Noisy office? Savvy space management controls the flow of sound in open offices

As open-plan offices get more common, companies are looking for ways to help their staff control noise more sensitively

Managing director Ben Breen of design consultancy Space Matrix in a private phone booth at his company. Arup's associate principal acoustic and audiovisual engineer Xu Jingfeng (above) at the firm's SoundLab.
Arup's associate principal acoustic and audiovisual engineer Xu Jingfeng (above) at the firm's SoundLab. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Managing director Ben Breen of design consultancy Space Matrix in a private phone booth at his company. Arup's associate principal acoustic and audiovisual engineer Xu Jingfeng (above) at the firm's SoundLab.
Managing director Ben Breen of design consultancy Space Matrix in a private phone booth at his company. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The Great Room Offices' lounge area (above) with a variety of seating options and carrels (left).
The Great Room Offices' lounge area with a variety of seating options and carrels (above). ST PHOTOS: LEE JIA WEN
The Great Room Offices' lounge area (above) with a variety of seating options and carrels (left).
The Great Room Offices' lounge area (above) with a variety of seating options and carrels. ST PHOTOS: LEE JIA WEN
There is a combination of open meeting spaces and cosy workstations in Oracle's Digital Hub (left and right) in Pasir Panjang Road.
There is a combination of open meeting spaces and cosy workstations in Oracle's Digital Hub (above) in Pasir Panjang Road. PHOTOS: BLACKBIRD PRODUCTIONS
There is a combination of open meeting spaces and cosy workstations in Oracle's Digital Hub (left and right) in Pasir Panjang Road.
There is a combination of open meeting spaces and cosy workstations in Oracle's Digital Hub (above) in Pasir Panjang Road. PHOTOS: BLACKBIRD PRODUCTIONS
Toh Wen Li
Updated
Jul 07, 2018, 09:14 AM
Published
Jul 07, 2018, 05:00 AM
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There is an old saying in theatre that the best kind of sound design does not draw attention to itself.

In the realm of the workplace, this certainly rings true.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 07, 2018, with the headline Noisy office? Savvy space management controls the flow of sound in open offices. Subscribe

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