October 23, 2000
Lehigh Valley International Airport Holds Open House for Newly Sound Insulated Church

Contact: Susan Kittle
Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority
1-800-FLY-LVIA

Lehigh Valley, Pa. - Airport officials announced today that an open house would be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 24, 2000 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church to showcase improvements made to the Church sanctuary as part of a project under the Airport Authority's sound insulation program. The project was designed to upgrade certain portions of the church building in an effort to reduce aircraft noise levels inside the sanctuary.

The Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is located in Hanover Township, Lehigh County on Grove Road between Airport Road and Schoenersville Road. The Church is approximately 2,000 feet east of the end of Runway 24 at Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA) and within the 64 DNL contour as defined by the FAA-approved Noise Exposure Map for LVIA. The Church qualified for sound insulation based on eligibility criteria found in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 150 and the FAA approved the Church to receive sound insulation as part of the Airport Authority's Noise Compatibility Program. Wyle Acoustics Group, an operating group of Wyle Laboratories, Inc. provided acoustical and project management services with assistance from F. Pat Cerullo, Architect, of Bethlehem. The construction phase of the project was awarded to Lipsky Enterprises, Inc. of Bayport, New York and ASL Mechanical, a Bethlehem firm.

FAA funding for the project was provided though grant number 3042-0001-33-97. The construction modifications performed under the $111,111 budget included the installation of high STC-rated acoustic vinyl frame windows placed over 13 existing stained glass windows in the Church sanctuary, replacement of 2 traditional windows with rated sound insulated windows, acoustical treatments in all roof vents and eaves and an upgraded HVAC system to provide air cooling to the sanctuary.

"I am extremely pleased that we were able to bring our sound insulation program to this church community to provide long-awaited relief from aircraft noise", reported George F. Doughty, Executive Director for the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority. He went on to say; "In that we were able to provide the Church with a greatly improved worship environment both on schedule and under budget, the project was an all around success".

Lehigh Valley International Airport is located near Allentown, Pennsylvania and serves a twelve county area with a population of 2.3 million people. The Airport is easily accessible from communities in Northern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.