2016 40 Under 40: Shane Myrbeck, 34

Senior Acoustic and Audiovisual Consultant, Arup, San Francisco BS Audio and Media Technology, New England Institute of Art MS Architectural Acoustics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

By Jack Smith, Content Manager, and Amara Rozgus, Editor-in-Chief May 16, 2016

Shane Myrbeck, 34

Senior Acoustic and Audiovisual Consultant, Arup, San Francisco

BS Audio and Media Technology, New England Institute of Art

MS Architectural Acoustics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Myrbeck began his career in 2009 when he joined Arup’s San Francisco office. As an acoustic consultant, he recognizes that the success of acoustic design is a uniquely subjective experience for each client. Sometimes, the best value on a project is to provide a quick study to answer one vexing problem; other times, it involves a years-long journey into what the acoustic experience of a building will be. Myrbeck is a technical lead for Arup-wide practices in acoustic modeling, multichannel audio production, the design of workspaces, and multimedia exhibit design. In addition, he is the project manager for the majority of the firm’s San Francisco Acoustics Groups’ work, where he manages a divergence of project types, from small independent recording studios to headquarters for an internationally recognized organization for the blind (Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired). As a sound artist, Myrbeck explores the boundaries of our sonic experience through exhibits, such as the NASA Orbit Pavilion and Fathom for San Francisco’s Exploratorium. He is also one of the global technical leads for the Arup SoundLab, a leading-edge immersive acoustic-simulation studio. In this role, Myrbeck has been heavily involved in developing efficiencies in making the experience portable, as well as adding virtual reality and physical computing elements. Many of Myrbeck’s most transformative personal experiences have involved sound. His passion is to evolve, modulate, and better understand his relationship with the sonic world. He plays guitar, creates new interfaces and immersive-sound experiences, and walks around with a microphone listening to the whispers of the world. He rides his bike to the ferry instead of taking the subway or bus to get across San Francisco Bay. He loves watching his five-month-old son grow and learn.