WFCR: Studio Design Consultants List
Richard Malawista
Many people in public radio are familiar with the Russ Berger Design Group, which has done studio design for NPR and several stations. They’re the first name that comes to mind when stations consider building projects, but – meaning no disrespect to them – I wanted to see who else is out there, to see what options we have.
The firms below come to radio station design from different directions, as architects, acousticians or systems integrators. I have not included firms that seem to be purely acousticians rather than studio designers, or companies that seem oriented only to television.
It’s hard to find these firms, for there does not appear to be a central source. The information came from the internet, magazine articles, recommendations from radio colleagues, and messages on PubTech. I hope it’s a good starting point, but it surely is not complete. If others can add to this list, it can become a good reference point for us all.
I’ve talked with a few of the firms here, but most are unknown to me, just names that I’ve been able to discover. I don’t know enough about any of them to make a recommendation for or against, and I’m not doing so.
The Russ Berger Design Group (www.rbdg.com) – acoustics and studio design
Bloch Design Group (www.blochdesign.com) – facility planning and engineering with broadcasting experience
Bloomfield and Associates (www.bandadesign.com) – architects with broadcast experience
CEI (Communications Engineering, Inc.) (www.commeng.com) – mostly TV, but including some public TV/FM combinations.
Chips-Davis Designs (www.chips-davis.com) – acoustical analysis and design, including some radio and television.
Janson Design Group (www.jansondesign.com) – architecture, acoustics and interior design; the website lists only TV stations and recording studios, but I’m told they do radio, too.
The Lawrence Group (www.thelawrencegroup.com) – architects; design for many corporate radio clients.
Meridian Design Associates (www.meridiandesign.com) – architects with broadcast clients.
Northeastern Communications Concepts (www.nccnewyork.com) – engineering design and consulting for media projects.
RDA Systems (www.rdasystems.com) – This is a qualified notation. RDA was a systems integrator I was in touch with a few years ago, but the URL now leads to SystemsStore.com, a retailer of equipment. The site says they still do systems design and consulting through their parent company, RDA Group, but the current state of affairs is unclear to me.
Rees Associates (www.rees-associates.com) – architecture, planning and interiors, with some public radio clients.
The Sextant Group (www.thesextantgroup) – planning and design of technological projects, including broadcasting.
The Systems Group (www.tsg-hoboken.com) – broadcast systems design and project planning.
Walters-Storyck Design Group (www.wsdg.com) – acoustician for recording studios and performance venues, also with broadcasting experience.