Acoustic Solutions for the Built Environment
Any time you’re designing a place where you’ll pack a lot of people into a confined space, large or small, noise pollution must be part of the design process. It’s perfectly normal to see concert halls and entertainment venues outfitted with a range of elements meant to enhance, dampen, or funnel sound in specific ways so that everyone in the audience enjoys an engaging experience.
Corporate offices, conference centers, and other professional settings, on the other hand, may not even think to add these components, despite building out spaces designed to hold dozens, if not hundreds or thousands of people. Do you work in a setting where employees can overhear loud coworker conversations? Or where strange acoustics allow people at one end of a conference hall to hear conversations across the room? It’s time to find the right acoustic solutions for your space.
Functional Sound Solutions
Acoustic design is almost entirely dependent on functionality. Do you want to dampen and disperse sound in an office environment filled with independent employee workstations? Are you trying to eliminate dead spots in an auditorium where speakers are present? Do you want to make sure sound carries in certain areas but is minimized in others?
The size and layout of your space will also play a role in the type and placement of acoustic solutions. You might want wall, ceiling, or floor options that address absorptive, diffusive, and attenuative needs. You can even find solutions for outdoor spaces like patios. Whether you’re trying to manage sound in an office or assembly space, a conference center, or a restaurant, your first focus should be on the desired function.
Acoustic Solutions That Elevate Design
Once you’ve pinpointed your sound-absorbing, amplifying, and displacement needs, it’s time to consider options that are not only functional but offer a form that elevates your design. This could include acoustic tile walls that look like modern art installations, artificial green wall panels that add nature-inspired flair, or even wall-mounted or hanging solutions featuring properties designed to absorb sound impurities.
Acoustic elements are no longer limited to unsightly foam egg crates tacked to the wall. Modern design has not only created incredible sound attenuating functionality but products that beautify and elevate your space.
Impact of Sound-Absorbing Materials on LEED or WELL Certification
The work environment has a marked impact on human health and wellness. Several organizations have sought to create health, wellness, comfort, efficiency, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness standards. LEED and WELL are two such organizations. Both stress the importance of effective acoustic design in creating interior environments that promote well-being, productivity, and positive experiences for occupants.
If you’re unsure where to start, an acoustic consultant* can help you find the sound solutions that best meet your functional needs, aesthetic desires, and health and wellness goals. In the meantime, see all of the acoustic options discoverable on Hello Raye to create the ideal work environment.
*As always, this article is meant for inspiration, and to highlight things to consider. We recommend consulting with the product reps and/or an acoustic consultant to truly ensure your space has the correct acoustic properties to achieve the desired functionality.