89%
of employees need quiet for focused work.
Research on Workplace Acoustics
Workplace noise is a top employee complaint and a measurable drag on productivity. Unmanaged speech noise wastes attention, slows decisions, and erodes trust.
Treat sound as a design parameter: tune open areas and add precision privacy where it matters to improve call clarity, reduce complaints, and lift day‑to‑day performance.
Why Workplace Acoustics Matter
Good acoustics support productivity, collaboration, privacy, and well-being. Yet many organisations still struggle to create environments that support different workstyles and activities.
34%
of employees are satisfied with workplace noise levels.
25 dB
minimum speech reduction recommended for workplace speech privacy.
30 dB
speech reduction delivered by ISO 23351-1 Class A acoustic pods.
Acoustics Performance:
One System, Three Brands
With Haworth × Hushoffice x BuzziSpace, you get an integrated strategy for how sound behaves, and how the interior performs.
Haworth
Orchestration & consistency: layout and furniture planning so each zone fits its activity (collaborate, meet, focus) and sound stays controlled over time.
Hushoffice
Precision privacy: ISO‑tested pods that keep voices in and noise out for clear calls and confidential conversations - room acoustics, solved where needed.
BuzziSpace
Shared soundscape: panels, ceiling elements, acoustic lighting and accessories that cut echo, improve speech intelligibility, and set the feel of open areas.
The Result → Clearer calls. Fewer complaints. Spaces that look, feel, and work better - a strategy that scales from single rooms to entire floorplates.
Acoustic Ecosystems in Practice
Every workplace is different, but the most successful acoustic environments share a common approach: combining planning, absorption, zoning, and privacy solutions to support people throughout the day.
ManpowerGroup HQ
Madrid, Spain
Challenge
Create a workplace that supports focus, collaboration, and employee well-being while accommodating diverse workstyles in an open-plan environment.
Solution
Implemented activity-based settings, acoustic zoning, and dedicated areas for focused work, collaboration, and employee well-being.
Henkel Global
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Challenge
Create an engaging, hospitality-inspired workplace that encourages collaboration while maintaining comfort and minimizing acoustic distractions.
Solution
Used textile ceiling installations, curtains, and varied acoustic solutions to reduce noise, define spaces, and support collaboration.
Synopsys
Porto, Portugal
Challenge
Support growth and collaboration in an expanded office while maintaining acoustic comfort and flexibility within an open-plan setting.
Solution
Combined acoustic pods, sound-absorbing lighting, flexible partitions, and distributed collaboration spaces across the workplace.
More Acoustic Solutions
Learn more about creating an acoustic workspace and how it can benefit your productivity and well-being.
Acoustic Design Guide
Learn how to improve any space acoustically with helpful tips and tricks around the workplace
The Growing Challenge of Workplace Noise
In this article, we discuss how organisations can address increasing acoustic challenges and design workplaces that support both meaningful collaboration and focused individual work.
Acoustic Solution
From solo concentration to team collaboration, find the acoustic solution that supports the way you work.