JaffeHolden Acoustics
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architectural acoustics, Audio and Video Systems, Information Technology consulting |
| Founded | 1968 in Norwalk, Connecticut, United States |
| Founder | Christopher Jaffe |
| Headquarters | Norwalk , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Mark Holden (CEO), Russell Cooper (Acoustics), Mark Reber, PE (Acoustics) |
| Products | Architectural acoustics consulting, Audio and Video Systems design, Information Technology solutions |
JaffeHolden Acoustics, Inc. is a consulting company focused on Architectural Acoustics, as well as the design of Audio and Video Systems and Information Technology solutions. Its portfolio includes clients such as performance spaces, religious institutions, educational facilities, museums, cruise liners, and government buildings.
History
Established in 1968 by acoustician Christopher Jaffe in Norwalk, Connecticut, JaffeHolden began with Jaffe’s development of lightweight, adjustable reflector panels for multifunctional theaters aimed at enhancing orchestral sound clarity and intimacy. These innovations allowed ceiling reflectors to be positioned nearer to musicians, improving onstage acoustics and ensemble cohesion. Among the firm’s early endeavors were the Youth Symphony shell on the South Lawn of the White House, renovations at Lewisohn Stadium for the Metropolitan Opera, work on the Hollywood Bowl for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and creating the first mobile symphonic stage for the New York Philharmonic’s free park concerts in 1965.
During a project funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Jaffe observed that conventional concert halls with formal seating arrangements tended to discourage audience attendance. Influenced by historic venues such as Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, JaffeHolden designed Sala Nezahualcoyotl in Mexico City—the first surround concert hall in the Western hemisphere. The firm also introduced Electronic Reflected Energy Systems (ERES) to achieve symphonic acoustic standards in venues where physical modifications were restricted by budget or structural limitations. These systems have since been extensively adopted throughout theaters and concert halls across the United States.
CEO Mark Holden collaborated with Jaffe to create the "Concert Hall Shaper," a breakthrough that revolutionized multi-purpose theater acoustics by delivering sound quality comparable to that of dedicated concert halls. This technology was first implemented at the Tokyo International Forum and subsequently applied at Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall and Oklahoma City’s Thelma Gaylord Theater.
Recent Business
In 2008, Jaffe Holden Acoustics broadened its consulting expertise to encompass information technology services, including telecommunications, data management, voice and cabling infrastructure, and network systems.
Current CEO
Mark Holden assumed the role of chairman in 2005. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and has contributed numerous scholarly articles to industry publications while lecturing at Harvard University and the University of Miami. Holden is a member of the National Council of Acoustical Consultants and was honored as a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America in 2004.
Principals
- Mark Holden, FASA, CEO, Acoustics
- Russell Cooper, Acoustics
- Mark Reber, PE, Acoustics
Locations
Jaffe Holden Acoustics maintains two principal offices:
- Norwalk, CT (Headquarters)
- Houston, TX
Completed Projects
- Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, TX
- Detroit Orchestra Hall, Detroit, MI
- Kennedy Center Concert Hall and Opera House, Washington, DC
- McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
- Severance Hall, Cleveland, OH
- Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan
- Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
- Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York, NY
- Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC
- Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY
- Henry Miller Theater, New York, NY
- Juilliard School, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York, NY
- Richmond Hill Theatre, Richmond Hill, ON
- Virginia Performing Arts Center, Richmond, VA
- Bethel Woods Museum, Bethel, NY
- Broad Theatre, Santa Monica, CA
- The Grand Theatre, Kingston, Ontario
- Kaufman Center, New York, NY
- Eisenhower Theater, Washington, DC
- Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX
- Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA
- New Albany Performing Arts Center, New Albany, OH
- Sun Valley Pavilion, Sun Valley, ID
Current Major Projects
As of 2013, ongoing developments include:
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Museum located in Los Angeles, California
- The Museum of Westward Expansion housed within the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri
- The Federal Way Performing Arts Civic Center situated in Federal Way, Washington
- The Utah Performing Arts Center based in Salt Lake City, Utah