Accept the silence and you will learn to listen

The architect of this office building faced both design and acoustic challenges. The intention was to create an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation, where people can exchange valuable information. The heart of the building thus became a "vertical street" spanning almost its entire height, filled with flowing curves and a staircase that facilitates movement and random encounters...

How to create all-embracing silence?

Silence. You notice it immediately as you enter the Créagora building in the village of Champion, near Namur in Belgium, which houses the Christian Mutuality health insurance fund. A pleasant, all-embracing silence.

And yet just a moment ago, your eardrums were troubled by the incessant noise from the nearby highway. A few seconds inside the Créagora building, and you realize the extraordinarily positive impact of the acoustic ceiling solutions that have been thoughtfully implemented to enhance employee comfort.

“As a client, we faced two major challenges in this project: the sloping terrain and the highway, whose noise intensifies when it rains,” says Didier Géronnez, project manager and building manager at Christian Mutuality.

An acoustic engineer from AVEA Consulting developed a model for a fifteen-day monitoring of sound levels using sound meters. This model showed that at certain moments, noise levels rose to 85 dB, which is the maximum recommended limit of exposure for human hearing!

The results obtained were handed over to the architects from Atelier 4D and Atelier d'Architecture Ad'A, who were involved in the design of the building. They envisioned it in a strictly north-south orientation while maintaining perspectives and maximizing the preservation of surrounding greenery.

Do you know how to manage noise in a building? Sign up for free online training for architects, where you will learn more about acoustics and other tips for modern office design. The training consists of 6 newsletters sent to your email address, which you can read at a time that suits you.

Sacred silence despite a bustling work environment

Inside the building, no conversation disturbs others. In the meeting rooms, you only notice a slight hum of ventilation and do not hear the training of a large group of listeners taking place in the next room separated by movable walls. “The acoustics are undoubtedly excellent, and as a result, we are receiving more and more requests from companies wishing to book our meeting rooms,” remarked Didier Géronnez.

The acoustics are ensured by Rockfon® Tropic™ acoustic ceiling panels covering an area of 3,000 m², located on every floor.

Call centers immersed in silence

In two large office spaces reserved for call centers, the acoustic properties are enhanced by sound-absorbing furniture developed based on the specifications of an acoustic engineer. In the first call center, employees of the Christian Mutuality fund receive calls from elderly people and sometimes need to speak loudly without disturbing their neighbors. Background noise during a phone call is unpleasant for their elderly customers. In the second call center, operators handle approximately two thousand calls daily.

But even with thousands of these conversations, there is a sacred silence in both spaces.

Philosophy transferred to the "vertical street," creating a “wow effect”

“The first discussions regarding the Créagora project were not about the building, but the philosophy behind the project,” recalls Didier Géronnez. “The idea was to create an environment for research, development, and innovation, where various stakeholders with common interests addressing aging issues can meet, collaborate, and exchange valuable information.”

The architects put this collaborative philosophy into practice by creating a “vertical street” filled with flowing curves and a staircase that enables movement and random encounters. It was a huge architectural and acoustic challenge, as this staircase spans almost the entire height of the building.

“It was certainly a premiere for us,” says architect Dany Poncelet (Atelier 4D). “It was a specific requirement that effectively led to a very special design. During the preparations, we created 3D visualizations and even a polystyrene model, but it wasn't until the day the construction shaft for the staircase was removed that we could see the result. The “vertical street” transitions into alleys for pedestrians, stairs, terraces, squares, and lookout points where employees of the Christian Mutuality fund can chat, drink coffee, or work as they please.”

Since then, a range of outstanding ideas have emerged in this extraordinary space, which has become the heart of the building. This is why ultra-modern elevators are used much less than the stairs...

Valuable acoustic contribution even in the restaurant

Despite the non-acoustic glazed floor tiles and the sound of plates and cutlery, conversations among employees in the restaurant enjoy the same acoustic climate as the rest of the building. The Rockfon Tropic ceiling panels are complemented by huge white Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic acoustic blocks, which optimize sound absorption. These two pieces are easy to maintain and retain a consistent white color over time.

Do you know how to give a building a great look and sound? Sign up for free online training for architects, where you will learn more about acoustics and other tips for modern office designs. The training consists of 6 newsletters sent to your email address, which you can read at a time that suits you.

Why use Rockfon acoustic solutions?

The main benefits of these products are due to the unique properties of stone wool from which they are made:

• protection against noise (high sound absorption and sound insulation),
• fire spread protection (A1 fire reaction classification),
• quick and easy way to create beautiful and comfortable spaces (high reflection and diffusion of natural light),
• easy installation (lightweight),
• easy cleaning and moisture resistance (hydrophobic, suitable up to 100% RH),
• your contribution to a sustainable future (100% recyclability).

More at www.rockfon.cz

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