{"id":13092,"date":"2018-12-07T08:45:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/architizer.wpengine.com\/acoustics-open-office-plan\/"},"modified":"2022-05-31T05:24:02","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T09:24:02","slug":"acoustics-open-office-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/practice\/details\/acoustics-open-office-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"\u200bQuiet, Please: How to Design Acoustics for an Open Plan Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

The jury is deliberating... stay tuned for the winners of<\/i> Architizer's A+Product Awards<\/i><\/span><\/a>! Register for the <\/i>A+Product Awards Newsletter<\/i><\/span><\/a> to receive future program updates.<\/i><\/p>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever since the open office plan was introduced as the so-called \u2018best design option\u2019 for the 21st-century workplace, a major debate<\/a> has been circulating about whether or not this has actually been more helpful or harmful to workers\u2019 productivity levels.<\/p>\n

Fair arguments have been presented on both sides, and, now, architects are challenged with trying to input acoustic solutions in both types of environments. Though some people have claimed the open office plan is dead, architects can\u2019t fully rule out the need for knowing how to design them. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to understand what products are out there that can help you smartly plan and specify<\/a> for such a project. There are dozens of sound-related questions to ask about designing open office plans, and a primer in the basics can give you a sound footing on which to begin.<\/p>\n

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Image and isometric diagram of the High Profile Series\u2122<\/a><\/i><\/i>\u2013 Horizontally Curved Baffles<\/a> by Hunter Douglas Architectural <\/i><\/p>\n

Hunter Douglas Architectural<\/a> produces acoustic solutions for commercial projects around the world. Having produced linear metal ceilings for nearly 60 years, their philosophy on acoustic design comes from this rich history of detailing expertly crafted spaces. Over the years, they\u2019ve predicted rising architectural trends using other innovative materials like felt, fabric, aluminum and wood. In the minds of a manufacturer like Hunter Douglas, the architect should think about the different tonalities that might permeate throughout their proposed design before beginning each project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe needs of the users must be integrated into the design,\u201d they said. \u201cWe ask whether the objective is to reduce sound reverberation within the space or to reduce transmitted noise from room to room.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ecoustic Veneer<\/a> by Unika Vaev<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Once the design team answers this question, it\u2019s easier to determine which acoustic solution will best fit a particular project. The Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association<\/a> (CISCA) suggests that addressing several different work modes within a singular design is the key to creating comfortable sound within a massive space. These three plans can help you decide which work zones need to stay silent and which ones should sound busy.<\/p>\n

1. Open Plan: Designing for Focus<\/h2>\n

In areas where employees will be completing assignments solo, noise distraction must be nearly null. Architects should consider a ceiling or wall solution with a high NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) rating and a moderate CAC (Ceiling Attenuation Class).<\/p>\n

2. Open Plan: Designing for Collaboration<\/h2>\n

In areas where employees are encouraged to take on assignments and activities that require verbal teamwork, voices should be able to be heard in a hushed tone and minimal between teams. Architects should consider using products that help create a moderate-to-high NRC and moderate CAC. Spot acoustics<\/a>, input in specific locales for maximizing sound absorption, should also be used for added control.<\/p>\n

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SoftGrid<\/a> by Arktura<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

3. Closed Plan: Designing for Privacy<\/h2>\n

In areas where employees should be able to talk one-on-one with full range of voice, ceilings should be equipped with a high CAC rating, which will block sound from adjoining rooms. These spaces should also have a moderate NRC rating to fight against reverberation.<\/p>\n

Companies like Hunter Douglas often have trouble helping architects understand the trade-off between clean aesthetics and acoustical performance. Many commercial clients, chasing an industrial interior aesthetic, want to incorporate fully open plenums or concrete ceilings. But these conditions often discourage private conversations and make loud noises sound even louder. If this type of look is integral to a project\u2019s overall design, then the architect should consider using even higher quality products on the ceilings and walls \u2014 ones that don\u2019t take away from the edgy design but rather enhance it \u2014 to mitigate the noise.<\/p>\n

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Soft Sound<\/a> by Arktura<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

According to a 2014 study conducted by Steelcase and Ipsos<\/a>, workers lose an average of 86 minutes per day due to noise distractions. With major tech companies like Facebook<\/a> going all-in on the open office plan in their most recent company constructions, it\u2019s unlikely that this workplace design trend is going away anytime soon. For now, architects have to figure out how to ideally configure a large space to suit different types of work styles.<\/p>\n

After all, in a way, work is synonymous with focusing, whether that\u2019s in a group setting or not. It\u2019s the architect\u2019s job to design for focus so that the client can get the most out of both their work-space and their employees. It all starts with acoustics.<\/p>\n

The jury is deliberating... stay tuned for the winners of<\/i> Architizer's A+Product Awards<\/i><\/span><\/a>! Register for the <\/i>A+Product Awards Newsletter<\/i><\/span><\/a> to receive future program updates.<\/i><\/p>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Designing for sounds in a large work-space requires some careful planning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"projects","architizer_featured_image":"2201918","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[9985,10559,9102],"architizer_firm":[],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-13092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-details","category-practice","architizer_brand-arktura","architizer_brand-hunter-douglas","architizer_brand-unika-vaev"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u200bQuiet, Please: How to Design Acoustics for an Open Plan Office - Architizer Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Designing acoustics in a large work-space requires some careful planning. 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