240 Blackfriars Rd, London

UBM

Eliminating the effects of mechanical noise in an open plan environment and increasing privacy in meeting areas.

Global events-led marketing and communications services business UBM occupied the new 240 Blackfriars Road building in January 2015. The Gensler-designed interior included an exposed concrete ceiling with baffling and chilled beam system.

Acoustic consultants Sandy Brown recommended the introduction of sound masking because of the low level mechanical noise noticeable throughout the open plan areas and, after a hard-fought procurement process, Acoustic Comfort were appointed by Swift as the preferred supplier. A key element to the selection criteria was the ability to tune the system with acute accuracy across the floors. Without this capability, the associated risk would have been high.

This is a landmark project for Acoustic Comfort, for a prestigious client in an iconic new building.

Sound level tests: open plan areas

These example test results measure sound travelling across an open plan space.

  • For both tests, a person was positioned at the same desk.
  • Sound pressure measurements were taken at a distance of 12 metres from the desk.
  • For the first half of each test, there was no speech.
  • For the second half, the person at the desk spoke with a ‘telephone speaking’ voice.

Sound level tests: cellular offices

These example test results measure sound leaking from a closed meeting room into an open plan area.

  • For both tests, a person was positioned in the conference room with the door closed.
  • Sound pressure measurements were taken in the open plan area.
  • For the first half of each test, there was no speech.
  • For the second half, the person in the conference room spoke with a ‘presentation’ voice.

Client testimonial

As we understand it, LogiSon was selected as the preferred supplier of the sound masking for our offices because of its reputation worldwide as the market leader in this specialism. Our new offices are designed to the highest specification and we wanted this to extend to the masking technology. The best compliment I can pay is that we have several busy floors of open plan and as you walk throughout, you can’t notice the sound masking, but the atmosphere appears calm.