A trading floor, softened.
When a global investment firm relocated to a 2,200 m² open-plan workspace in Financial Centre, their minimalist vision of glass and exposed concrete looked phenomenal but created a highly reverberant, chaotic acoustic environment. The hard surfaces amplified the noise of the active trading floor, fracturing focus and accelerating fatigue. Recognising that acoustic comfort is essential to peak performance, the firm tasked MUTE with eliminating the disruptive echoes and restoring acoustic balance — all without compromising the office's sophisticated, modern aesthetic.
Acoustic Consultation
We initiated dialogue with the client to understand their specific operational needs, balancing the requirement for a high-energy trading environment with the necessity for speech clarity.
Onsite Study
Our team conducted a thorough walkthrough of the facility, identifying the architectural materials – glass and concrete – that were exacerbating sound reflections. The results from our acoustic testing confirmed the severity of the issue: a reverberation time of 1.4 seconds, far too high for an open-plan office.
Acoustic Design
We chose and engineered a spatial layout using MUTE Felt Baffles (Straight) to target the most problematic frequencies, ensuring optimal placement for maximum sound absorption. To maintain the architectural vision, we matched our acoustic felt colours to the existing minimalist palette, providing physical samples for client approval prior to production.
Design & Build
The custom acoustic baffles were manufactured locally at our Jebel Ali facility. Our installation team then carefully integrated the treatments into the existing ceiling infrastructure, ensuring a precise fit-out that respected the firm's minimalist aesthetic.
Acoustic Testing After Completion
Our team conducted a final round of onsite acoustic analysis. The data confirmed a substantial improvement, with the reverberation time dropping from the initial 1.4 seconds down to an optimal 0.5 seconds, successfully delivering the required speech clarity and acoustic comfort.
After-sales Support
We provided comprehensive maintenance guidelines and a dedicated contact for any future adjustments, ensuring the firm’s long-term satisfaction with the acoustic environment.
Baffles across the floor plate.
