City of Phoenix Aviation Department

Tertulia Elementary Education Building

The City of Phoenix Aviation Department (City) hired JP to sound insulate Tertulia Elementary Education Building (Tertulia) – as part of the City’s Sound Insulation Mitigation Services (SIMS) program. The City created SIMS to reduce noise inside non-residential buildings located in a designated noise boundary near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. JP worked with the City and a team of engineers, acoustical consultants and construction contractors, providing comprehensive design and construction administrative services.

Tertulia is a single-story school with 7 classrooms, originally built by the adjacent Pius X Church as a community learning center in the early 1970’s. It was purchased by the founders of Tertulia Learning Community, a Charter School for elementary education. Tertulia closed in 2012. The school reopened in 2015 as Vista College Preparatory and is currently a public charter school, serving students in Grade K-5.

Prior to SIMS implementation, JP facilitated the feasibility study, which served as the organizational basis for the program. As lead consultant for the study, JP formulated the project approach including treatment options, schedules and budgets specific to each eligible site and building.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Established priority of treatment recommendations.
• Met with building owners and community stakeholders to conduct architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural, and acoustical evaluations.
• Hosted public outreach meetings with teachers, students and families to inform them of the project.
• Mitigated a variety of challenges to include completing work during school vacations and managing work in occupied spaces.
• Installed the following sound insulation materials:
  • New sound-reducing acoustical ceiling tiles.
  • New mechanical systems.
  • New sound-reducing windows.
  • New sound-reducing exterior doors.