Research from **Concordia University** has uncovered that the volume of speech in office environments is shaped by more than just individual habits. The findings, published in *Science and Technology for the Built Environment* on **November 5, 2025**, indicate that the design of workspaces and the type of communication taking place also play significant roles in how loudly employees speak.
The study focused on two active office environments in **Montreal** and **Quebec City**, involving over 70 employees who communicated in either English or French. Researchers utilized high-precision sound meters to measure speech levels during various activities, including casual conversations and online meetings. Measurements were taken in different settings such as open-plan offices, private offices, and meeting rooms of varying sizes.
Key Findings on Speech Levels
Lead researcher **Joonhee Lee**, an associate professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, stated, “We found that people speak significantly louder if they are in an open-plan office with partitions separating the workstations.” This observation suggests that while desk partitions may mitigate sound, they may also encourage workers to raise their voices, believing they are shielded from being overheard.
Interestingly, the research showed that speech levels in meeting rooms remained consistent, regardless of their size. Additionally, interactions during teleconferences were found to be slightly louder compared to face-to-face discussions. Notably, the study concluded that language did not significantly influence speech levels.
Reassessing Industry Standards
One of the most striking revelations from the study was that actual speech levels in offices were lower than the standards typically referenced in industry guidelines. These standards, often based on tests conducted in anechoic chambers, do not accurately reflect real-world office interactions where ambient sound plays a crucial role in communication dynamics.
Lee emphasized that an optimal office environment should include some degree of background noise. “A decrease in background noise only amplifies the perception of other kinds of noise,” he explained. “Some degree of background noise actually helps people perform better.”
This insight challenges conventional wisdom in office design, suggesting that existing standards for speech privacy and noise control may need revisiting to better align with how employees actually communicate in their workspaces.
The collaboration with **Soft dB**, a Montreal-based acoustics firm, provided valuable insights into the interaction between speech levels and environmental factors, paving the way for future research in this area.
In conclusion, the findings from Concordia University mark a significant step towards understanding how office environments influence communication among employees, highlighting the need for thoughtful design in contemporary workspaces. As businesses continue to evolve and adapt their office layouts, these insights will be vital for creating productive and comfortable working conditions.
