Insights

Whether it is pleasant noises such as music or birds chirping, or less pleasant noises such as construction work or excessive sound from HVAC operation, sound has a powerful impact on our physiology, psychology, concentration, and behavior. By utilizing research-based design techniques in our built environment, we can maximize the acoustic comfort in our designed spaces and help improve the overall health and well-being of our building occupants.

In the Spring of 2016, DBR was hired to perform retro-commissioning for a public school district in Texas. The project was a 396,000 sf high school that was constructed in 2001-2002. The scope was limited to the HVAC system and associated controls. The process lasted for five months and included functional testing over a six week period which identified 155 issues in 17 categories. The estimated energy savings that could be realized by implementing the identified energy conservation measures was 41%.

DBR is pleased to have worked with Huckabee on a new 350,000 square foot, state-of-the-art campus to serve as Montgomery ISD’s second high school. Lake Creek High School is designed to initially serve 900 students in grades 9-11 with plans for expansion as the enrollment increases.

Hugo Avila, PE serves as a Project Manager based in the McAllen office of DBR and joined with over twenty-four years of industry experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at San Antonio and has been a licensed Professional Engineer since 2002.

In the A/E/C industry we design and create buildings. One of the main functions of a building is to act as a controlled environment that is separate from the surrounding exterior conditions. As designers, we have the opportunity to create an environment that is both comfortable and health-promoting for our future building occupants.

Do your employees need AIA Credits? DBR is now offering all Lunch & Learn courses virtually. Don’t worry, lunch is still included.

Robert B. Borunda serves as the Branch Manager for DBR’s El Paso office. In 1984, Robert founded BACE, an electrical engineering consulting firm serving El Paso and Fort Bliss. In 2019 BACE was acquired by DBR Engineering Consultants, expanding its El Paso presence.

DBR is pleased to be working with Energy Architecture on BYK’s newest production and research facility in Gonzales, Texas. The new 25,000 square foot laboratory facility will increase the company’s production capabilities and provide new R&D space for key products in the rheology additive portfolio, specifically the GARAMITE product line.

We at DBR are passionate about MEP Design, but it is our people that truly make our company unique. We are proud to announce that the following talented individuals recently received promotions. Together they demonstrate their unwavering commitment to excellence and knowledge to our clients.

Your health is one of the biggest determinants of the quality and quantity of time you have on this earth, and physical activity is one of the major influences on your health. You might be thinking “that sounds great, but it also sounds like a lot of work,” but actually, when designed correctly, the built environment can set us up for success and encourage us to incorporate activity into our daily routines without even recognizing it.