J O H N O ' K E E F E
B.A.Sc. M.Sc. P.Eng. FIOA
John O’Keefe has over 35 years' experience in acoustics. Mr. O’Keefe is the winner of several awards, including Canada’s highest distinction for any form of engineering, The Schreyer Award. The Schreyer is typically the purview of multi-nationals, building things like the 13 km Confederation Bridge. In 2007 he won The Schreyer for innovative engineering ideas that led up to the very successful Medicine Hat Arts and Heritage Centre. He has been responsible for optimizing the acoustics of some of Canada’s finest performing arts centres, most recently the acoustical renovation of Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Plus various projects in the United States, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean.
John is one of the very few acousticians in the world who actively combines both the professional and academic aspects of the work. He has designed or renovated more than 35 performing arts venues and published over 30 papers. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, he has taught Masters’ courses in both the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Design and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. His work, both academic and professional is recognised around the world. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics (UK). In 2013 he was co-chair of the International Symposium on Acoustics (ISRA), hosting 150 of the world’s best acousticians in his home town of Toronto, Canada. In 2019 he was honoured to give the keynote plenary lecture to the Acoustic Society of India. Mr. O’Keefe is an active musician singing bass in St. Martins in the Fields Choir and helping out playing guitar and bass at the Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre.
Representative projects include:
Orpheum Theatre Renovation, Vancouver
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Renovation, Vancouver
Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts, Toronto
Benjamin and Marion Schuster Hall, Dayton
Paul Davenport Theatre, University of Western Ontario
Soulpepper Theatre/George Brown College Renovation, Toronto
Koerner Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
Memberships
Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics, UK
Professional Engineers of Ontario
Acoustical Society of America
Canadian Acoustical Association
Education
B.A.Sc., Electrical Engineering, University of Toronto, 1981
M.Sc., Sound and Vibration Studies, Southampton University, 1985
john@okeefeacoustics.com