A living workplace lab with a diverse mix of acoustic solutions: A case study

Saint-Gobain, a global leader in sustainable building solutions, includes brands like Ecophon, Isover, Gyproc, and Glass. The group’s new Warsaw office mirrors its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and employee wellbeing. Designed to foster inclusivity and collaboration, the space also showcases Saint-Gobain’s product range while promoting a workplace that attracts and supports its diverse workforce.

“Our office not only provides comfort and a sense of security but is also our unique showroom where visitors can see how our technologies are helping to improve the quality of life and work around the world” explains Joanna Czynsz-Piechowiak, CEO Saint-Gobain Group in Poland and Ukraine.

Sustainability and wellbeing at the core

Selecting Varso Tower – an architectural icon in central Warsaw – ensured the new office met rigorous environmental standards. The skyscraper holds the WELL Core & Shell certification, recognising its commitment to air quality, lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort, and mental wellbeing. Its central location offers unparalleled commuting options, enhancing accessibility for employees.

The office fit-out design emphasised sustainability from the outset. Clear, measurable requirements were set already in the tender for the design concept, focusing on:

• Carbon footprint of materials
• Percentage of recycled content
• Impact on indoor air quality

“Working with sustainability is similar to working with acoustics – it needs to be integrated from the very beginning and based on reliable data,” says Magda Szubert, Ecophon Global Concept Developer for Offices, who supported the project during the concept phase.

Designing for collaboration and comfort

Trzop Architekci, renowned for their expertise in office design, were chosen to bring the vision to life. Close collaboration with technical advisors from Ecophon and other Saint-Gobain brands ensured the perfect balance between design aesthetics, acoustic comfort, and user experience. Employee input played a vital role, with surveys and workshops guiding the final design.

“The main consideration in the creation of the new office was to design the most functional and healthiest working space for users. During the entire design process, the architects were also guided by the idea of sustainable development and ‘green’ thinking,” emphasises architect Bartosz Trzop, CEO of TRZOP Architekci.

Acoustic solutions: shaping the experience

With an activity-based working model and unassigned desks, acoustic comfort was a top priority. Tailored solutions were applied based on each zone’s function:

• Ecophon acoustic islands, wall panels, stretched fabrics, and acoustic plaster were used strategically.
• Lunch and coffee zones were placed in enclosed spaces to minimise noise spread.
• Meeting rooms of various sizes, including a divisible conference room, support hybrid work and face-to-face meetings.
• Movable phone booths and project tables provide flexibility for impromptu calls and teamwork.

Acoustic simulations, following ISO 22955 standards, ensured optimal speech privacy and clarity throughout the open-plan spaces.

Exploring the office: key zones and their design

Welcoming & meeting rooms

Visitors are welcomed by expansive views and a sleek, modern design, with the Group’s purpose – "Making the World a Better Home” – at its core. The standout feature? A large, illuminated Ecophon Clipso™ So Aero island that not only elevates the room’s aesthetics but also creates a balanced soundscape. As the primary sound-absorbing element here, it reduces reverberation, making the space feel natural and enhancing communication comfort.

Adjacent meeting rooms extend this seamless acoustic experience, using the same ceiling system complemented by illuminated Clipso So Aero on the wall. Additionally, Ecophon Akusto™ One wall panels are integrated into movable partitions, ensuring flexibility without compromising acoustic quality.

Lunch & coffee area

This social hub offers varied seating options – booths, high tables, and cozy corners – perfect for casual conversations or solo breaks. Large windows flood the room with natural light, while illuminated Clipso So Aero reduce reverberation, keeping noise levels in check and improving speech clarity over short distances.

Creative Lab

Designed to foster open discussions, creativity, and bold decisions, the Creative Lab offers a superior acoustic experience shaped by lightweight Ecophon Solo™ Baffle and Akusto One wall panels. The wall panels are custom-cut to mirror traditional Polish patterns found in the room’s carpet, adding cultural depth to the design. This thoughtful combination of Solo Baffle and Akusto One enhances speech clarity and creates a vibrant yet acoustically balanced space – perfectly aligned with the room’s purpose.

Open-plan workstations

Acoustic islands made of Ecophon Focus™ Lp and Akusto One wall panels create micro-zones within the open space. They reduce sound strength and sound propagation balancing collaboration and individual work.

Management Board area (in the open-plan)

Here, Ecophon Fade™ acoustic plaster, combined with wall-mounted illuminated Clipso So Aero, ensures privacy and a calm atmosphere for leadership discussions.

Library meeting room

A staff favourite, this room features Solo Baffle and shelves filled with books, offering a cozy, sound-optimised space ideal for in-depth discussions.

Fitness room

Promoting a healthy lifestyle, the fitness room serves as a tranquil retreat within the office. Clipso So Aero islands, printed with soft cloud motifs, enhance both aesthetics and acoustics, creating a calm, inspiring environment that supports employee wellbeing.

Evidence-based wellbeing: room acoustic measurements 

Acoustic measurements were conducted three months after the office opened, aiming to provide data-driven insights for assessing workplace design and enhancing employee well-being.

Open-plan settings

Evaluation based on ISO 22955, which provides a blueprint for designing activity-based open-plan offices. It helps workplace strategists, managers, and architects set targeted acoustic goals aligned with specific workplace functions, ensuring a seamless acoustic experience that supports various tasks.

One key parameter is in-situ acoustic attenuation of speech (DA,S). It assesses the difference in decibel (dB) between work zones where different activities take place or between workstations within the same zone. The higher the value, the better the speech noise separation.

Results for open plan demonstrated:

1. 4 dB attenuation within the collaborative zone
   Indicates that teamwork is supported while maintaining a degree of noise control for quick individual tasks, fostering an energetic yet balanced environment.
2. Up to 16 dB attenuation between collaborative and non-collaborative zones
   Enhances speech privacy and shields non-collaborative areas from conversation noise, supporting individual work and overall productivity.
3. Over 12 dB attenuation between coffee areas and collaborative zones
   Limits distractions from the coffee area, allowing both casual conversations and task-oriented work to coexist without interference.

Speech comfort in meeting rooms

Evaluations of the Creative Lab meeting room revealed:

• Reverberation time (RT) – 0.3 seconds (ISO 3382-2)
• Speech clarity (C50) – 13.4 dB (ISO 3382-1)

These results translate into minimised reverberation and increased speech clarity, ensuring crisp dialogue – ideal for brainstorming and strategy sessions, particularly beneficial for non-native and noise-sensitive speakers.

Continuous improvement: listening to employees

Improving employee experience is an ongoing process. To further enhance the workspace, a Leesman survey is currently being conducted, gathering employee feedback on how the office supports their work activities. This initiative helps the company understand how well the space meets employee needs and highlights opportunities for future enhancements, ensuring the workplace evolves alongside its users.

Conclusion

Saint-Gobain’s new Warsaw office is more than a workplace – it’s a living lab that showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and employee wellbeing. By prioritising acoustics, aesthetics, and continuous improvement, it creates a space where people can thrive, collaborate, and feel inspired every day.

Writer: Magda Szubert