What Cavanaugh Tocci Associates does

Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, founded in 1975 by Bill Cavanaugh and Greg Tocci, is a private acoustics, audiovisual, and theater consulting firm headquartered at 327 F Boston Post Road in Sudbury, Massachusetts, approximately 20 miles west of Boston. The firm operates with 17 full-time consultants holding advanced degrees in acoustics, mechanical and electrical engineering, physics, architecture, theater, and music, and has completed more than 15,000 projects across its history, including dedicated environmental acoustics work on over 300 warehouse and distribution facilities.

The firm is organized around four practice areas: Architectural Acoustics (sound isolation, room acoustics, HVAC noise control, vibration isolation); Environmental Acoustics (ISO 9613-compliant computer noise modeling with GIS integration, regulatory review, and peer review); Audiovisual Design (sound and video systems using Revit, CAD, and loudspeaker modeling); and Theater Consulting (venue design, seating, lighting, rigging, machinery, contract documents, and acceptance testing). Core tools include the ISO 9613-compliant Cadna/A modeling environment, Revit and CAD, loudspeaker modeling software, and GIS-integrated analysis for noise prediction at receptors incorporating topography, barriers, and zoning layers. The firm maintains an active publication record, including co-authored textbooks such as 'Architectural Acoustics—Principles and Practice' and 'Halls for Music Performance,' and contributes to ANSI standards for speech privacy and room criteria.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements priced by scope rather than disclosed unit pricing. Distribution is exclusively direct: the firm engages architects, engineers, developers, institutional owners, government entities, and municipalities through proposal writing, scoping, and project lifecycle work from schematic design through commissioning, and participates in permitting processes as an expert witness. Customers span higher education (Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, Northeastern, University of Rochester, Boston Arts Academy), K-12 (Saugus, Chapman, Mount Ararat, Arlington, Phillips Academy), performance venues (Roadrunner Boston, The United Theater, Ventura Music Hall), sports facilities (The Track at New Balance, Cornell and Brown recreation centers), industrial and logistics clients, energy facilities across New England, and hospitality (Weekapaug Inn, Lawson's Finest Liquids). Marketing channels are limited to a project portfolio on the firm's website, professional society participation (ASA, INCE, AES, NCAC, USITT), public meeting presentations, and referral networks within the A/E/C community. Leadership is transitioning in 2026 with Alex Bagnall appointed Managing Director, following Tim Foulkes's retirement in 2025 and the conclusion of Douglas Bell's presidency (2014-2025).

Name

Cavanaugh Tocci Associates

Legal name

Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Inc.

Website

https://cavtocci.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cavanaugh Tocci Associates is a private acoustics, audiovisual, and theater consulting firm founded in 1975, providing ISO 9613-compliant noise modeling, sound isolation, and AV system design to architects, universities, performance venues, industrial clients, and government entities across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sudbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Acoustics and AV Consulting Services: Professional consulting services in all facets of acoustics plus audiovisual, lighting and theater. Services span from brief consultations to complete consulting engagements including design, noise/vibration monitoring, computer modeling, public outreach, and post-construction studies. Revenue is earned through project-based consulting engagements with architects, engineers, developers, institutions, and municipalities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cavanaugh Tocci Associates is a consulting firm providing professional services across architectural acoustics (sound isolation, room acoustics, HVAC noise control, and vibration isolation), environmental acoustics (ambient sound measurement, ISO 9613-compliant computer noise modeling, and regulatory compliance review for industrial and community noise), audiovisual design (sound and video system design for performance venues, lecture halls, sports arenas, and conference rooms), and theater consulting (venue design, lighting, rigging, machinery, and acceptance testing). The firm delivers these services through project-based engagements for architects, engineers, developers, institutional owners, and municipalities from schematic design through commissioning.

