Sam Berkow, founder and lead designer of SIA Acoustics, has announced that his firm has been acquired by NewYork City-based engineering firm Robert Derector Associates (RDA) Consulting Engineers, with Berkow also joining RDA as a principal.

“I’m very impressed with RDA’s engineering experience and expertise,” Berkow says. “Their work ethic is perfectly aligned with how we operate at SIA, which is why it makes sense to join their team. We both focus on addressing the challenges our clients face, provide attentive service, and find practical solutions that help our clients to meet their goals.”

SIA Acoustics is known for high-profile installations for a wide range of venues, including stadiums, concert halls, and music-production facilities. Recently completed projects include the San Francisco Jazz Center, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, Airshow Mastering in Boulder, CO, Tonality Studios in Takoma Park, MD and several others.

RDA has been providing professional engineering services globally for nearly 40 years, with a staff of more than 140 specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, telecommunications, mission-critical, and energy/sustainability projects. The company has provided services to Associated Press, NHL, Cadillac, Time Inc., and many more corporate clients.

RDA president Robert Derector explains that his firm launched a search to add an acoustical consultant to the practice in response to numerous client requests. “We found there’s a demand for a mechanical-electrical group and an acoustical group to be part of one company under one roof,” he says. “We set out to find an acoustician to join forces with us. When we met Sam and the SIA Acoustics team, we knew we had found the right partners, and we are excited to make them part of RDA.”

Going forward SIA Acoustics will be known as SIA Acoustics – A Division of Robert Derector Associates, and Sam Berkow and his staff, will relocate their business to RDA’s offices in New York City.

SIA Acoustics
Robert Derector Associates (RDA) Consulting Engineers