Acoustical consulting in the Pacific Northwest: Rememberances of Buzz Towne (1919–1998)

Robin M. (Buzz) Towne was truly the icon of acoustical consulting in the Pacific Northwest. His intense interest in acoustics led him from a mechanical engineering consultant to a career in acoustics. He formed the first full‐time acoustical consulting firm in the Pacific Northwest in 1960 with just one other person, but built the firm to 15 consultants within ten years. The firm continues to prosper today under new leadership, but the legacy of Buzz remains in the minds of those that worked with him and the clients he served. Buzz was a dedicated consultant whose drive for acoustial perfection resulted in many colorful (and often times amusing) confrontations with both staff and clients. This paper recalls some of these incidents, as well as describing a few of his significant consulting projects.