The ways in which people utilise office space has changed significantly over a number of years.
From highly cellularised spaces, to more open plan working, right through to co-working, a more flexible approach to office acoustic design is required, particularly since the pandemic.
The increase in hybrid working has seen an increase in the requirement for dedicated VC spaces and ‘zoom rooms’ within lively collaborative open plan areas, which can create conflicts acoustically.
The key considerations acoustically for office spaces are speech privacy and the acoustic quality within spaces. This encompasses background noise levels (which must be neither too high nor too low), sound insulation between spaces, and acoustic finishes.
Acoustics is a fundamental part of the health and wellbeing of team members, and acoustic comfort needs to be considered as part of the overall design.
Whether constructing a new speculative base build, or carrying out a fit-out of an existing space, having an experienced acoustic consultant on board will provide valuable input as to the issues faced and appropriate measures that can be adopted. 
