Our Story
Our history traces back to 1938, when Paul S. Veneklasen, a pioneering acoustical physicist, who conducted research at Harvard University's Electro Acoustics Laboratory. During World War II, his focus was shifted to solving the noise and vibration problems of the Second World War. In particular hearing protection, speech communication, and noise reduction in military aircraft and other military vehicles, laying the groundwork for our company's expertise. This early work in acoustics, a relatively new field at the time, paved the way for our founder's future innovations.
After the end of World War 2, in 1947, Paul S. Veneklasen founded “Western Electro Acoustics Laboratory” a West Coast version of the Electroacoustics Laboratory at Harward, in Santa Monica, California, and quickly established himself as a prominent consultant in Acoustics, Noise, Vibration and Sound System Design. The focus of the company at this time was still research and development with patents and publications. It was customary for consulting firms to bear the name of the Principal Consultant and therefore the name was changed to his namesake “Paul S. Veneklasen and Associates.” Paul was often referred to as "Renaissance man" because of the wide range of consulting project. Some example of uniqueness “acoustically how should the orchestra seating be organized, building an international airport on a lake, etc. Throughout his career, Paul left an indelible mark on the field of acoustics, creating some of the world's most remarkable spaces.
Today, Veneklasen Associates is renowned as one of the top acoustics consulting firms globally, with a legacy of innovation and expertise. Our parent organization has completed numerous high-profile projects, including the LAX Tom Bradley Terminal, Getty Center, Mondrian Hotel, India Parliament and many more. These iconic venues are celebrated for their exceptional acoustics, and our team was deeply involved in every aspect of their design and construction. We continue to build on our heritage, shaping the world's most remarkable spaces with precision and passion.