Reducing Distractions and Protecting Speech Privacy at a Commercial Real Estate and Property Management Firm
Hear from a leading commercial real estate management and construction firm how they use direct-field sound masking from Cambridge Sound Management to protect speech privacy, reduce office noise, and create a more comfortable work space. Hobbs Brook Management LLC is a commercial real estate, property management, and development firm specializing in leasing, construction, and development of Class A office space in the greater Boston area as well as other properties in Rhode Island, Georgia, and Illinois. About 35 employees work in their Waltham Massachusetts headquarters working on leasing and construction projects, requiring a mix of individual and collaborative work and numerous huddle room meetings. As the office continued to grow, noise distractions in the 15,000 square foot office space began to pose a problem. The walls to the private offices don’t go all of the way to the ceiling deck causing some conversations from neighboring offices, conference rooms, common areas, and meeting rooms to spill over into neighboring private offices. The noise made it difficult for those focused on individual tasks to concentrate. To remedy the situation, Hobbs Brook had QtPro sound masking from Cambridge Sound Management installed throughout their office space. Small, barely visible emitters (speakers) were placed in the drop ceiling throughout the open office and private office space. The emitters were connected by cables to an intuitive Qt 300 control module mounted in the server room. Automatic ramping was programmed into the system, allowing for the masking noise to be slightly louder at times when the office is at its busiest. When employees returned to the office after the sound masking was installed, they were pleasantly surprised to hear the masking noise and a noticeable decrease in distractions. After a few days, the masking sound itself wasn’t noticed by the employees, but the benefits of reduced distractions continue to pay dividends for employee concentration, productivity, and well-being.