Cascade Acoustics Inc. has provided specialty interior/exterior commercial construction in Oregon and Southwest Washington since 1957. With more than 60 years of industry experience, the subcontractor understands what it takes to bring projects in on schedule and on budget with strong craftsmanship. The company has an excellent reputation for its safety, service and quality. Cascade Acoustics has the manpower and experience to successfully complete complex projects.

Its CEO Michael L. McCarville grew up in a family of tradesmen. His dad was a carpenter and as a natural succession, Michael stuck with the trades.

The company focuses on specialty ceilings, custom-wood ceilings, Design-Build and in extension BIM modeling.

The company averages 125 to 150 employees at all times.

"Cascade has long had a commitment to its employees ensuring significant longevity on the team," says John Killin, NWCB Oregon Representative. "It is not uncommon for someone to work their entire career there, so clients know the quality and consistency they are going to get."

Work Portfolio from Cascade Acoustics
Work Portfolio from Cascade Acoustics
Work Portfolio from Cascade Acoustics
Work Portfolio from Cascade Acoustics
Work Portfolio from Cascade Acoustics
Work Portfolio from Cascade Acoustics

The Big Boom

Business is booming according to the CEO. McCarville says the backlog is strong and is totally optimistic for the next couple years.

"Since COVID-19, it has been more competitive," he says of the current business climate. "Tighter margins. A rollercoaster feel at times."

To him, the most interesting aspect of the job is estimating, for sure. "I love the rush and competitiveness. Hands down, my favorite," McCarville says. "I feel incredibly lucky and blessed. I wouldn’t say anything feels hard. People that don’t have enough food to eat. That’s hard."

For the company, the rest of the year work outlook (as of press time) is outlined as the fourth quarter is a chance for the company to catch its breath before another surge at the beginning of the year.

And what are its long-term goals? "To keep the main thing, the main thing. Stay in our lane. It has worked quite well," says McCarville, adding that staying in business since 1957 is its crowning achievement to date.

When hard times hit next, what will the company do differently from the last recession? "While I feel we handled the last recession quite well, one thing we could improve on is seeing it coming sooner," he concludes. "We’ve improved on our projections to look for those nosedives."

"The current and past owners have been consistent leaders within the industry and have nearly constantly been on the boards of one or both of the local Associated Wall and Ceiling Contractors of Oregon and SW Washington, and the regional NWCB for the last four decades," Killin says in a testament of the company. "They are always at the events, conferences, and local meetings. Associations and bureaus exist to promote and educate the industry and the team at Cascade knows the betterment of the industry depends on its own participation and support."

Project Profile

Location: Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse, Oregon City, Ore.
Owner: Clackamas County, Oregon City
Architect: DLR Group, Portland
Builder: Cascade Acoustics Inc., Tualatin, Ore.
General Contractor: PCL Construction Services Inc., Bellevue, Wash.

  • Six floors plus a basement, 250,000 GSF
  • 14 each Courtrooms and 2 each Future Courtrooms
  • Judges Chambers and support staff offices
  • Offices for State, County and City personnel
  • County Sheriff Offices, processing areas, holding cells, secured hallways/elevators.
  • LEED Gold

Project Timeline: August 2022 to May 2025

Cascade Acoustics was awarded a P3 Uniform Special Conditions Subcontract for CCCC. With the P3 subcontract format, it is recognized that the project design is not complete at award, and we would be required to carry within our subcontract a value to address and manage all work scope as the design evolved based on a set of Design & Construction Standards in the subcontract.

The company’s scope of work included: Metal framing, thermal insulation, sheathing, and fluid-applied WRBs/flexible flashing at the exterior. Interior metal framing of partitions, raised floors, ceilings and soffits, sound insulation, drywall /drywall finish, sound and firestop systems, acoustic tile ceilings, security panel ceilings, baffle ceilings and wood ceilings.

A strong team approach was required between the owner, architect, general contractor and Cascade Acoustics. Weekly meetings with these and other sub-trades were used to advance the design to a construction set of drawings. Direct communication with the architect exchanging ideas and developing solutions together was unique to this project.

"We managed and executed BIM modeling for walls and ceilings. We were responsible for Design-Build of exterior/interior framing, suspended acoustical ceilings and wood ceiling," says McCarville. "We had design-assist responsibility for all other aspects of our work related to sizing of framing, STC ratings, fire-rated assemblies and product types to meet criteria in in the D&C documents."

Manufacturers Used

Metal Framing:

  • Supplier: CWallA
  • Manufacturer: SCAFCO Steel Stud Co.

Drywall:

  • Supplier: Knez Building Materials Co.
  • Drywall Manufacturers: CertainTeed, G-P Gypsum, National Gypsum
  • Drywall Finish Product Manufacturer: Hamilton Drywall Products
  • Drywall Trims: USG Beadex, ClarkDietrich
  • FRP: Crane Composites

Fasteners & Accessories:

  • Suppliers: Hilti, All-Source Construction & Safety Supply, Spears Construction Supply

Insulation & WRBs:

  • Subcontractor: Insulation Contractors of Oregon
  • Manufacturers: Owens Corning, R-Max, STI (Specified Technologies, Inc.) & SOPREMA

Ceilings:

  • Supplier: GTS Interior Supply
  • Manufacturers: Armstrong (9/16-inch Acoustical Grid, Drywall Grid, AXIOM Trim, Fine Fissured Tile, LYRA Tile, METALWORKS SECURELOCK Security Locking Ceiling and ACOUSTIBuilt Ceiling)
  • Supplier/Manufacturer: 9-Wood (2100 Panelized Linear)
  • Supplier/Manufacturer: Soelberg Industries (Baffles, MUTO Quadro Ceiling Baffles)