and federal criteria.

Project Benefits

Through careful measurements, predictions and analysis, informed by the knowledge that BKL has obtained by performing more than 500 similar studies, BKL identified which units would be most affected by traffic noise. BKL then recommended appropriate building facade improvements to reduce overall noise levels to acceptable values, meeting project criteria and ultimately minimizing the potential for traffic noise to disturb residents’ communication and sleep.

The People Behind Our Work

Our Technical Leads

  • Trevor Cheng
    Trevor Cheng

    P.Eng., MIOA

    Managing Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Trevor Cheng

    Trevor Cheng, P.Eng., MIOA

    Managing Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Trevor Cheng holds a bachelor of applied science (engineering physics) from University of British Columbia and joined BKL in January 2016, with experience in environmental and architectural acoustics, as well as condition monitoring, and machine vibration analysis and diagnostics.

    With BKL, Trevor has primarily been involved in transportation, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. His work experience includes measuring baseline noise conditions, predicting future noise environments, assessing noise impact, and offering mitigation measures where appropriate.

    Trevor also has experience in architectural acoustics, working on hospitals, performance spaces, and multipurpose buildings. He is proficient in measuring noise insulation performance, reviewing building designs, and predicting noise levels from HVAC equipment.

    Prior to joining BKL, Trevor worked in London, UK, on a wide variety of projects ranging from large-scale architectural renovations to major airport improvement works. He has unique experience in measuring and assessing noise and vibration in buildings from underground rail sources.

    He also has experience using sound level meters by Brüel & Kjær, Norsonic, and Larson Davis, and software tools such as Cadna/A. He is familiar with ASTC/AIIC testing and using acoustic software including Insul, SONarchitect, and EASE for indoor noise predictions.

    Trevor is a member of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) in the UK.

  • Andrew Williamson
    Andrew Williamson

    P.Eng., B.S.M.E.

    Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Andrew Williamson

    Andrew Williamson, P.Eng., B.S.M.E.

    Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    A graduate of the University of Victoria, Andrew Williamson holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and has practiced as an acoustical consultant in BC for over two decades. He joined BKL in 2023.

    During his career, Andrew has worked on numerous projects involving environmental noise assessments, building noise and vibration control, and architectural acoustics. As a project manager, Andrew has led acoustics teams on a variety of projects across sectors including cultural and recreation, education and research, health care, industrial, commercial, and residential.

    Andrew has attended public meetings, open houses, and government-sponsored working groups to present and discuss technical information with the public, municipal councils, and members of the government and other organizations. In addition, Andrew has acted as an expert witness in BC Supreme Court and participated in a joint review panel hearing for the environmental assessment of a major infrastructure project.

    Andrew is a Professional Engineer registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

  • Joonas Niinivaara
    Joonas Niinivaara

    M.Sc.

    Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Joonas Niinivaara

    Joonas Niinivaara, M.Sc.

    Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Joonas Niinivaara has practiced as an acoustical consultant since 2007 and joined BKL in May 2019. During his career, Joonas has conducted extensive acoustical measurements, assessments, and mitigation treatments on a variety of community, commercial, and residential projects in both Europe and Canada.

    In 2017, Joonas co-authored multiple publications for the Canadian Acoustical Association on the acoustical performance of wood-frame double-shear wall assemblies and laminated drywall assemblies in concrete frame buildings. He has also presented papers on acoustical design in modern offices buildings to the Baltic Nordic Acoustic Group.

    Joonas has recently worked under the TARION Builder Bulletin 19R program for multi-occupancy buildings. In this, he has assisted project design teams, general contractors, and subtrades to achieve adequate acoustical conditions for all occupants by minimizing noise-related warranty claim risks from integrated building systems, while also maximizing acoustical privacy between adjacencies.

    As a professional acoustician, Joonas has a particular interest in room acoustics related to concert halls, rehearsal rooms, and music facilities. He is proficient with ray-tracing computational software including ODEON, EASE, Pottorff AIM, and Insul software.

Residential & Mixed Use

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