The use of various materials in office equipment offers designers opportunities for originality and innovation. Let’s take a closer look at acoustics and sound insulation in office design composition to create inspiring workplaces that satisfy the three main senses: visual, tactile and auditory.
Every second, 2 billion bits of data enter our minds; however, we can only process 2 million of them. Each of us filters the processed data in different ways. For this reason, people react differently to their surroundings. Some people focus more on the appearance of the space, some on the feel of the materials, and some on the sounds around them. Silence has almost become a luxury today.
The number of people who are disturbed by the noise in modern offices due to their job or character, and whose productivity decreases, is increasing. Open offices, designed with the idea of encouraging collaboration and communication, have advantages such as natural light, spaciousness and sociality; however, the irrelevant noise that we encounter as a side effect of such large offices, according to some foreign studies, disturbs more than half of the employees and negatively affects their productivity.
Noisy office workers can lose concentration on their work. Not all unwanted sounds in offices are noise. An office that is too quiet can also be disruptive, so the acoustic levels in the workplace and office culture will depend on the type of activities taking place.
A good acoustic office design should address the dispersion and echoing of sound by using materials that absorb excess noise to improve communication between teams, reduce disruptions from unwanted conversations, allow privacy for private phone conversations, and allow employees to better focus on complex, concentrated tasks.
Movable Wall
What is expected from an acoustic office is to create various work areas, partitions and meeting rooms where employees can talk and work without having to raise their voices.
Employee Productivity
The variety of materials in office furniture and partitions can help you create spaces that affect health and productivity. Hard floor surfaces and open office environments absorb less sound; however, insulation in floors reduces echo. Using materials such as carpets, upholstery made from natural fabrics, and vinyl floors help minimize sounds.
A variety of furniture and materials can be used to block sound. High-performance acoustic ceiling tiles are essential in combating poor workplace acoustics. Sound at most frequencies can also be absorbed by a variety of materials, such as felt storage units and shelving.
In noisier environments, sound can also be reduced by using physical barriers. Even in an open office, partition walls and panels made of insulating materials can be used to isolate sound.
To disperse sound in open spaces, freestanding room divider screens made with sound-absorbing materials can help reduce sound waves. For a spacious feel, dividers made of glass can be used instead of opaque materials to provide transparency and light without compromising acoustic privacy.
Placing printers in a closed, glass enclosure reduces noise, preserves aesthetics, and gives employees the opportunity to see what’s going on and get inspired.
Creating a multi-layered office design that accommodates multiple working styles will be possible by designing special areas for meetings where loud noise is unavoidable. Customer private meeting rooms, reservation compartments, soundproof partitions and acoustic partitions are such areas.
Many employees find that a lively, open office filled with the voices of their colleagues has a positive and stimulating effect on their work projects, while others find that office noise interferes with their ability to get work done and their productivity. If you are considering designing an acoustic office that will help your employees be happier and more productive, we would be happy to hear your project. Call us to find out what we can do to design the most suitable partitions and office furniture for your business and employees.