FISTA proceeding with anechoic chamber project

FISTA Development Trust Authority is proceeding with a project years in the making: an anechoic chamber.

In simplest terms, the chamber is a soundproof room that absorbs echoes and electromagnetic waves, with walls, ceiling and floor covered with sound-absorbing materials that prevent sound waves from bouncing. Such chambers have both military and commercial applications, FISTA Innovation Park CEO Krista Ratliff has said, of plans by FISTA to make the facility available to both defense contractors and commercial entities that will pay for the privilege.

Members of the FISTA Development Trust Authority voted earlier this month to look at anechoic chamber manufacturers and construction firms, for a project that will be funded via an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant provided to FISTA.

Trustees actually took two steps, starting with a decision to solicit qualifications from anechoic chamber manufacturers. Selection will allow FISTA to “take the next step” in the project, Ratliff said, to include setting specifications for building the facility.

Step two was approving solicitations that will allow FISTA to hire a manager to oversee construction of a structure to house the anechoic chamber or chambers, depending on the project selected, Ratliff said. That structure will be the “perimeter building,” which is expected to be built on the south side of Central Plaza, behind what used to be Dillard’s and Old Navy.

Ratliff said the expectation is a pre-fab metal building, but also will include specialized slab work because of vibrations from the chamber that must be taken into account.

Ratliff said the trust authority’s decision was just for solicitation of the construction manager for the containment facility; details of the project itself will be decided later. Analysis of manufacturers will give FISTA an idea of available firms that build such specialized facilities, she said.

ARPA will provide about $7 million for the project.