Interiors Are Noisy Places But Buildings Can Be Retrofitted to Ensure Acoustic Comfort and Privacy

by Robert Nieminen

There’s little doubt today’s commercial interiors—from corporate offices to hospitals, schools and hotels—look and function better than ever. It’s no wonder either; project teams tend to focus a great deal of attention on efficiency and appearance to ensure occupant comfort and productivity, particularly in the workplace.

While factors, such as daylighting, lighting controls, indoor air quality, flexible space plans and functional furniture, certainly contribute to an improved work environment, there’s more than meets the eye, however. Acoustics also play a vital role in the process of creating effectual interiors, yet it’s perhaps one of the most overlooked and underfunded elements of building design.

In fact, “the acoustical environment of a workspace is typically given little or no attention during project planning and design,” according to a Whole Building Design Guide article by Richard Paradis, P.E., Board Certified Noise Control Engineer, National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington, D.C. “The functionality and aesthetics of the workspace are usually the primary focus of the designer.”

Read the full article at Retrofit Magazine.