Office Acoustics and Productivity
Productivity
Wellness and Productivity are buzzwords that everyone is chasing. Every online guru seems to have found an answer to productivity through work hacks and dialing in planning systems. Yet, year by year people continue to talk about what improves productivity.
Having spent almost 40 years in the office furniture and commercial interior industry we have learned a few things about what makes a productive office, even before a person ever walks into the space.
Since the switch to open plan office spaces, the environment has taken a major role in how employees feel, interact, and produce in the office. A baseline component that can make or break productivity is the acoustics in your office space. Irrelevant noise has been a plague for the open-plan office and there are a few things that can be done to conquer this workplace pest.
Find the Right Noise
Working in an environment that is too quiet can be unnerving. It also opens the opportunity for unwanted sounds to enter the walls of your office. These unwanted sounds serve as a distraction for people with heads-down work to do.
Introducing white noise into your office space is a simple solution to disruptive, outside sounds. White noise creates a “noise floor” that masks unsettling sounds. In effect, this makes your work environment more enjoyable and therefore more productive.
We recommend Steve Johnson of ADI. He is the most reliable and knowledgeable technician in the industry.
Steve Johnson ADI Acoustics.
https://adiacoustics.com/
Is There an Echo in Here?
Acoustic artwork and panels are a great way to not only help control echo and volume in your workspace, but they can play a major role in the design and aesthetic of the office, lobby, waiting room, or café area.
Sound bounces from one surface to another, so placing your panels or acoustic artwork in a way that minimizes reflection will make a major difference.
Loftwall is a front runner in creating acoustic systems that drastically improve the sound in a space. They create an amazing visual aesthetic as well. Check out some of these great products from Loftwall.
Space in a Space
Using architectural products with built in dividers or walls to surround people while in a conversation is a great way to both create a quiet meeting space and improve the overall sound and feel of your office. There are countless products that can help to create a room within a room of any size. OFS has placed a high value on these types of products, such as walled benching like OFS LeanTo, and other full room options, such as OFS Obeya and Loftwall Rooms.
Side Benefit
Another benefit of using acoustic panels and movable dividers is the increase in safety during the return to the office period, that follows the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety will continue to be a major factor for employers and their HR departments.
Before your next office remodel reconfiguration, or interior design project, think about acoustics first. Making your environment productive is going to help any employee reach their greatest potential. Do you need help with inspiration or finding the right acoustic products for your office, lobby, hospitality, or healthcare space? Contact the furniture specialists at Source Four.
