Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is becoming a defining measure of how our buildings support the people who use them. It reflects not just how well we can breathe indoors – but how well we can think, rest, recover, socialise, and connect within a space.

And one component of IEQ is now demanding far more attention: acoustic comfort.

Across classrooms, workplaces, hospitality venues, retail environments and entertainment spaces, the way a space sounds profoundly shapes how people feel. Yet acoustics have historically been treated as secondary – addressed late in design, or only when problems arise.

This is rapidly changing.

What acoustic comfort really means

Acoustic comfort isn’t about silence. It’s about sound that supports comfort and function, rather than disrupting it.

Well-designed acoustic environments provide:

• Clarity: speech can be easily understood
• Privacy: sound doesn’t travel where it shouldn’t
• Calm: noise doesn’t build up as activity increases
• Ease: listening doesn’t require effort
• Balance: sound doesn’t linger or overpower

When these qualities are in place, users can relax, focus and interact naturally.

Why acoustic comfort matters in every space type

Different spaces have different acoustic needs, but the expectation of comfort is universal.

Education
Enhances speech intelligibility, equity and learning outcomes.

Workplaces
Reduces cognitive fatigue, improves productivity and satisfaction.

Dining and hospitality
Supports conversation, ambience and positive guest experience.

Retail
Encourages dwell time and reduces sensory overload.

Healthcare
Promotes rest, recovery and calmer clinical environments.

Cinemas and entertainment
Delivers immersion and protects audience comfort.

Wherever people live, learn, work or gather, acoustic comfort directly impacts health and experience.

The IEQ connection: more than one measure of comfort

IEQ brings multiple comfort conditions together, including:

• Acoustics
• Thermal comfort
• Lighting
• Indoor air quality and ventilation
• Ergonomics and spatial quality (in some frameworks)

These factors are interdependent. Even if a space has excellent ventilation, temperature control and lighting – poor acoustics can undermine overall comfort and wellbeing.

Great IEQ requires balancing all pillars, not perfecting one at the expense of another.

A proactive shift in design thinking

Architects, designers, developers and operators are increasingly recognising that:

• Retrofitting acoustics is disruptive and costly
• Noise complaints are a major source of dissatisfaction in many building types
• People now expect environments that feel calm, considered and human-centred

As a result, acoustic performance is moving earlier in the design process – and forming part of standard performance criteria alongside energy and sustainability expectations.

Materials that perform on multiple IEQ dimensions

Achieving acoustic comfort doesn’t need to come at the expense of other building outcomes.

The best performing interiors use materials that:

✔ Reduce unwanted reverberation
✔ Support speech clarity and privacy
✔ Contribute to a sense of calm
✔ Offer design flexibility
✔ Align with safety and sustainability goals

High-quality acoustic panels do exactly this – enabling spaces to look good, feel good and sound good.

Sonata’s precision-engineered, polyester-based panels are designed to support the acoustic and broader IEQ needs of contemporary Australian architecture – from living spaces to learning environments, healthcare settings and high-activity commercial venues.

Better acoustic comfort, better IEQ

As the industry continues its shift towards wellbeing-driven design, acoustic comfort is no longer optional – it’s a critical pillar of what makes a building truly supportive for the people who use it.

Design for sound.
Design for comfort.
Design for the full spectrum of human experience indoors.

References

Aletta, F., Oberman, T. and Kang, J. (2020) ‘Acoustic comfort assessment in urban environments: A review’, Sustainable Cities and Society, 61, pp. 1–12.

Frontczak, M. and Wargocki, P. (2011) ‘Literature survey on how different factors influence human comfort in indoor environments’, Building and Environment, 46(4), pp. 922–937.

ISO (2018) ISO 22955: Acoustics — Acoustic quality of open office spaces. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.

Jahncke, H. and Halin, N. (2012) ‘Performance, fatigue and stress in open-plan offices: The effects of noise and psychological restoration’, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32(4), pp. 363–372.

Kang, J. and Schulte-Fortkamp, B. (2016) Soundscape and the Built Environment. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Mealings, K. (2016) ‘Classroom acoustic conditions: Understanding what is suitable for students and teachers’, Proceedings of Acoustics 2016, Australian Acoustical Society, Brisbane, pp. 1–10.

Shield, B. and Dockrell, J. (2003) ‘The effects of noise on children at school: A review’, Building Acoustics, 10(2), pp. 97–116.

World Health Organization (2018) Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Wong, L.T., Mui, K.W. and Chan, W.Y. (2018) ‘Adaptive comfort temperature and acoustic quality for multi-purpose rooms in schools’, Energy and Buildings, 174, pp. 96–103.