BKL Consultants
BKL Consultants is an employee-owned acoustical engineering firm, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Burnaby, BC, providing building acoustics design, environmental noise assessment, and vibration control services to governments, architects, developers, and institutions across Western Canada and internationally with a team of ~20 consultants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersBurnaby, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BKL Consultants does
BKL Consultants Ltd. is a private, employee-owned acoustical engineering firm headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia, with a satellite office in Edmonton. Founded in 1966 as Barron Strachan (later Barron & Associates, then Barron Kennedy Lyzun and Associates following the 1988 HKL merger, and finally BKL Consultants Ltd. from 1996), the firm operates exclusively in acoustical consulting with no affiliation to product manufacturers or sales organizations, ensuring independent expert opinion. It employs approximately 20 acoustical consultants with a collective 200+ years of experience and has completed over 10,000 projects for 4,500 clients across Western Canada and internationally.
The firm delivers five integrated service lines: Building Acoustics Design Services (interior geometry, surface treatments, wall constructions, system noise); Environmental Noise and Vibration Assessment (impact studies, mapping, regulatory compliance); Noise and Vibration Control (mechanical/electrical equipment, road traffic, neighbour noise); Sound and Vibration Measurements (architectural, environmental, industrial, occupational); and Sound and Vibration Predictions (modeling, graphics, auralizations). Its technology stack combines third-party tools (Cadna/A, Odeon, EASE, SketchUp) with proprietary instruments and software developed in-house over decades, including SOUNDMDL for environmental noise prediction (recognized by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Alberta Energy Regulator, and BC Utilities Commission), Godot ray-tracing room acoustics software (published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America), and DUCTS mechanical noise prediction software. Specialized instrumentation includes Soundbook analyzers, 01dB DUO monitors, Syscom MR3000C vibration meters, and Brüel & Kjær equipment.
BKL generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements, scoped and quoted per project, with client segments spanning government bodies, port authorities, transit agencies, healthcare institutions, architects, developers, industrial operators, and not-for-profit housing providers. Notable engagements include Pacific Autism Family Centre (60,000 sq ft, $28M), Hamilton Transit Centre ($136M project cost), Port Mann Highway 1 Improvements ($3.3B), the Port of Vancouver ongoing noise monitoring contract, and the Guildford Aquatic Centre. The firm markets primarily through content (blog, case studies, conference presentations), professional association participation, and word-of-mouth within the Western Canadian AEC community.
BKL Consultants firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BKL Consultants
- Legal name
- BKL Consultants Ltd.
- Website
- https://bkl.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BKL Consultants is an employee-owned acoustical engineering firm, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Burnaby, BC, providing building acoustics design, environmental noise assessment, and vibration control services to governments, architects, developers, and institutions across Western Canada and internationally with a team of ~20 consultants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BKL Consultants industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Acoustical Engineering Consulting
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where BKL Consultants is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burnaby
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
BKL Consultants business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Acoustical Consulting Services: BKL generates revenue by providing professional acoustical consulting services to clients across various sectors including building acoustics, environmental noise and vibration assessment, noise and vibration control, and sound and vibration measurements. Services are project-based and scoped according to client needs. No affiliation to product manufacturers or sales organizations ensures independent expert opinion.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
BKL Consultants product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BKL Consultants provides professional acoustical engineering, noise, and vibration consulting services to building owners, developers, architects, governments, and industrial clients. The firm delivers building acoustics design, environmental noise and vibration assessments, noise and vibration control solutions, and sound and vibration measurements and predictions using proprietary software (SOUNDMDL, Godot, DUCTS) and specialized instrumentation.
Product overview
BKL Consultants is an employee-owned acoustical consulting firm offering a unified suite of professional services rather than a packaged software product. Its core service portfolio spans five main areas: Building Acoustics Design Services, Environmental Noise and Vibration Assessment, Noise and Vibration Control, Sound and Vibration Measurements, and Sound and Vibration Predictions. These services are complemented by a sixth offering, Instrumentation and Software, which encompasses the specialized equipment and tools the firm uses and develops to deliver its consulting work. The firm operates exclusively in acoustical consulting without affiliation to any product manufacturer or sales organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Building Acoustics Design Services Acoustical design services for building envelopes covering interior geometry, surface treatments, wall constructions, and noise from building systems. Delivered to owners, developers, and architects for all building types.
- Environmental Noise and Vibration Assessment Assessment of noise and vibration impacts considering land use, receptors, the existing environment, propagation, mitigation options, and stakeholder communication. Addresses annoyance, sleep disturbance, speech interference, rattling, wildlife habitat loss, and structural damage.
- Noise and Vibration Control Development of noise and vibration control solutions for mechanical and electrical equipment, road traffic, and neighbour noise, using expertise, instrumentation, and software tools.
- Sound and Vibration Measurements Architectural, environmental, industrial, and occupational noise and vibration measurements performed to internationally recognized standards, from baseline to commissioning, including footfall noise, sound leakage, and reverberation time.
