The Benefits of Sound Masking
Innovations in office technology are constantly improving, paving the way for more efficient, comfortable work spaces. Sound masking is just one advancement in the realm of office construction that promotes efficacy in the work place. Environments Denver understands the importance of sound masking and offers a variety of services, including office interior design, to assist in creating a safer, more productive office. Here is everything you need to know about sound masking.
What is Sound Masking?
Office buildings are inherently quiet spaces where conversations are easily overheard. Sound masking systems are comprised of multiple speakers placed throughout the office that generate a low-frequency sound. During business hours, the speakers emit an inconspicuous background noise that helps mask conversations. Since the ambient noise level is uniform, employees are less distracted by vocal interruptions down the hall or phone calls emanating from the adjacent cubicle.
Sound Masking vs. White Noise
The term “sound masking” is often used interchangeably with white noise; however, it is not the same. White noise emits an audible, consistent sound similar to that of radio static. When used in volumes necessary to cover human conversation, it can be irritating and distracting. Sound masking is less noticeable and even creates a soothing sound, similar to a hum. It matches the volume of conversation and distorts words, instead of attempting to cover them with overpowering noises.
How Does Sound Masking Work?
Offices may implement direct or indirect sound masking practices, but both require placing small speakers throughout the office space. With direct sound masking, speakers are installed in the ceiling tiles and point directly toward the office space. This implementation encourages consistent sound masking throughout. Indirect sound masking hides the speakers in a drop ceiling and points them away from the office, toward the roof. Sound is reflected off the overhead barrier back down into the office space.
Benefits of Sound Masking
Not only does sound masking make the office environment more peaceful, it also protects employees’ and clients’ private conversations. Depending on the type of business, customers and staff may exchange sensitive information regularly; this information may easily be overheard and used out of context. Releasing ambient noise throughout the office helps mitigate security risks and encourages employees and clients to feel at ease discussing sensitive matters.
What’s more, with minimized distractions, office productivity will undoubtedly increase; employees will be better able to focus on the task at hand. With sound masking, they are less likely to be pulled away by distracting conversation or noise and can work uninterrupted.
Sound masking has the ability to take your office environment to the next level. By installing this simple technology, offices have seen increased productivity throughout the work day. Sound masking also provides invaluable security for clients and employees, fostering a safe, personal space. If you’re thinking about upgrading to add sound masking in your office, Environments Denver can help. We offer a bevy of services, including space planning and office interior design, that better cultivate a productive work environment. To learn more about office design, give us a call today!
The Value of LEED Certification
Businesses today are judged not only by the services and products they provide; they are also critiqued through a social lens and expected to contribute positively to the global community. It’s important that companies operate in a way that not only helps them grow, but also fosters a sustainable environment for their employees, the community, and the earth.
Becoming LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified is a valuable step in decreasing a company’s footprint and communicating its ecological profile to the outside world. Here are other benefits that LEED certification offers businesses:
What is LEED Certification?
LEED certification is an internationally recognized building certification that promotes and classifies design, construction, and operation of green, energy-friendly buildings. LEED offers an array of ratings that judge a building or neighborhood on multiple platforms. These distinctive designations include Building Design and Construction (BD +C), Interior Design and Construction (ID +C), Operations and Management (O+M), and Neighborhood Development (ND).
The LEED rating system scores buildings on points earned by prerequisites and credits. Depending on the overall score, the company may earn a designation of certified, silver, gold, or platinum. Buildings and neighborhoods must have certain prerequisites to reach the base level “certified”, but can implement additional elements, like sustainable office furniture, bike racks, and energy-efficient interior lighting that earn them points (aka credits) toward higher-level titles.
Applying for LEED certification
The first step in the LEED certification process requires that businesses register their project by completing required documents and submitting payment. Next, they must consider which aspects of their current operation meet LEED requirements, and which elements require upgrading. Then, companies can proceed with making interior and exterior renovations where applicable.
Some of these requirements include minimum indoor air quality performance, storage and collection of recyclables, minimum energy performance, and more. Once the business meets the LEED minimum standards, companies can begin earning points toward a higher-level LEED certification. Here’s the complete list of prerequisites and credits for all of the varying LEED classifications.
Importance to Business Owners
As the global population continues to swell, our overall strain on the earth’s natural resources will also increase. LEED certification offers businesses a way to partake in conservation and sustainability. It also communicates to the public, and potential clients, that a company is doing its part to tread lightly and leave as small of a footprint as possible.
LEED extends beyond environmental help because it also encourages businesses to provide healthy work spaces for their employees; LEED certified office interiors promote mental and physical health of the people working within.
