Case Study: Kimley-Horn
The mass timber construction introduced unique acoustic considerations, including a landlord requirement to leave ceilings fully exposed. This eliminated the ability to install overhead systems. In addition, the space featured raised access floors, an uncommon design element for Kimley-Horn, and no drop ceiling. The absence of a drop ceiling removed a key layer of sound‑absorbing material. From a workplace planning standpoint, several factors increased the potential for distraction. The office maintains approximately 95 percent daily in‑office attendance, a 65/35 workstation‑to‑office ratio, and open work areas with mid‑height panels. Without a carefully planned acoustic strategy, speech noise and sound reflection could easily disrupt productivity in such a dense, collaborative environment.
