The Canadian engineering firm Atelier 7 hz brings its expertise in acoustics and vibrations to Nantes
“Ensuring a comfortable sound and vibration environment in living spaces” is the mission of Atelier 7 hz. Based in Montreal and Quebec, the 15-person engineering firm provides acoustics and vibration consulting services for building construction and environmental noise monitoring. Atelier 7 hz primarily works during the design phase but also monitors construction phases and performs performance verification measurements. The firm is involved in large-scale projects such as the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital near Montreal (comparable in size to the Nantes University Hospital). 7 hz’s scope extends beyond buildings: “we measure noise and vibrations inside, but also nuisances generated by highway construction or train traffic,” explains Raphaël Duée, founder and president.
Connected monitoring stations
Through a research tax credit granted by Canadian authorities, Atelier 7 hz has developed “permanent monitoring stations” for tracking noise and vibrations. Powered by solar panels, these autonomous devices are installed near construction sites, highways, or airports to monitor their acoustic and vibrational environment. The collected data is transmitted in real-time to a server. “We’ve developed an additional feature based on artificial intelligence that can detect events like the passage of an airplane or train, providing detailed statistical analyses,” says Raphaël Duée.
From Montreal to Nantes
After twelve years in Quebec, Raphaël Duée decided to return to Europe with his family, with the goal of replicating the company’s success. “I have no roots in Nantes and my wife is Canadian. After studying several cities, Nantes appeared to offer the right environment for both family life and professional development, thanks to its energy, the presence of major projects, and proximity to the ocean. I also appreciated the more relaxed approach to work relationships here. Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement gave us the keys to understand the local environment and facilitated our first steps,” he explains. Next step: business development, with the goal of building a new team to cover the western region of France.
