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Ethan Salter, PE, LEED AP

Vice President
esalter{at}salter-inc.com

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, B.S. Industrial Technology

  • Oregon Professional Acoustical Engineer No. 84349PE
  • LEED Accredited Professional
  • Allied Member of AIA San Francisco
  • Institute of Noise Control Engineering, Associate Member
  • San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research
  • U.S. Green Building Council Northern California Chapter
  • Industry Advisory Board, UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment
  • Acoustical Society of America

A Lifelong Passion for the Built Environment

I’ve always wanted to be part of a team that makes real-world structures for people to work, live, and play in. Growing up watching my father and his colleagues at work, I learned how the art and science of acoustics affects the built environment. I wanted to be a part of that from a young age. In my almost 20 years at Salter, I have consulted on hundreds of projects around the country and internationally.

My first foray into the industry was conducting Y2K assessments at the Boeing factory in Long Beach, CA where I was impressed and inspired seeing new aircraft roll off the assembly line. Then I moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a management consultant and worked with the U.S. Department of Defense. I consulted on software integration with various branches of the U.S. Military, where I developed skills presenting technical subject matter to a diverse clientele. One of my peak moments was speaking to over 500 people at U.S. Military facilities across the country as we installed procurement software. By the time I finally landed at Salter, I brought a wealth of experience and expertise with me to help clients improve their projects and experiences every day.

The Interaction of People and Systems

Within the specialty of acoustical consulting, I’m best known for my expertise in green building. I contributed a chapter on green building acoustics to the 2nd Edition of Architectural Acoustics: Principles and Practice (Wiley, 2009). My work considers the interactions between people and systems, especially the fractal scalability of various behaviors and the ramifications of small and large events (i.e., “the butterfly effect”). Buildings can help shape behavior and vice versa.

I always have a camera with me and love to photograph architecture and nature. On days off, I unwind with long distance running through the wilderness. With two young kids, we are always getting out into nature and finding adventures.

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