The modern office was promoted as a great place for creative collaboration, a large environment where “water cooler moments” help foster big ideas – probably the next big idea to change an industry. We removed the boring grey cubicle walls, replaced mahogany doors with clear glass, and created a shared environment for all to collaborate on. However, now that most of the morning rush has arrived, this open environment is creating stress for the human psyche. The noise from all the mechanical keyboards clicking away, the hissing of an espresso machine far away from you, and the noises created from three different video calls overlapping each other have created a stereo soundscape that is simply impossible for your mind to filter out.
A Century of Walls and Rejecting the Box
To understand how we are the best soundproofing option for shared workspaces, where we are headed, we need to look at a hundred years of the office-designing pendulum swinging erratically between isolation and vulnerability. In the early 20th century, the “Taylorist” office viewed workers as pieces of machinery and set them into rigid lines as parts of production under the authority of a supervisor. The next round of cubicle iterations began with the creation of Action Offices, which were meant as a way to create autonomy within the cubical system, but ultimately failed after the creation of the “Dilberted” 1990’s maze of office buildings. Each version was an attempt at balancing the needs of an organisation with the needs of the individual, but all of these attempts resulted in static configurations. When tech giants adopted open office environments in the early 2000s, they did so to counter the sterile work environment and to support a more innovative workplace by eliminating physical barriers to eliminate mental barriers.
The industry quickly found out that complete transparency also has its own type of prison. Scientific studies that were conducted at this time found that in open-plan environments, individuals actually talked face to face 70% less. Instead employees used digital devices to communicate and to isolate themselves from others to avoid being overheard or interrupted. As we are hunched over our laptops with noise-canceling headphones on as if they are armor, we are intensely trying to create a sanctuary of thought within a universe of distractions. This is the central paradox to flexible workspace, the more open we are, the more difficult it is for us to function. At Sonichive, we have witnessed this tension reach critical mass and understand that the future of the workplace is not more space but the intelligent curation of the engineered silence.
The flexible workspace movement of the 2020s has inherited this dysfunctional model and is attempting to put diverse companies and freelancers under one roof without providing the necessary acoustic infrastructure. Currently we are in the “Correction Era” of recognizing that flexibility does not mean no structure; rather it provides the ability to select the ideal environment for accomplishing a specific activity or task at a given time. This is part of the reason there has been a large shift towards modularity, offices are no longer permanently affixed to the floor but can adapt and breathe with the ebb and flow of daily needs.
The Architecture of Instant Stillness
When you step into a Sonichive environment, it is more like crossing the threshold into a different mental state than entering a piece of furniture. When a professional approaches any of our acoustic sanctuaries, it is not just to find somewhere to be; rather, they are looking for a way to reset cognitively. The moment the door closes with its gentle, vacuum-like click, the frenetic energy of the common floor disappears completely, leaving behind the empty, desert-like state of absolute stillness (calibrated) allowing for a deceleration of heartbeats and an increase in clarity of thought. This is why these are the best soundproofing options for shared working environments: because they deal with the sensory experience starting at the ground level and working up.
The interior surfaces of the sanctuaries do block out sound; however, meeting pods with advanced technologies they will also absorb sound using high density material and therefore eliminate echoes, preventing the “hollow” sound usually associated with low cost glass partitions (hollow) as well as creating an atmosphere where confidential information can be discussed, pitches made, negotiations conducted, etc., without the constant worry that there is someone on the other side of the wall listening to everything that you say.
Dissolving the Myths of the Isolated Worker
The benefit to your professional life is in moving from temporary attention to consistent participation in deep work. Advanced technology in our meeting pods includes more than just access to charging ports or LED lighting that mimics natural patterns of light and dark based on the time of day. The sophisticated air circulation system creates a continual refresh of air in the pod every minute, which allows you to remain alert and focused instead of feeling confined and lethargic. You will be amazed at the difference in your ability to control your energy level and attentiveness when participating in an hour-long video call versus an hour-long audio call.
Additionally, the microphone in a Sonichive pod is designed to capture only the voice of the individual speaking, with the ability to reduce ambient noise for a completely clean recording with no background interference; the ergonomic (comfortable) seating; and the use of tactile (physical) materials in the design of the pod all add up to remind you that you need to be comfortable if you are going to be productive. So when we say we sell boxes, what we really mean is that by using a Sonichive pod, you can take back your time and your mental clarity in an increasingly noisy environment.
The Future of Workspaces
Over the next five years, what we call a “workspace” will completely lose all geographic boundaries, becoming instead defined by a set of defined characteristics or conditions. It is anticipated that “Flexible Workspaces” will evolve into truly sensory-first environments with fully autonomous regulation of their respective sound, light and air quality via their own pieces of furniture.
This is increasingly becoming a reality where meeting pods equipped with advanced technology will be able to act as biometric hubs for workers by sensing when users are becoming tired and then adjusting the respective necessary oxygen level or lighting temperature to adapt accordingly.
As developments continue to progress, the boundaries between the “office” and the “pod” will increasingly blur due to the introduction of fully modular floor plate systems that will allow teams to assemble a four-person conference room in the morning and by the afternoon will be able to disassemble it back into their individual focus pods.
Moreover, we believe that there will be an overall blending of the physical pod with that of the digital “metaverse,” (or XR) as collaborations continue to evolve toward the immersive side of things. Consequently, the physical environment must provide the best possible stage for virtual collaborations, creating a controlled and neutral environment in order to eliminate the “uncanniness” of clutter created by home offices or those busy with activity behind you.
Synthesizing the Silence
Sonichive is currently researching how the use of acoustically treated materials can help provide “haptic” feedback, as well as how to provide spatial audio within the context of the digital world in a way that creates the same level of visceral experience of meeting in person. The “Future of Work” is not a point; it is a continuous evolution, and the organizations that will succeed in this new world are those that develop a foundation of quiet strength.
At Sonichive, we are committed to building the cathedrals of focus that the modern world so desperately needs, ensuring that your best ideas are never drowned out by the noise of the crowd. We invite you to experience the profound impact of intentional silence and discover how our acoustic solutions can redefine the rhythm of your business. Reach out to our team today to explore how we can help you build a quieter, more productive future together.