Product overview

Cavanaugh Tocci Associates is a consulting firm offering four interconnected professional services: Architectural Acoustics (sound isolation, room acoustics, HVAC noise control, vibration isolation), Environmental Acoustics (noise analysis for industrial facilities using ISO 9613-compliant modeling), Audiovisual Design (sound and video system design for various venue types), and Theater Consulting (theatrical systems design, rigging, lighting). Founded in 1975, the firm provides these services as a unified consulting practice rather than as discrete software products or modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Acoustics Consulting services including sound isolation analysis, room acoustics tuning, interior HVAC noise control, and mechanical equipment vibration isolation for buildings such as schools, hospitals, offices, multi-family residential, music performance, and rehearsal facilities.
• Environmental Acoustics Noise analysis services for industrial facilities including ambient sound measurements, ISO 9613-compliant computer noise modeling, GIS data integration, and regulatory compliance review for municipalities and private clients, including wind turbines, solar farms, battery storage, warehouses, and quarries.
• Audiovisual Design Design of sound and video systems for performance venues, lecture halls, sports arenas, worship spaces, transportation hubs, conference rooms, and recording/television studios, including digital signal processing and system integration using Revit and CAD.
• Theater Consulting Theatrical consulting services ranging from brief consultations to complete venue design, including seating layouts, lighting, rigging and machinery design, contract document preparation for competitive bidding, and final acceptance testing of installed systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 projects completed since 1975
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regular and minor.

• HMFH ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaborative relationship on multiple K-12 school projects including Saugus MS/HS and Chapman Middle School. HMFH Architects serves as the architect while CTA provides theatrical, audiovisual, and architectural acoustics consulting from schematic design through commissioning.
• Perkins EastmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Boston Arts Academy project as architect of record while CTA provided theatrical consulting, audiovisual design, and architectural acoustics.
• Wilson Butler ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater design sub-consultant on Boston Arts Academy project, with Wilson Butler handling theater design scope.
• Elkus Manfredi ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect on The Track at New Balance project (455,000 SF multi-sport facility) where CTA provided comprehensive acoustical consulting from design through construction.
• BR+A (BR+A Engineers)regularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMechanical engineering sub-consultant on multiple projects including Boston Arts Academy, Sloan Performing Arts Center, and The Track at New Balance.
• Martin Vinik Planning for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater planning consultant on Founders Hall Renovation project at Milton Hershey School.
• John Moriarty & Associates (JMA)regularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on The Track at New Balance and Roadrunner projects.
• WSPregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMechanical engineering sub-consultant on The Track at New Balance and Roadrunner projects.
• Bowery BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue operator of Roadrunner Boston concert hall. CTA collaborated on developing noise control designs to allow the venue to operate without disturbing neighboring residences.
• S/L/A/M CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect on Sloan Performing Arts Center project (University of Rochester) where CTA provided audiovisual and acoustic design.
• Penniman ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect on Weekapaug Inn Meeting House project where CTA provided architectural and environmental acoustics consulting.
• Tecton ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect on The United Theater adaptive re-use project where CTA provided architectural acoustics and audiovisual design.
• Keough ConstructionregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on The United Theater renovation project.
• CHA Architects (formerly PDT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect on Mount Ararat High School project where CTA provided sound isolation, room acoustics, and HVAC noise control consulting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jaffe Holden: Acoustics, audiovisual, and technology consulting firm serving performing arts venues, civic, and higher education. Highly comparable service portfolio to CTA's architectural acoustics + AV + theater practice.
• Talaske: Acoustics and theater consulting firm based in Chicago with deep performing arts expertise. Comparable peer on CTA's theater and architectural acoustics practice, particularly for music venues and schools.
• Auerbach Pollock Friedlander: Theater planning and acoustics consulting firm serving performing arts centers, concert halls, and educational venues. Direct peer on CTA's theater consulting service line.
• Threshold Acoustics: Chicago-based acoustics consulting firm with comparable architectural acoustics, environmental noise, and AV practices. Frequently competes against CTA on mid-to-large institutional commissions.
• Acentech: Acoustics, AV, and vibration consulting firm based in Cambridge, MA. Closest direct peer to Cavanaugh Tocci in scale, service mix (architectural/environmental acoustics, AV design), and New England geography, frequently competing on the same institutional and higher-ed bids.
• Kirkegaard Associates: Acoustics and AV consulting firm based in Chicago, serving concert halls, theaters, schools, and worship spaces. Direct competitor on CTA's performing arts and higher-ed engagements at national scale.
• Cerami & Associates: Acoustics, AV, IT, and security consulting firm based in New York. Comparable service mix, especially on healthcare, corporate, and cultural projects where CTA also operates.

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering consultancy with a substantial acoustics practice serving concert halls, transit, and buildings. Larger incumbent offering overlapping capabilities as part of a much broader portfolio.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with acoustics and MEP practices. Already a listed CTA partner and a competitor when owners seek single-vendor integrated delivery.
• Buro Happold: International engineering firm with an acoustics team competing on integrated building and infrastructure projects where CTA is currently a sub-consultant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cavanaugh Tocci Associates