Productive silence: noise distraction affects employee satisfaction and productivity. (Interior Design & Space Planning).

Consider the plight of James Goodson, (alias) director of Facilities for a Fortune 500 company. After two years in the planning and construction process, his company was eagerly awaiting the completion of its new world headquarters complex. Most of the project is open plan, and many employees

Unfortunately, within three months after the initial move in, many of the company's valuable high-tech employees were up in arms, with regular complaints about constant speech distraction. They simply could not think and concentrate in their new $50 million building. The was the project was not designed to manage today's high levels of noise distraction. Sadly, this true story is repeated all too often in corporate office buildings, due to a lack of understanding and attention to acoustical design.

Noise Distraction in Today's Office

Two recent studies clearly show that speech distraction is rated by employees as the No. 1 facilities problem that affects their satisfaction and productivity. The two most prominent office acoustical problems are excess speech noise distraction in open plan, and a lack of protection for confidential conversations in private offices.

Manage office noise problems with the following cost-effective solutions:

* Quantify acoustical performance with Computer Acoustical Modeling. This software predicts the level of workstation-to-workstation speech privacy that will result from the current design, while still in the planning stage. Modeling will eliminate the risk of expensive remedial changes after occupancy.

* In open plan office environments, provide higher absorption ceilings with a NRC rating of 0.70 or better; use sophisticated sound masking systems that are site tuned before occupancy in one-third octave band performances; select the appropriate furniture panel height and acoustical performance.

* In closed plan office environments, use wall systems that achieve "as built" performance of 35 STC or better; use ceilings with a 35 CAC; treat open air grilles with sound baffles; add sound masking to inhibit people from hearing sensitive conversations.