How to Reduce Echo in a Large Open-Plan Office

Open-plan offices have become the standard for modern workplaces, encouraging collaboration, flexibility and better use of space. While these environments support teamwork, they often introduce a common problem that affects productivity and employee wellbeing—excessive echo and background noise.

Large open areas typically feature polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings, glass partitions and plasterboard walls. While these finishes create a contemporary aesthetic, they also reflect sound throughout the workspace. Conversations, phone calls, keyboard clicks and office equipment combine to create a noisy environment that makes it difficult for employees to concentrate.

The good news is that echo in an open-plan office can be significantly reduced with the right acoustic treatment. Acoustic wall panels, ceiling panels, suspended baffles and other sound-absorbing products help control reverberation, creating quieter, more comfortable workplaces that support communication and productivity.

Echo occurs when sound reflects repeatedly from hard surfaces instead of being absorbed.

In many modern offices, surfaces such as glass, plasterboard, polished concrete, timber flooring and exposed ceilings provide very little sound absorption. Every conversation and office noise continues bouncing around the room, overlapping with new sounds and increasing the overall noise level.

The larger the office, the greater the opportunity for sound reflections to build up.

Common sources of office noise include:

Without acoustic treatment, these sounds combine to create excessive reverberation, making the office feel louder than it actually is.

Poor acoustics affect much more than comfort—they directly influence workplace performance.

Research consistently shows that excessive office noise can reduce concentration, increase stress and make communication more difficult. Employees often need to repeat conversations or raise their voices, creating even more background noise throughout the workspace.

Improving office acoustics can provide several benefits, including:

Good acoustic design supports both collaboration and focused work, making it an essential consideration for modern office fit-outs.

Acoustic panels reduce echo by absorbing sound energy before it can reflect around the room.

When sound waves strike an acoustic panel, much of the energy is absorbed within the panel instead of bouncing back into the space. This reduces reverberation, lowers background noise and improves speech intelligibility.

Unlike soundproofing, which prevents sound from travelling between rooms, acoustic panels improve the sound quality within the room itself.

The effectiveness of an acoustic solution depends on factors such as room size, ceiling height, occupancy levels and the types of surfaces already present in the office.

Strategic placement is just as important as the type of acoustic product selected.

The greatest improvements are usually achieved by treating the largest reflective surfaces first.

Ceilings are often the biggest uninterrupted reflective surface in an open-plan office.

Installing acoustic ceiling panels or suspended ceiling rafts helps absorb sound travelling across the workspace, significantly reducing reverberation.

Ceiling treatment is particularly valuable in offices with exposed services or high ceilings.

Long wall surfaces allow sound to travel considerable distances before reflecting back into the workspace.

Installing acoustic wall panels helps interrupt these reflections while also providing opportunities for decorative finishes, corporate branding or feature walls.

Wall panels are especially effective near collaborative zones, meeting spaces and circulation areas.

In offices with exposed ceilings, suspended acoustic baffles provide additional sound absorption without concealing building services.

Because both sides of the baffle absorb sound, they are highly effective in reducing reverberation within large-volume spaces.

They also create visual interest and can complement contemporary workplace designs.

There is no standard percentage of wall or ceiling coverage that works for every office.

The amount of acoustic treatment required depends on several factors, including:

Treating only a small portion of the office may provide limited improvement, while over-treating the space can create an unnaturally quiet environment.

An acoustic assessment helps determine the most effective combination and placement of acoustic products.

One of the most important measures of office acoustics is reverberation time (RT).

This measures how long sound continues to remain in a room after the original sound has stopped.

For open-plan offices, AS/NZS 2107 recommends designing for a reverberation time of approximately 0.4 to 0.5 seconds, helping create clear communication while minimising distracting background noise.

Achieving this target generally requires a combination of acoustic wall panels, ceiling panels or suspended baffles positioned throughout the workspace.

Acoustic performance should always be considered alongside fire compliance.

Commercial office projects must meet the requirements of the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards when specifying internal finishes.

Acoustic Panels Australia's products are available with fire-tested options suitable for commercial environments, giving architects and designers confidence that both acoustic performance and compliance requirements can be addressed together.

Some of the most common mistakes include:

Considering acoustics early in the design process produces better results and often reduces the need for costly retrofits.

Every workplace is different.

A corporate headquarters, creative studio and co-working space all have different acoustic requirements depending on how people use the space.

Many projects achieve the best results by combining multiple acoustic products, including:

Selecting the right combination depends on the office layout, occupancy levels, interior finishes and desired acoustic performance.

Acoustic Panels Australia works with architects, interior designers, builders and workplace consultants to create productive commercial environments across Australia.

Our Australian-made acoustic products combine acoustic performance with contemporary design, making them suitable for new office fit-outs, workplace refurbishments and commercial developments.

Whether your project requires decorative wall panels, ceiling panels, suspended baffles or customised architectural acoustic solutions, our team can help specify the right products for your office.

Reducing echo isn't just about making an office quieter—it's about creating a workplace where people can communicate clearly, concentrate more effectively and enjoy a better working environment.

With the right combination of acoustic wall panels, ceiling panels and suspended baffles, open-plan offices can achieve both excellent acoustic performance and outstanding interior design.

Contact Acoustic Panels Australia today to discuss the best acoustic solution for your next office project.