Poor acoustics in a coworking space

Consequences of poor acoustics

One of the biggest acoustic problems in a coworking space is reverberation: voices and sounds resonate throughout the space, which can create an unpleasant acoustic climate. This can be an issue, especially in open spaces where many people work together.

Coworking spaces are also laid out so as to be flexible and easy to adapt to the needs of different companies. Problems will certainly arise if the acoustic solutions are defective – in other words, insufficiently or incorrectly implemented – not up to date or not modular. 

Negative effects of poor acoustics 

It goes without saying that poor acoustics cause a lot of problems in a coworking space: 

• Employees find it hard to concentrate;
• Fatigue and restlessness set in during meetings and presentations, because the speaker is difficult to understand;
• Little or no privacy during phone calls and meetings;
• Employees are disturbed by colleagues on the phone or chatting;
• Ultimately, all this leads to stress and lower productivity.

Improving acoustics in a coworking space

Practical acoustic solutions 

The acoustic layout of a coworking space must support and reinforce the space’s versatility. Desk screens can demarcate the various workplaces and meeting rooms while defining rest areas. The goal: enable people to focus on their work with sufficient privacy without losing that feeling of openness. 

Acoustics should be fully integrated in the interior design of coworking spaces. This is the only way to meet the needs of various companies and employees.

Here are some of the solutions offered by DOX Acoustics:

• Sound-absorbing walls and ceiling panels to optimise the acoustics of the general area;
• Seamless wallcoverings for sound absorption;
• Flexible acoustic totems for conference rooms;
• Acoustic room dividers and desk-mounted screens;
• Insulating glass partitions between spaces to ensure privacy, without losing connection with each other;
• Modular ‘plug & play’ meeting booths; 
• Acoustic lounge systems used to create separate rest areas or informal meeting spaces. 

The benefits of optimal acoustics

The only way to guarantee optimal working conditions in coworking spaces is to create the right acoustic indoor climate. Here are the benefits: 

• Reverberation time is reduced;
• Liveability and speech intelligibility are optimal;
• There is a healthy indoor climate;
• Productivity increases;
• Stress levels are lower;
• Modular solutions create a flexible layout and can respond to the changing needs of society. 

Acoustics as a Service (ACaaS)

Acoustics as a Service (ACaaS) was developed to provide office buildings with suitable customised acoustic solutions. ACaaS is the perfect acoustic solution, especially for coworking spaces, where flexibility and adaptability are key. 

With ACaaS, you can rent acoustic solutions and the layout is evaluated annually. This allows you to spread the costs over 5 years or more. As a result, you don’t have to make heavy investments to optimise the acoustics of your office and you can implement flexible solutions in response to the changing needs and evolution of your coworking space. 

The benefits: 

• The staggered investment improves cashflow;
• ACaaS is entirely modular;
• The contract can be revised every year;
• ACaaS is ideal for environments that need to be flexible;
• ACaaS is the most sustainable solution.

The acoustic experts at DOX Acoustics will work with you to find the best modular solution for your coworking space. Naturally, your acoustic requirements and preferred styles will be taken into account. Our acoustic solutions are designed to match your corporate identity perfectly. 

Any questions about our services? 

Contact us without obligation for more information on modular acoustic solutions tailored to your coworking space! We will endeavour to reply as soon as possible.