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4nd3r50n1nt3r10r5 • February 20, 2020

February 20, 2020

Privacy in the Workplace

I have written before about the pros and cons of the Open Plan Office.  One solution discussed with regard to privacy issues included demountable glass wall options.  While those are still a viable alternative, other products that block the day to day distracting sounds and absorb annoying echo common in this workplace design have recently emerged in popularity. 

An open plan office space is a floor plan designed so that most employees are working in the same room with separate walled offices and a few conference or smaller meeting rooms to facilitate privacy where appropriate.  Most effective open plan offices also include a host of private areas for deep concentration.  In addition to the topic at hand, consider strategically placing Caav Lounge Seating from JSI , Heya Lounge Seating from OFS or even the James Harrison Settee from West Elm Work.  These quiet work spaces can be a great source for employees who may need to change their scenery throughout the day or escape the noise and chaos often prevalent in an open plan space.

Cozy office chair with sound-dampening panels, laptop, footstool, and a coat hook. Set on a patterned rug.
Office chair with high back and canopy, on casters, olive and yellow.
Light gray upholstered loveseat with tall, button-tufted back and wooden legs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One idea behind the open plan is to increase communication and foster a collaborative environment in the office.  It is thought that having easy access to one’s co-workers would mean more interaction and work would be performed more efficiently.  I do see the point here.  Whether you buy into this idea or not, the fact is that conditions in many office environments can lead to sensory overload.  We have phones ringing , water cooler talk , computer sounds , or even conversations from across the room that you don’t need to (or want to) hear.  We can’t control everything, but we can control the NOISE.

I will explain and give you the details on three ways to control the noise in an open plan office space.  They include Sound Masking , Acoustic Panels and Soundproof Booths .  Benefits include better focus and reduced distractions , error rates and stress.

Sound Masking .  Sound masking is the technology we use to achieve speech privacy for a specific area that is plagued by distraction. This is done by adding neutral noise to the background so as to render the distracting noise powerless.  Speech Privacy is when you hear someone talking but you cannot understand what they are saying.  It is important because it offers not only privacy but less distraction which can lead to better productivity.  It might seem odd to add noise to a noisy environment but white noise is non-repetitious broad band sound.  No natural pattern exists.  There is sound at all frequencies which makes sound fill the spectrum so that anyone can tune it all out.  MPS (Making Privacy Simple) offers their VoiceArrest Sound Masking System with state-of-the-art technology to provide comfortable, precision sound masking attuned to the conditions of each office zone through patented, automated adjustment.  A low-level background sound is produced by speakers placed in the plenum and includes an adaptive sensor placed in the sector with the speakers that is both adaptive and adjustable.  The background noise emitted by the speakers will adapt based on the needs of the work place, fluctuating higher and lower as is necessary.  Features include excellent sound masking, paging and music without compromising ceiling aesthetics with speakers designed to match a variety of ceiling conditions.

Office workers in an open-plan office, interacting at desks with computers, with text overlay.

Problem: The Noisy Modern Workspace

 

Collection of white and grey speakers, various sizes and shapes, against a blue background.

 

 

 

 

 

Acoustic Panels .  Large office spaces with high ceilings and hard floors can be filled with excessive noise.  Echo can be heard when sound waves bounce back and forth between surfaces.  Acoustic design is often overlooked when an office is designed even though it is vital to a peaceful office space.  Adding acoustically-absorbent materials to surfaces helps capture reverberations and interrupts acoustic reflection to isolate sound sources and rid the space of excessive noise.

Kirei offers a complete guide that you can sign up for and download from their web-site called Understanding the Impact of Planning for Acoustics.  It outlines how to conduct an acoustic audit, strategies for solving noise issues and budgeting for an acoustic design project.  This is a great resource for architects, designers and company facility planners.  You can learn more about this in Kirei’s three-part series that helps to demystify acoustic design.  Acoustic options include wall panels, ceiling baffles, desk dividers and free-standing, hanging or rolling room partitions.  Both Kirei and MPS have great options that not only do their job, but add great design to open plan spaces. 

Wall Panels .  The options seem endless.  They come in all shapes, sizes and colors.  We know they will do the job of controlling the noise in an open space but you would have to agree that they also look good.  There is an option for every office aesthetic.     

Geometric wall art in black, red, and purple colors behind a beige couch and red ottoman.
Woman placing yellow acoustic tile on a wall with a geometric design of grey, white and yellow tiles.
Two white tables with black chairs in front of a teal textured wall with plants in pots.

Kirei EchoLine Walls                                                        

Office interior: wood-paneled wall with cut-out shapes, glass partition, round table, black chairs, wood floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceiling Baffles.   These are great for an open plan system that has high ceilings.  Many companies are setting up open plan office systems in former warehouses where this can be a major issue.

Acoustic panels suspended from a ceiling in a modern office space, above a dining table.
Colorful office ceiling with orange, red, and yellow sound baffles, with a central workstation and windows.
Conference room with rows of chairs facing two projection screens, blue wavy ceiling, and recessed lighting.

 

 

 

 

 

Desk Dividers.   Maybe your noise issue is a little closer to home, like in your personal workspace.  Consider these functional and fashionable desk dividers.

Bright modern office with rows of computers and cityscape views.
Bright office cubicles with green dividers and city view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Room Partitions.   These are another great option.  Not only do they help with the noise, they also offer areas free from visual distractions.  They can be on wheels to make them easy to move around.

Woman on a green sofa working on a laptop, in front of gray dividers and a white brick wall.
Three red diamond-patterned room dividers behind a black leather sofa in a modern office.
Blue and silver patterned office partition; man working at desk in background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get loads of design and color inspiration by checking out these valuable resources: 

Soundproof Booths.   So, maybe you need to have meetings and/or conversations that are extremely sensitive or highly confidential.  Consider a soundproof booth.  They are free-standing suites that can be customized to fit any company’s aesthetic.   Zonez and Oasis Berco offer great solutions in sizes ranging from phone booth size to meeting or conference room size.

Office phone booth, gray and beige, with a shelf and door, lit from above, against white background.
Green soundproof office pod with glass doors, white table, and stools.
Modern glass-walled conference room in an office, with table, chairs, and natural light.
Black soundproof office pod with glass door in a brick-walled room with windows.
Black enclosed office cubicles with glass doors, chairs, and a table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In summary, there is a viable option here for any size open plan office.  They are affordable, attractive and most certainly in vogue right now.  Call Anderson Interiors at 412-828-7420 for design options and pricing.  

 

 

 

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