- Sound and Vibration Predictions Sound and vibration predictions using specialized acoustics software (Cadna/A, Odeon, EASE, SOUNDMDL) and in-house tools, providing graphics and auralizations for clear technical and public communication.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200 collective years of experience across the team
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use BKL Consultants
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BKL Consultants technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
BKL Consultants partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NSDA ArchitectscoreBKL worked closely with NSDA Architects on the Pacific Autism Family Centre project (2013-2016). NSDA designed the facility and collaborated with BKL on acoustical features and building material recommendations to minimize noise ingress from Vancouver International Airport.
- Bing Thom (Architect)coreBKL worked with architect Bing Thom early in the design phase to develop acoustical solutions for the Guildford Aquatic Centre, including water-resistant acoustical treatment integrated into the unique ceiling truss design.
- StructureCraftminorBKL worked with StructureCraft, the firm that designed and manufactured the trusses for the Guildford Aquatic Centre, to customize acoustical treatments and integrate them into the final construction.
- WSP (formerly WSP Canada)minorBKL was hired by WSP to assess the noise impacts of the Hamilton Transit Centre project, working as part of the design team alongside WSP's project management.
- Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (Port of Vancouver)coreSince 2010, BKL has held ongoing contracts with the Port of Vancouver, including a three-year contract analyzing and reporting on the Port's 11 permanent noise monitoring terminals. BKL developed comprehensive noise monitoring and nuisance management plans for Canada's largest port.
- Professional Organizations (Engineers and Geoscientists BC, CAA, IOA, INCE, ASA, ASHRAE, PMI, ACEC-BC, ACEC, AES, WELL)minorBKL maintains active memberships in professional organizations including Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Canadian Acoustical Association (CAA), Project Management Institute (PMI), Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – BC (ACEC-BC), Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Institute of Acoustics (IOA), Engineers Yukon, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC), Audio Engineering Society (AES), Acoustical Society of America (ASA), and International WELL Building Institute (WELL).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BKL Consultants competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Acentech: US-based acoustical consulting and AV design firm providing building acoustics, environmental noise, and vibration services. Comparable to BKL in service portfolio and project-based consulting model, though larger and US-focused.
- Aercoustics Engineering Ltd. Canadian acoustical engineering and vibration consulting firm serving building, environmental, and industrial markets across Canada. Closest like-for-like peer to BKL given similar service mix, Canadian footprint, and project-based delivery model.
- Cavanaugh Tocci Associates: Independent acoustical consulting firm in the US offering building acoustics, environmental noise, and industrial noise/vibration services. Similar size and specialty positioning to BKL with comparable project types.
- Shen Milsom Wilke: Acoustical, audiovisual, and vibration consulting firm serving architectural, environmental, and infrastructure clients. Comparable to BKL in core acoustical services and engineering-led delivery model.
- Jasco Applied Sciences: Acoustical, noise, and vibration consulting firm operating across Canada with a strong focus on underwater acoustics, environmental noise, and architectural acoustics. Comparable to BKL in scope of acoustical services and Canadian client base.
Broad incumbents
- Arup: Global engineering consultancy with a renowned acoustics practice spanning buildings, transport, and environmental noise. Comparable to BKL on technically demanding projects but with much broader geographic and service reach.
- Stantec: Large global engineering consultancy with acoustics expertise across buildings, transportation, and environmental sectors. Comparable as a competitor for major infrastructure and building acoustics mandates in Canada.
- WSP: Global professional services firm with a sizeable acoustics and vibration team serving buildings, transportation, and infrastructure. Has directly engaged BKL as a sub-consultant, evidencing overlap in capability and client base.
- RWDI: Canadian-based engineering consultancy specializing in environmental, wind, and acoustic services. Overlaps with BKL on environmental noise and vibration assessments for infrastructure and building projects in Canada.
- SLR Consulting: Global environmental and engineering consultancy with a dedicated acoustics practice serving building, infrastructure, and industrial clients. Overlaps with BKL on environmental noise and building acoustics but offers a much broader service portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BKL Consultants social profiles
Digital presenceBKL Consultants financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BKL Consultants leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
BKL Consultants funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BKL Consultants M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BKL Consultants
What does BKL Consultants do?
BKL Consultants provides professional acoustical engineering, noise, and vibration consulting services to building owners, developers, architects, governments, and industrial clients. The firm delivers building acoustics design, environmental noise and vibration assessments, noise and vibration control solutions, and sound and vibration measurements and predictions using proprietary software (SOUNDMDL, Godot, DUCTS) and specialized instrumentation.
Is BKL Consultants a public or private company?
BKL Consultants is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was BKL Consultants founded?
BKL Consultants was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BKL Consultants based?
BKL Consultants is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada, in the North America region.
How does BKL Consultants make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Acoustical Consulting Services.
Who are BKL Consultants's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Acentech, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd., Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Shen Milsom Wilke and Jasco Applied Sciences. Broad incumbents are Arup, Stantec, WSP, RWDI and SLR Consulting.
Does BKL Consultants have an API?
No public API is recorded for BKL Consultants.
What industry is BKL Consultants in?
BKL Consultants's product category is Acoustical Engineering Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAG, Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting. Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8711.