Acoustic design

Background noise is distracting, leads to a decrease in productivity and an increase in the number of absenteeism at work. That's why creating a workspace that minimizes all kinds of distractions is not just a task of the HR department, but a reasonable financial move. We tell you what trends are observed in acoustic design and share tips on creating the right acoustics in office spaces.

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According to statistics, 59% of working time is spent trying to concentrate. This is due to the fact that according to various estimates, it takes up to 15 minutes on average to restore attention to the task. Just imagine, according to estimates Information Overload Research Group, distractions alone within digital media cost American companies almost $1 trillion a year!

Obviously, the task of reducing the number of distractions is one of the most important when designing a modern office. It is associated with both optimal planning of work areas and high-quality acoustic design. Below are the most striking trends that we observe in the field of acoustic office design.

 

Voice interfaces
Voice user interfaces are becoming better and, as a result, more popular. As people increasingly rely on their voice assistants, noise levels in public spaces will only increase.

Multifunctional design items
The desire to get more with less is not only about saving money, but also other resources, such as space, ecology, etc. Give preference to design elements with an additional noise reduction function. For example, hanging lamps, which, in addition to lighting the space, help to soften the echo. Or an acoustically-designed pouf that absorbs sound and provides additional seating.

Biophilic design
Biophilic design, which involves landscaping the office, has brought us both aesthetic and functional advantages. Plants perfectly absorb sound, purify the air and improve mood. Creative placement of greenery or the creation of living walls will help to delimit the space and redirect the sound to the right place. And for maximum sound absorption, use plants and trees with wide leaves.

Industrial design
Along with biophilic, industrial design remains popular. And open ceilings, beams and brick walls, which are often found in such offices, require special acoustic solutions. For such cases, we advise you to take a closer look at sofas with high backs, capsules and glazed conference rooms.

Open space
Since the positive effect of social spaces only becomes more obvious over time, the open layout of offices will still remain with us. This means that the search for the best instruments for sound absorption will continue. Combine wall noise-canceling panels, ceiling partitions, telephone booths and other design tools.

 

An effective acoustic design may be invisible to most people, but its benefits are easy to see. Employees will feel more comfortable at work knowing that they have places for privacy and communication where they will not interfere with others. Regardless of whether we design an area for individual or group work, high-quality acoustics will improve the efficiency of work in it. Below are our tips on acoustic design for 8 zones of office space.

 

Cafe

Cleanliness problems in cafes often dictate the need for hard surfaces, so noise in these rooms can be a problem. The first priority is the maximum absorption of sound, and the second priority is its containment inside the space.

Useful tips

• Install wall products at full height so that the sound does not spread from one room to another.
• Try not to have quiet areas nearby, such as individual workplaces.
• When holding large meetings in a cafe, especially with hands-free communication systems, installing a powerful sound-absorbing material on the back wall behind the speaker will significantly improve the intelligibility of her speech.
• Increase the number of absorbing surfaces by adding wall and ceiling elements such as acoustic lighting and self-adhesive acoustic wallpaper.
• Add screens to reduce noise and identify different spaces within the area and between groups.

Check out the acoustic wall panels in our catalog.

 

Individual workplaces
The main priority in these rooms is the addition of absorbing surfaces that minimize reflections and reduce the overall sound level.

Useful tips

• Consider acoustic floor materials, such as carpet tiles with a sound-proof backing.
• Using screens in open workplaces helps to reduce unwanted noise for better focus while still being able to stay in touch with colleagues.
• Use architectural walls at the full height of the room to prevent sound from moving from one zone to another.
• Create places for communication that are either far from the workplace or behind a special fence.

Check out the acoustic desktop panels in our catalog.

Meeting and conference rooms

For both large and small meetings, this space should provide effective collaboration, subject to sound activity from neighboring rooms and adjacent territories. Ensuring the confidentiality of conversations in meeting rooms is another requirement. Therefore, walls in the entire height of the room are simply necessary.

Useful tips

• Products with double glazing provide greater insulation than products with single glazing.
• A soft surface, such as a carpet, fabric or foam product, can absorb sound, reducing extraneous noise in the room.
• Carpets and carpets, especially with elastic lining, have excellent sound-absorbing properties.
• Use microphones and absorbing lighting above the table for better speech quality.

Check out the acoustic booths for organizing meeting rooms in an open space.

Lobby
In this warm, welcoming and memorable space, first impressions are formed that set the tone for the brand and culture, not an echo. Acoustics can play a big role in making it attractive.

Useful tips

• Balance solid, noise-reflecting surfaces (glass, concrete and stone) with acoustic materials (upholstered furniture, carpets or acoustic lighting).
• Place the absorbing light devices above the designated areas where personal conversations take place.
• Treating the walls along the corridor with sound-absorbing materials can reduce sound transmission between adjacent zones.

Personal Account
Personal account is designed not only for focused work, but also for formal and informal meetings. This takes on a whole new meaning for acoustics: it should limit distractions, as well as help maintain the confidentiality of personal conversations.

Useful tips

• Transparent walls can minimize the chance that someone will linger and eavesdrop on the conversation.
A higher level of sound absorption in small rooms not only creates a sense of calm, but also forces people to lower the volume of their voices, which, in turn, minimizes the risk of being heard.
• Curtains are another way to increase absorption and reduce reverberation, as well as allow the user to control the lighting of the room.

Familiarize yourself with acoustic walls to maintain the necessary level of noise insulation.

Project room
Innovations, creative ideas are created in this zone and work is in full swing, which means noise is born. Accordingly, the main mission here is the creative management of acoustics.

Useful tips

• Make the most of absorbing materials to reduce the sound level in the room.
• Use full-height walls to contain the sounds of activity and minimize the distraction of people in neighboring rooms.

Recreation area
The second name is the zone of silence, which requires proper acoustics.

Useful Tips

• Use window curtains to control the amount of natural light.
• Consider a biophilic approach to the design of this type of premises.

Shared spaces
This flexible space involves collaboration for groups of different sizes, so acoustics should be the focus.

Useful tips

• Consider using double glazing and acoustic panels as partitions.
• Consider your privacy needs when planning the placement of furniture in the space.

 

 

IC BUSINESS INTERIORS offers a variety of furniture and interior items for effective acoustic office design. You can get acquainted with them in our online store. We also provide services for the creation of a modern turnkey office and complex interior equipment from Europe.