Riverbank Laboratories facts for kids

Riverbank Laboratories
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
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Location	1512 Batavia Ave., Geneva, Illinois
Area	3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Built	1912
Architect	Wilson Brothers
Architectural style	Bungalow/Craftsman
NRHP reference No.	03001204
Added to NRHP	November 28, 2003

Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories (RAL) is a special place that tests how sound travels. It is also known as Riverbank or Riverbank Labs. This lab was started by George Fabyan in 1913.

Riverbank is still a very respected place for testing sound. They check how well materials block sound (called Sound Transmission Loss). They also test how well materials soak up sound (called Sound Absorption). Other tests include how much impact sound goes through (like footsteps) and how much sound a machine makes. You can find Riverbank at 1512 Batavia Ave. in Geneva, Illinois. The building also has a museum and a library about sound.

A Look Back: Riverbank's History

The building for testing sound was paid for by Colonel George Fabyan. He built it on his large Riverbank Estate in Geneva, Illinois. Colonel Fabyan was very interested in unusual sciences. People started talking about his "Riverbank laboratories" as early as 1916.

In 1913, Fabyan hired Wallace Clement Sabine, a sound expert. Fabyan wanted help with a machine that was supposed to make things float using sound. This machine was based on old writings by Sir Francis Bacon. Sabine told the colonel that the machine would not work. But they became good friends.

Sabine often complained about his old sound lab at Harvard University. So, Colonel Fabyan decided to build a brand new sound testing room for Sabine. This special room was called a reverberation chamber. It was built right on Fabyan's property.

Sabine passed away in 1919, soon after the lab was finished. His cousin, Paul Sabine, took over running the lab. Paul made the testing methods better and turned the lab into a successful business. Later, Hale Sabine and the Armour Research Foundation took charge. This foundation is now called IITRI.

In the 1960s, IITRI helped the lab grow a lot. They added a new area to test how much sound is lost through materials. Today, the lab is part of a company called Alion Science and Technology. They do advanced sound testing for many companies and government groups.

Secret Code Breaking at Riverbank

In its early days, Riverbank Laboratories also had a secret team. This team worked to break codes. They tried to figure out codes from the writings of Sir Francis Bacon and Shakespeare. They also worked on enemy military messages.

During World War I, Fabyan let the U.S. Government use Riverbank Labs. The team there helped break German and Mexican codes. Much of this important code-breaking was done by William and Elizebeth Friedman.

In 1993, the National Security Agency (NSA) honored Riverbank's work. They put up a plaque that said: "To the Memory of George Fabyan From a Grateful Government: In recognition of the voluntary and confidential service rendered by Colonel Fabyan and his Riverbank Laboratories in the sensitive areas of cryptanalysis and cryptologic training during a critical time of national need on the eve of America's entry into World War I." This building is now recognized as a National Historic Place.

Important People Who Worked Here

• William F. Friedman
• Elizebeth Smith Friedman
• Agnes Meyer Driscoll
• Wallace Clement Sabine
• Elizabeth Wells Gallup

Gallery