Environments Denver knows how important it is to design an office space with functional, sustainable products that encourage productivity and use minimal natural resources, energy, and waste. We help companies obtain furniture, hardware, and furnishings that will earn points toward LEED certification and improve the aesthetic of any office space. Contact us today to learn more about sustainable office furniture that will assist your company in earning its LEED certification.
Key Elements of High School Classroom Design
Classroom Design for Optimal Learning
To encourage a healthy and happy classroom, consider incorporating functional office furniture within the learning space. While thoughtful classroom design is important for all age groups, it’s especially influential for high school students. To promote an optimal learning environment, keep in mind the key elements of classroom design that we share here:
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2019’s Most Innovative Office Furniture
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Are Outdoor Co-Working Spaces Right for Your Office?
Office lighting design can make a significant impact on the health and happiness of employees. Harsh, fluorescent lighting often harms mood and productivity, so many offices are making the transition toward a more natural workspace. There are several ways to incorporate natural elements into the workplace, including living plant walls. However, several high-profile companies are taking the natural trend one step further. L.L. Bean and Facebook have created outdoor co-working spaces, and the results have been impressive. Interested in learning more about outdoor co-working areas? Here, we share the details on this emerging office design.
What Are Outdoor Co-Working Spaces?
Outdoor workspaces aren’t commonplace just yet, so you may be curious about what this environment entails. An outdoor office can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. In the case of large companies like L.L. Bean and Facebook, workers enjoy portable glass pods that are placed out in the open. Facebook’s Menlo Park location features a 9-acre rooftop garden for employees who prefer to work outdoors, while L.L. Bean set up a temporary office in the heart of one of New York’s gorgeous parks.
Even if you don’t have the budget to create a rooftop oasis or set up shop in a prestigious nature preserve, you may still be able to offer a great alternative to traditional indoor workspaces. If you’re on the search for a new office building, keep an eye out for an option that has a spacious patio or courtyard. Simply setting up a few picnic tables with umbrellas or canopies to shade employees from the sun is a great start, and may benefit the well-being of your team. If possible, incorporate plants into the courtyard to provide a serene environment.
Finding the Best Fit for Your Office
Determining the best layout for your office can be a challenge. While studies and surveys consistently show that natural elements in the workplace have a calming effect on workers, it may not be practical to pursue an outdoor co-working space. If your current office building has limited outdoor space, it may be best to stick with the conventional setup and explore outdoor options for the future. However, if your workplace already has a spacious outdoor area to work with, it could be an excellent investment to spruce up the space with trees, flowers, and comfortable seating arrangements.
Regardless of the layout you choose for your workplace, be sure to focus on office lighting design. The right lighting can help employees feel at ease and productive, leading to a more effective routine. When you’re on the search for the ideal furniture and lighting for your office, our team at Environments can help. Whether you’re looking for a few décor items or a complete office overhaul, we’ll remove stress from the process and assist you in achieving the perfect aesthetic. To learn more about our services, please reach out to our team.
2019 Office Design Trends
Office design trends are forever evolving. Each year, top designers create furniture, textiles, and lighting fixtures that help define what is in vogue. Color, pattern, and shape are vital components of these new styles. However, office trends are not based purely in aesthetics. Productivity is paramount in the workplace, so cutting edge design often innovates to best promote an efficient office. Therefore, it’s important to stay abreast of the newest trends, as they can keep your workplace looking great and bringing out the best in employees.Read more
Office Design Throughout the Decades: The 1950s
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How to Incorporate Brand Image into the Office
Office design plays an essential role in building a brand image. The layout, furniture, and décor choices can go a long way in shaping perceptions about your company, so it’s important to navigate the design process with care. If you’re interested in finding office furniture design trends to mesh with your desired brand image, consider the tips we share here:Read more
Essential Elements of Industrial Office Design
If you’re in the process of designing a modern office, you may be on the hunt for inspiration. Minimalist concepts have become increasingly popular in the last few years, and the industrial design is a great blend of minimalist and austere traits. This type of design is an excellent choice for contemporary workplaces, and offers a strong yet simple aesthetic. If you’d like to learn more about this architectural concept to explore whether it’s a fit for your office, take a look at the key elements we share below:
How Living Plant Walls Can Improve the Office
Incorporating natural elements into the office can have a considerable impact on employee health and happiness. If you’d like to go above and beyond placing a few houseplants inside the building, you may be interested in creating a living plant wall. This option makes for a stunning statement wall, and often provides a host of benefits for team members and visitors. Interested in learning more about how living plant walls can transform the office? Here, we share why we love this nature-inspired concept.
