History
Founded in San Francisco in 1904, Applied Dynamics, Inc. has been on the forefront of emerging scientific and engineering technology.
SINCE 1904
The foundations of Applied Dynamics, Inc. were set in 1904 in San Francisco, California under the name of Hunter & Hudson Consulting Engineers, an active participant in the emerging scientific and engineering revolution. Clients included The University of California, Stanford University, The Hurst Family, The City and County of San Francisco, and the Federal Reserve Bank, to name a few.
Since 1904, Applied Dynamics, Inc. has been serving technology industries worldwide. Our corporate charter is to protect all facets of an owner’s or investor’s financial interests during the modeling, planning, construction, and startup of institutional, commercial or manufacturing facilities. ADI has refined its technical expertise in all aspects of site selection, financial analysis, engineering, permitting, construction and facility operations. ADI performs as an extension of staff, assembling tactical teams with the expertise to execute project goals on behalf of the owner or investors.
SEISMIC DESIGN
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake launched the firm into the seismic design arena when the company’s engineers recognized the great influence of subsurface geological “micro-zoning” on structural damage. By 1925, the company had created preliminary seismic maps for the San Francisco Bay Area. Sophisticated in-situ testing methods were developed that led to cataloging of expected seismic response of all common soil classifications. The cumulative knowledge base derived from decades of field surveys, dynamic testing, and earthquake site inspections allowed the firm to be named a voting member of the Applied Technology Council in 1970. The ATC was tasked with the development of modern seismic codes.
CHANGING WITH THE TIMES
Hunter & Hudson Consulting Engineers employed over 300 people in the 1930’s. After the passing of Thomas B. Hunter in 1956, the company name was changed to K.S. Oliphant Consulting Engineers and, under new leadership, began a transition into a technology service organization. The following year, 1957, began a 25-year client relationship with Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation that ushered in significant change and advances in wafer fabrication technologies. Many of the process tool and related factory concepts, clean room air-handling, process support systems, and vibration-resistant structural concepts taken for granted today were developed by Fairchild and K.S. Oliphant Consulting Engineers.
In 1979, the firm named was changed to Applied Dynamics, Inc. to reflect the complete shift from a design house to a technology service organization. The firm embarked on serving the dynamic new emerging technology-based companies that were transforming the Santa Clara Valley from orchards to silicon factories. ADI has enhanced these historical fundamental engineering skills with capabilities specific to semiconductor manufacturing and related technologies.
HISTORICAL CASE STUDY
The 54 passenger Pan Am Clipper, circa 1938, lacked space conditioning or pressurization. Common passenger discomfort during a 16-hour flight from Treasure Island to Hawaii included hypothermia, nausea, bloody noses and general overall discomfort.
Thomas B. Hunter had been a passenger on several extended flights into the South Pacific aboard the Martin Model 130, four-engine sea plane. He experienced the aforementioned symptoms firsthand. Hunter & Hudson Consulting Engineers had an existing relationship with Pan American Airways Company due to a variety of engineering projects associated with the Pan Am facilities in Alameda California. Pan Am retained Hunter & Hudson to prepare a set of engineering guidelines and design solutions for Martin Aircraft to follow during the retrofit program for the Flying Boat. Pan Am awarded Hunter & Hudson the contract over a Martin Aircraft bid based on the track record of both companies in the arena of problem solving. They felt a quicker solution to the variety of technical airframe and systems engineering problems would be obtained with the third-party firm of Hunter & Hudson.
The net result, after three months of study and seven months of implementation, was the development of mechanical air conditioning equipment, passenger air distribution system, cabin heating and cooling, airframe pressure testing, cabin pressurization system, and airframe thermal and acoustical insulation solutions.

Key to this study was determination of heat loss and heat gain from the fuselage using the extreme conditions of heat and humidity in Hawaii while the ship was moored to the -20 degree temperatures typically encountered during wintertime flights at 15,000 ft. These passenger environmental systems had to be architecturally integrated to the cabin interior and structural components of the airframe. The Clipper had to endure these modifications using airworthy, light-weight equipment which did not alter passenger load, cargo allowance or expected range.
Hunter & Hudson’s 50-sheet design package and 500-page specifications detailed systems which are still utilized in modern commercial jet aircraft today. The air condensing – air conditioning unit, compact vane axial fans for ventilation, multiple pane thermally insulated ports, spun fiber blanket insulation for fuselage thermal and noise control, and the familiar adjustable passenger air diffuser are a few of the enduring Clipper innovations.