Acoustics in the world of hybrid work: current trends and research around health, performance and the new workplace
A Global Research Agenda Impact Topic
In 2020, the majority of office workers switched from the daily sounds of commuting, office chatter and city traffic for home office set-ups which varied widely in their acoustical quality. Two years later, many workers are being asked to return to the office. Many are reluctant or outright refusing, citing better productivity, work-life balance and well-being at home.
As organizations consider how and why people may want to return to the office, a key and often underexamined aspect is acoustics. What role do acoustics play in stress and burnout? What kinds of acoustics are ‘good’ versus ‘stressful’ acoustics, and how do they impact our work and our health? Importantly, if poor or stressful acoustics are a key reason for office workers not wanting to return to the office, what implications does this have for office design?
On Thursday, Dec. 8 at 12 p.m. ET, join our panel of experts to discuss key issues around acoustics for human health, well-being, and performance, new research on biophilic acoustics, and insights from current research on creating healthy, performance-supporting work environments that address the needs of a diverse population of workers returning with new expectations.
Don’t forget to “Meet us in the hallway” from 1 - 1:30 p.m. ET.
Moderators:
- Whitney Austin Gray, Senior Vice President, Research, IWBI
- Angela Loder, Vice President, Research, IWBI
Participants:
- Ethan Bourdeau, Manager, Standard Development, Sound Concept Lead, IWBI
- Amanda Robinson, VP Architectural Acoustics, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd.
- Anat Grant, Principal, Acoustic Designer, DLR Group