Decorating with Natural Elements to Bring the Outdoors In
Natural touches in the workplace have the potential to inspire creativity, promote calm employees, and encourage productivity. On the other hand, work environments that feel cold and clinical may lead to feelings of anxiety and low mood. If you’d like to explore the possibility of bringing nature into the office, consider the tips we share for bringing the outdoors inside.
The Impact of a Well-Designed Statement Wall
When you’re in the process of designing a modern office, you may be on the search for ways to brighten up the space while maintaining a professional and polished environment. Painting a whole room in a vibrant color may overwhelm the eye, but there’s another option to explore: a tasteful statement wall. Statement walls have the power to transform the look and feel of a room, and they’re an excellent choice for companies that would like to add a touch of creativity to the office. Here, we share the impact of a well-designed statement wall and share some versatile ideas to suit a variety of spaces.
Tips for Using the Color of the Year in the Office
Color trends change by the year, and Pantone has selected Living Coral as the Color of the Year for 2019. This cheerful hue breathes life into any space that it occupies, and can add a touch of playfulness to the workplace. If you’re on the search for design and décor ideas to make the office feel more energized, try incorporating Living Coral into the workplace. Here, we share inspiration for how to integrate nature-inspired coral tones.
Modern Breakroom Design
As workspace trends shift from cubicle layouts to open, bright offices that promote active collaboration and employee productivity, modern breakroom design is changing as well. In the past, a company could limit the space to one where employees grab a cup of coffee or heat up their lunch, but today’s well-designed breakrooms are becoming vital communal spaces where employees feel encouraged to take a much-needed respite. Savvy companies are providing more than just the basics of food preparation. This multi-faceted design contributes to morale and can be a real perk to current and prospective employees. Here are some design tips for a new and improved breakroom.
“Retro” Inspired Office Furniture Trends
Office furniture trends are always shifting and evolving. Functionally and aesthetically, new styles come and go, transforming to fit demand. However, many timeless design models stick around, gaining dashes of contemporary flair where it fits. Of these influential classics, mid-century design is perhaps the most prominent and celebrated, particularly over the last decade. Rooted in the post-war design revival of the 1940s, mid-century design is being reflected in modern interpretations from all over the world. Sleek, clean edges with a paired down minimalist slant are a staple of many in-vogue designers.
Geometric Shapes and Patterns in Fabric and Furniture
The Best Plants to Keep in Your Office
Businesses are always looking for the most efficient methods of increasing health and productivity in the office. From ergonomic chairs to smart lighting systems, the options for improvement are extensive. However, not all of these options need to be complicated or tech-based. One of the easiest ways to boost wellness, concentration, and aesthetic refinement in your office comes in the form of potted plants.
New Office Furniture Collections & Solutions for 2018-2019
At Environments, we like to stay ahead of the trends and offer innovative furniture collections for all of our customers. We’re proud to work on the cutting edge, bringing in the newest offerings from the best manufacturers. Here, we’re excited to showcase some of the most anticipated furniture and workplace solutions to join our offerings.Read more
Tips for Effective Office Move Management
Whenever an office relocation is required, the complex moving process begins. Inventory and equipment need to be catalogued, schedules need to be made, and employees need to be notified. Between this early stage and the first few weeks after the move, a plethora of factors must be considered. To avoid the hassle, you can utilize office move management services from an expert team like Environments. Whether you obtain the aid of professionals or handle it all yourself, here are some tips for effectively managing an office move.Read more
Using Interior Design to Appeal to a Certain Age Group
Office design trends are largely dictated by the desires of those who work in the offices. Depending on the age of employees, these desires may not be uniform; what’s important to Generation X is not necessarily important to Millennials, and vice versa. As generations enter and exit the workforce, ideal design elements shift. Taking into consideration your employees’ tastes is crucial to creating an engaging workspace. Here are three working generations and their typical workplace design preferences.
Design Elements that Promote Exercise
Should You Purchase Up-Front, Purchase Through a Loan, or Lease Your Office Furniture?
When it comes to furnishing a workspace, spending wisely is vital. Providing a comfortable and productive office has to be balanced with the cost of doing so. Depending on your needs, the price of buying office furniture up-front can range from reasonable to restrictive. Fortunately, purchasing through a loan or leasing your equipment affords a level of flexibility that allows you to spend as it best fits your business. Environments Denver offers opportunities to buy up-front, procure furniture through a loan, or lease; and we provide the information you need to make that decision. Here is a comparison of all three options.
The Undeniable Impact of Lighting
Activity-Based Workspaces
Activity-based workspaces are all the rage right now, and rightfully so; there is a plethora of benefits to this style. Whether your office wants to encourage creativity and collaboration, recruit top talent, or become a more sustainable space, activity-based workspaces may be your best option.