Cyril Manton Harris (June 20, 1917 – January 4, 2011) was

Professor Emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...

and Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

. He received his

B.S. A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...

in mathematics and his

M.S. A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

from

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

, and his

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

in physics from

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

(MIT), where he specialized in acoustics. He co-authored with

Vern Oliver Knudsen Vern Oliver Knudsen (December 27, 1893 – May 13, 1974) was an American acoustical physicist. Biography Knudsen received his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) with an A.B. in 1915. Following his graduation from BYU Knudsen ...

the book ''Acoustical Designing in Architecture'', and edited several others, including ''Handbook of Noise Control'', ''Shock and Vibration Handbook'', ''Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture'', ''Dictionary of Architecture and Construction'' and ''American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia''. These books are recognized as authoritative references in their field. As a consultant, Harris participated in the design and construction of more than 100 halls, including the

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, Lincoln Center Metropolitan Opera House,

Abravanel Hall Abravanel Hall is a concert hall in Salt Lake City, Utah that is home to the Utah Symphony, and is part of the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts. The hall is an architectural landmark in the city, and is adjacent to Temple Square and the ...

, Benaroya Hall and Conrad Prebys Concert Hall in

University of California, San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego or colloquially, UCSD) is a public land-grant research university in San Diego, California. Established in 1960 near the pre-existing Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego is t ...

. Harris was a Fellow of the

Acoustical Society of America The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is an international scientific society founded in 1929 dedicated to generating, disseminating and promoting the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications. The Society is primarily a voluntary org ...

. He served on the Executive Council (1954–1957), was vice president (1960–1961) and president (1964–1965) of the society, and was an associate editor of the

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America The ''Journal of the Acoustical Society of America'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of acoustics. It is published by the Acoustical Society of America and the editor-in-chief is James F. Lynch (Woods Hole Oceanog ...

(1959–1971). He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences,

National Academy of Engineering The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Engineering is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of ...

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

and several other professional societies and advisory boards. Harris served as president (1993) and chairman of the Board (1994) of the

New York Academy of Sciences The New York Academy of Sciences (originally the Lyceum of Natural History) was founded in January 1817 as the Lyceum of Natural History. It is the fourth oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization wi ...

. His achievements in auditorium acoustics were recognized by the

Wallace Clement Sabine Medal The Wallace Clement Sabine Medal of the Acoustical Society of America is presented to an individual of any nationality who has advanced the science of architectural acoustics, either by being published in professional journals or periodicals, or b ...

of the Acoustical Society of America, the

Franklin Medal The Franklin Medal was a science award presented from 1915 until 1997 by the Franklin Institute The Franklin Institute is a science museum and the center of science education and research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Am ...

(1977), the AES Gold Medal (1984), the

Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology The Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology is given annually to recognise important members of the science and engineering communities in New York City. Candidates must live or work in the city. Nominations are submitted in five ca ...

(1985) and the

ASA Gold Medal The ASA Gold Medal is an annual award presented by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) to individuals in recognition of outstanding contributions to acoustics. The Gold Medal was first presented in 1954 and is the highest award of the ASA. Pa ...

(1987). He held honorary doctorates from the

New Jersey Institute of Technology {{Infobox university , name = {{nowrap, New Jersey Institute of Technology , image = New Jersey IT seal.svg , image_upright = 0.9 , former_names = Newark College of Engineering (1930–1975)Ne ...

and from

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

References

External links

* Cyril M. Harris paper finding aid
Held by the Department of Drawings & Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Cyril M. Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty 1917 births People from Detroit 2011 deaths Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering Fellows of the Acoustical Society of America ASA Gold Medal recipients University of California, Los Angeles alumni Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni