Client: Centennial – Investment Manager and Real Estate Developer
Location: Sydney CBD
Scope: Sound Transmission & Reverberation Control
The Problem
In a high-stakes investment environment, confidentiality is everything. Centennial faced two distinct issues that required more than just a cosmetic fix:
- The Privacy Leak: While the partition walls looked solid, they stopped at the ceiling grid. This created a “flanking path” in the ceiling plenum, allowing sound to travel freely between rooms. If you were discussing a sensitive acquisition, the person in the next room was essentially an uninvited participant.
- The Echo: The focus rooms and meeting spaces were plagued by excessive reverberation. The hard surfaces caused voices to bounce, leading to poor audio quality on calls and a generally fatiguing environment for the team.
The Solution
We don’t believe in guesswork. The process began with a site assessment to identify the exact paths where sound was escaping and to measure the decay times in the meeting rooms. Once the issues were diagnosed, we provided a quotation for remediation works that balanced high-performance physics with a high-end finish.
- Baffle Block Installation: To stop the eavesdropping, we installed high-density baffle blocks above the existing partition walls. By sealing the gap between the wall head and the structural slab, we blocked the primary highway for noise transfer.
- Acoustic Treatment: To tame the internal acoustics, we installed 12mm thick acoustic panels in light grey. To ensure the result looked like a deliberate design choice rather than an emergency patch-up, we incorporated a 6mm bevel detail to the joins. This adds an architectural shadow line that complements the existing fit-out.
The Outcome
The office now performs to the standard expected of a leading real estate developer.
- Confidentiality: The baffle blocks have significantly mitigated sound transfer. Sensitive conversations now stay behind closed doors, where they belong.
- Controlled Acoustics: The “echo chamber” effect has been brought under control. While reverb still exists, it is now at a professional, comfortable level for both in-person and digital meetings.
- Clean Aesthetic: The bevelled joins and light grey palette provide a sharp, integrated look that doesn’t scream “acoustic fix.”
Ultimately, we’ve ensured that the only thing people hear at Centennial is what they’re supposed to.
