partner and European GM, has announced the opening of new offices in Cologne, Germany and Barcelona, Spain.
Carlo Fickler, a WSDG team-member since 2006, will lead the Cologne branch. An expert in architectural acoustics and audio/visual technology integration, Fickler will concentrate his energies on existing projects and on expanding the firms' client base on the Continent. Fickler completed the interdisciplinary program in audio and video technology at the University of Applied Sciences and Robert-Schumann-College of Music Duesseldorf in 2004. Following a year as an assistant recording engineer in NYC, and some freelance work as a sound engineer in Germany, he joined WSDG in Basel Switzerland in 2006.
WSDG's Cologne branch is equipped with a full complement of advanced measurement equipment and software tools to analyze all room, structural and electro acoustical issues. In keeping with the firm's business plan, Fickler will interact with all international WSDG offices, and continue to lend his expertise to the firms' global network of architectural and acoustical experts.
The Barcelona satellite will be co-piloted by Marc Viadiu and Robert Alfageme. Viadiu studied Technical Engineering in Sound and Image and Higher Engineering in Electronics at the University Ramon Llull in Barcelona. After graduation he worked in an industrial acoustics company in Barcelona, before heading his own acoustic engineering and acoustic/audio product distribution firm. In 2009 Viadiu served a six-month internship at the WSDG NY office where he focused on project drawing, acoustical measurements and room acoustical calculations. Returning to Spain in 2010 he rejoins WSDG in the new office in Barcelona.
Robert Alfageme studied architecture at the University International of Catalunya, Spain, where he specialized in Acoustical Construction at the Sert School in Barcelona. Independent acoustical consultant assignments led to a collaboration with Marc Viadiu, and on to their WSDG Spain association.
"Since opening our Swiss office with Dirk Noy in 1997, we have completed a number of high profile European assignments," reports WSDG co-principal John Storyk. "These range from Moscow'sVGTRK Broadcast/Recording complex, the Sunshine Mastering facility in Vienna and the Swiss Parliament Building in Bern to Zurich International Airport. We are extremely enthusiastic about the potential of the European market and are confident our new German and Spanish offices will enable us to better serve the international corporate, institutional, recording and broadcast communities."
Photos: Carlo Fickler, WSDG Germany Marc Viadiu and Robert Alfageme WSDG Spain
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The Walters-Storyk Design Group www.wsdg.com has designed over 3000 media production facilities in the U.S., Europe, the Far East and Latin America. WSDG credits range from the original Jimi Hendrix Electric Lady Studio in Greenwich Village to NYC's Jazz At Lincoln Center performance complex, broadcast facilities for The Food Network, Interlochen Public Radio, CBS and WNET, and corporate clients such as Hoffman La Roche. Recent credits include private studios for Jay-Z, Timbaland, film composer Carter Burwell, Aerosmith; Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys and the new, $6 + million Jungle City NYC destination studio. WSDG principals John Storyk, Beth Walters, and Dirk Noy lecture frequently at universities and industry events, and contribute regularly to industry publications. WSDG is a six-time winner of the prestigious TEC Award for outstanding achievement in Acoustics/Facility Design. The firm maintains offices in NY, SF, Miami Argentina, Brazil, Beijing, Germany, Mexico City, Spain and Switzerland.