![]() ![]() Sound absorption became particularly important in conference rooms, where speech intelligibility is a critical factor for remote meeting attendees. ![]() We chose acoustic systems made from felt and shredded wood fibers-both highly sustainable materials-that help create a natural, calming environment even when everyone is on Zoom. Now, the frequency of remote meetings with multiple voices overlapping on different calls has only heightened the importance of absorptive surfaces in open offices. (Dave Burk © SOM)Įven before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had explored innovative acoustic strategies to create soft and tranquil work environments. The result is a smart system that automatically reacts to the sun’s movement across the sky-minimizing artificial light and maximizing natural light.Īcoustic strategies implemented throughout allow for a tranquil workspace. In line with our goal of radical reduction, we utilized automated controls from Lutron to constantly adjust light levels and shade positions. Making natural light the “protagonist” in our space required careful selection of lighting and shading systems to manage daylight. Open work areas were prioritized where daylight was strongest, and all enclosed offices and conference rooms were pushed deeper inside the floorplate. and New York offices, natural light was the driving force in the planning process. The entrance of natural light was important. In designing our new offices, a few critical drivers of change have emerged: an emphasis on health and wellness, specifically through lighting and acoustics a diversity of spaces reflecting the more fluid nature of today’s workday and healthy, innovative, low-carbon spaces that drastically reduce our environmental impact. Through an approach we call “radical reduction,” we have recast our workplaces to support our staff, to harness the value of in-office work, and to minimize our carbon footprint. Over the past few years, we have designed new offices or major renovations for almost all of our worldwide locations. At SOM, we have taken the initiative to re-examine long-held beliefs about what the office looks like.
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