The Challenge: When a Space is Too Loud to Work Properly
We are often faced with the challenge of an open-plan office with several meeting rooms and collaboration areas. The design is impressive: glass walls, hard floors, exposed ceilings. But day-to-day, these features prove impractical.
Common problems in this space include:
- Echo and reverberation that make voices blur together
- Meeting room conversations leaking into neighbouring spaces
- Video calls where remote participants struggle to hear clearly
- Constant background noise from footfall, HVAC and nearby discussions
Turning the volume up doesn’t fix the problem, but amplifies it.
The Objective: Improve Clarity Without Compromising Design
In projects like this, clients typically want to:
- Improve speech clarity and reduce listening fatigue
- Control noise without making spaces feel enclosed or over-treated
- Protect privacy in meeting rooms and sensitive areas
- Support video conferencing and AV performance
- Preserve, or enhance, the look and feel of the space
The Solution: What Acoustic Treatment Looks Like in Practice
Here’s what a typical acoustic treatment solution for this type of workspace might include.
Wall & Ceiling Acoustic Panels
Panels are installed at key reflection points on walls and ceilings to absorb echo before it builds up.
In this space, panels were specified in finishes that matched existing colour palettes and materials, allowing them to sit naturally within the interior design rather than standing out as technical additions.
Ceiling Baffles
In open-plan areas and spaces with exposed ceilings, suspended acoustic baffles are introduced to control sound travel without blocking light or sightlines.
The baffles are arranged seamlessly and colour-matched to ceiling elements, turning a functional requirement into a visual feature.
Acoustic Carpeting & Drapes
Carpets are introduced in high-traffic routes to soften footfall noise, while heavy curtains are added near glazed walls to absorb reflected and external sound.
These elements double as design finishes, improving comfort acoustically while reinforcing the warmth and texture of the space.
Soundproofing & Acoustic Insulation
For our client, confidentiality was critical so absorption alone wasn’t enough.
Solving this problem includes:
- Acoustic underlays to reduce noise transfer between floors
- High-density wall insulation to stop conversations carrying
- Acoustic door and window seals to block external distractions
These elements are concealed within the build, delivering privacy without altering the room’s appearance.
The Outcome: A Space That Sounds Calm and Looks Intentional
After treatment, the transformation is clear but not visually disruptive and the space now offers:
- Clear, natural speech without raised voices
- Reduced background noise across open areas
- Private conversations that stay private
- Improved audio quality for video conferencing
- An interior that still feels clean, modern and design-led
Well-designed acoustic treatment delivers spaces that support communication, protect focus and enhance AV performance, without sacrificing the aesthetic intent of the environment.
