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By Randy DeBoer

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., AUGUST, 2005 – Today's offices aren't always like they used to be. The trend toward soaring, high ceilings, wood floors, and exposed brick walls make for an efficient and hip setting. Yet with that has come another, unexpected problem staff struggle with each workday: noise.

It's not uncommon to have employees in an open floor plan hearing every last conference call and personal phone conversation. Worse yet, the healthcare world faces significant patient privacy issues that are dictating new approaches.

To be sure, open space offices are all the rage today, with noise dilemmas repeated throughout West Michigan and in cities across the country. As more walls and barriers come down and offices open up, sound is an issue many companies have to face.

A recent American Society of Interior Designers study revealed that 71 percent of employees consider open plan speech noise to be the single largest facilities problem.

So what’s the fix?

The first step is a simple one. Rugs, plants or sculptures can all help diffuse sound waves. Incorporating all these features will certainly help.

But to appropriately solve the problem so your co-worker doesn’t know every detail of your job and your family’s weekend plans, companies might want a more professional solution.

Recently a local food service company engaged Interphase to diagnose the sound problem and propose a solution. Shortly thereafter, Interphase installed a soundmasking system just above the drop ceiling. The system provides a constant yet subtle "pink noise" that removes the high and low sound frequencies, providing more privacy for office staff.

The difference has been tremendous. The employees forget the system is there, but it is performing an essential service – giving privacy and helping productivity.

Soundmasking is growing in popularity as office spaces and team working environments open up. A year ago, virtually none of our clients knew it existed. Today, more and more customers are calling to learn more about it.

Soundmasking is a natural for workplaces where privacy can be a legal issue, such as law firms or medical offices, where new HIPAA requirements demand higher patient privacy.

If noise and privacy are issues in your office, consider this new, non-invasive technology. It could help keep your employees focused on the task at hand, rather than their co-worker's family schedule.

Randy DeBoer is president and owner of Interphase Office Interiors, Inc., the exclusive Haworth dealer in Western and Northern Michigan for more than 24 years. DeBoer is the only Michigan furniture dealer/owner with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation. Further information about soundmasking and Interphase can be found at www.interphaseoffice.com or by calling (616) 245-0800.

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