Architects and employers are getting noise control wrong

Architects and Employers are Getting it Wrong about Noise Control

6 March 2026

It’s a common problem. Architects and employers think more about the aesthetics of a space than they do about its acoustics. They dream of open-floor plans, imagining employees working alongside each other during productive brainstorm sessions. They pause and wonder just which brilliant innovators and speakers will join them in their renovated office and present in their new amphitheater venue. They may even conjure up thoughts of employees willingly gathering after working for social hours and participating in celebratory milestones together.

While these images are great starting places, they fail to think about the space’s main purpose and just how noise is part of it. Within an office setting, there are different needs and priorities. Conference rooms and gathering spaces are needed for team meetings. At the same time, quieter areas are necessary for heads-down work. For many, kitchens and lunch areas are also part of the office — an invitation for employees to eat with others and not at their desks.

All of these different components require different acoustic needs. The failure to think about acoustic systems from the initial planning phases can lead to excessive reverberations, echoes, and distractions. Here are some primary mistakes that architects and employers are making regarding noise control.

Using Too Many Hard Surfaces
Hard surfaces are sleek, modern, and durable. Glass, concrete, and metal can instantly give a space a different vibe and mood. They are also long-lasting, meaning that employers won’t be forced to replace them due to wear and tear. Yet, from an acoustic standpoint, hard surfaces are breeding grounds for echoes and reverberations.

When sound enters a space, it bounces off and reflects off hard, smooth, or dense surfaces. These reflections occur because the sound energy is not absorbed. When it bounces back, it increases noise levels and can commonly lead to echoing. Different walls can cause different effects. For instance, parallel walls will trigger distinct, repeated echoes while non-parallel surfaces will cause the sound to scatter. In either situation, the amplification of sound can quickly lead to a noise control issue.

Over-Reliance on Soft Finishes
So if hard surfaces are the issue, then office spaces and venues should be filled with soft finishes, right? That may seem like the logical answer, but of course it’s not that simple. Soft finishes — such as excessive carpeting, plush curtains, and low-quality foam-backed panel — can create what’s known as “dead” sound. The room appears to be unbalanced and boxed in. Too many soft finishes can eliminate all reflections, creating an unnatural sound environment.

There needs to be a proper balance between hard and soft finishes for controlling noise, reducing echoes, and improving overall sound clarity. This is particularly important in offices or restaurants with higher noise levels. Also, avoid any hard surfaces from being directly parallel to each other. This creates a ping-pong echo effect.

Instead, think about layering different materials in terms of thickness and density. Adding a plush couch to a working area with concrete walls can help absorb sound, or use a large area rug on hard flooring to dampen sound.

Too Many Blank Walls
The modern look is clean, open spaces. And while this may look great in a magazine, it doesn’t always translate well to a bustling office. Blank walls will create sound reverberations, which is why contractors and architects will encourage the installation of acoustic wall treatments.

Acoustic panels and diffusers can help absorb echoes and ambient noise within a room. These treatments come in a variety of materials and textures to mimic or enhance the space’s look and feel. Wooden slat acoustic panels can add a decorative touch, especially in boardrooms or amphitheater spaces. Veneered wood can give the same effect, and is sometimes a more cost-effective solution. Aluminum panels are lightweight and can be molded into different geometric shapes to help scatter sound waves.

Depending on the space, fabric-wrapped acoustical panels can be beneficial. They can reduce echoes and reverberations, softening the sound waves when they hit a harder surface. Adding tapestries, artwork, and other wall decor throughout the office can also be helpful.

Forgetting the Ceiling
Another often overlooked area is the ceiling. In an office, when multiple people are chatting at once at different frequency levels, sound will try to escape and move upward. But if the ceiling isn’t treated for acoustics, it can create a much louder sound environment.

Adding acoustic ceiling panels, clouds, or suspended baffles to absorb sound waves is a good place to start. Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) tiles can also help contain sound within specific areas. They can be added to conference or meeting rooms to improve the privacy of a space. Employees can speak freely, knowing that others outside of the closed room aren’t overhearing their private conversation. Ceiling treatments can also help conceal HVAC ducts, wires, and pipes, making them an aesthetically pleasing choice too.

Final Considerations
When it comes to an office’s design, it’s important to bring acoustics into the planning phase early on. Understanding how people will use the space is important for construction, as well as how sound will travel through the environment. Noise control can be especially challenging in workplaces where employees need quiet areas for focused work alongside spaces designed for conversation and collaboration, both in open and closed room settings. By thoughtfully incorporating acoustic planning from the beginning phases of construction, architects and employers can avoid common-sound-related disruptions and better manage noise levels within the space.

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