Project Overview
This acoustic optimization project is for an internet startup headquarters based in Berlin, Germany. The space includes large open workstations, multi-size meeting rooms, negotiation booths and reception areas. Extensive glass partitions created long reverberation time, obvious voice crosstalk between workstations and poor speech intelligibility inside meeting rooms. The client required eco-friendly acoustic panels suitable for DGNB green building certification, with a clean modern aesthetic.
Solution Configuration
- Open workstation zone: 100% post-consumer recycled polyester acoustic panels (NRC 0.85–0.95), formaldehyde-free and ultra-low VOC. Custom colour matching and CNC cutting for seamless installation, absorbing human speech, keyboard clicks and other mid-to-high frequency office noise.
- Meeting & negotiation rooms: Fabric-wrapped fiberglass acoustic panels (NRC 0.85–1.0) installed on primary reflective surfaces to eliminate flutter echo and improve speech clarity. All panels pass EN 13501-1 Class B-s1,d0 fire certification. Construction was scheduled on nights and weekends to avoid office disruption, construction period 40 days.
Project Results
Reverberation time of the open office meets DIN 18041 acoustic standard for offices. Crosstalk between adjacent workstations was effectively reduced. Meeting room audio clarity was significantly improved. The acoustic solution helped the project gain credits for DGNB green building certification, and staff comfort scores rose notably.
