Along with waterproofing, soundproofing ranks high among the concerns of most future homeowners.   The Harvard & Highland buildings were designed and constructed, to meet or exceed the highest acoustical standards, and the acoustical engineer was one of the very first consultants to be retained for the project.   We selected SSA Acoustics, a local firm with an international reputation, to provide design details that would ensure that the buildings were truly worthy of the (often overused) term "luxury."   SSA has worked all over the world on projects ranging from performance arts centers, universities, airports, grand hotels, and of course, high-end condominiums.

Proper sound insulation can only be achieved through careful planning during development, plus the use of appropriate materials, and attention to detail during construction.   In our buildings, walls and ceilings are designed to provide the desired acoustical privacy between adjacent rooms within each home, as well as between neighboring suites and other areas, such as halls, stairways, the elevator and equipment spaces.   Bill Stewart, our acoustical engineer from SSA, advised our design and pre-construction team on everything from wall systems and flooring materials, to the isolation of plumbing noise, impact noise, mechanical systems, to appliance selection.   In addition, he is under contract to regularly monitor the construction progress to ensure that all SSA's recommendations are implemented properly.

A great deal of technical information on the acoustical engineering is available for your perusal, should you wish to review it.   This information illustrates and explains the important sound insulation design details.   In summary, though, we have been assured by SSA that we can safely make this statement: The buildings at Harvard & Highland will clearly exceed the highest rating for luxury buildings as defined by HUD and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).  According to Bill Stewart, "95% of condominium buildings in Seattle cannot make that statement."