Cyril M. Harris
Encyclopedia
Cyril M. Harris was Professor Emeritus of Architecture
and Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering
at Columbia University
. He received his B.S. in mathematics
and his M.S. in physics
from UCLA, and his Ph.D.
in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), where he specialized in acoustics
.
He co-authored with Vern Oliver Knudsen
the book Acoustical Designing in Architecture, and edited several others, including Handbook of Noise Control, Shock and Vibration Handbook, Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture, Dictionary of Architecture and Construction and American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. These books are recognized as authoritative references in their field.
As a consultant, Harris participated in the design and construction of more than 100 halls, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, Lincoln Center Metropolitan Opera House, Abravanel Hall
, Benaroya Hall
and Conrad Prebys Concert Hall in University of California, San Diego
.
Harris was a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America
. He served on the Executive Council (1954-1957), was vice president (1960-1961) and president (1964-1965) of the society, and was an associate editor of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
(1959-1971). He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
, National Academy of Engineering
, American Philosophical Society
and several other professional societies and advisory boards. Harris served as president (1993) and chairman of the Board (1994) of the New York Academy of Sciences
. His achievements in auditorium acoustics were recognized by the Wallace Clement Sabine Medal of the Acoustical Society of America, the Franklin Medal
(1977), the AES Gold Medal (1984), the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology
(1985) and the ASA Gold Medal
(1987). He held honorary doctorates from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
and from Northwestern University
.
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He received his B.S. in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and his M.S. in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from UCLA, and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT), where he specialized in acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
.
He co-authored with Vern Oliver Knudsen
Vern Oliver Knudsen
Vern Oliver Knudsen was an American acoustical physicist.-Biography:Knudsen received his bachelors degree from Brigham Young University with an AB in 1915...
the book Acoustical Designing in Architecture, and edited several others, including Handbook of Noise Control, Shock and Vibration Handbook, Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture, Dictionary of Architecture and Construction and American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. These books are recognized as authoritative references in their field.
As a consultant, Harris participated in the design and construction of more than 100 halls, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C...
, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, Lincoln Center Metropolitan Opera House, Abravanel Hall
Abravanel Hall
Abravanel Hall is a concert hall in Salt Lake City, Utah that is home to the Utah Symphony, and is part of the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts. The hall is an architectural landmark in the city, and is adjacent to Temple Square and the Salt Palace on South Temple Street...
, Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall
Benaroya Hall is the home of the Seattle Symphony in Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It features two auditoria, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, a 2500-seat performance venue, as well as the Nordstrom Recital Hall, which seats roughly 500...
and Conrad Prebys Concert Hall in University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
.
Harris was a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America
Acoustical Society of America
The Acoustical Society of America is an international scientific society dedicated to increasing and diffusing the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications.-History:...
. He served on the Executive Council (1954-1957), was vice president (1960-1961) and president (1964-1965) of the society, and was an associate editor of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America is a scientific journal in the field of acoustics, published by the Acoustical Society of America. It contains technical articles on sound, vibration, speech and other topics.Access to articles is by subscription or purchase, though most universities...
(1959-1971). He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
and several other professional societies and advisory boards. Harris served as president (1993) and chairman of the Board (1994) of the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
. His achievements in auditorium acoustics were recognized by the Wallace Clement Sabine Medal of the Acoustical Society of America, the Franklin Medal
Franklin Medal
The Franklin Medal was a science and engineering award presented by the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, PA, USA.-Laureates:*1915 - Thomas Alva Edison *1915 - Heike Kamerlingh Onnes *1916 - John J...
(1977), the AES Gold Medal (1984), the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology
Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology
The Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology is given annually to recognise important members of the science and engineering communities in New York City...
(1985) and the ASA Gold Medal
ASA Gold Medal
The ASA Gold Medal is an annual award presented by the Acoustical Society of America to individuals in recognition of outstanding contributions to acoustics. The Gold Medal was first presented in 1954 and is the highest award of the ASA. Past recipients, which include the Nobel Laureate Georg...
(1987). He held honorary doctorates from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
and from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.