From Echo to Ease: Focal Point’s Acoustic Transformation
Focal Point, a leader in architectural and acoustic lighting solutions, undertook a strategic renovation of its Bistro and Hub amenity spaces to enhance both acoustical comfort and aesthetic appeal. Excessive reverberation and echo made both environments less than optimal for hosting customers or getting the employees together for events and training. As noise levels increased, voices became muddled and conversations strained, diminishing the usability of the spaces for education and collaboration.
Understanding the need for acoustically balanced environments in modern workplaces, the company leveraged its own acoustic lighting solutions to transform these areas into inviting, functional, and visually striking spaces. The renovation incorporated AirCore Blade™ and Seem® 1 Acoustic in the Chestnut finish from The Naturals collection in the Bistro. The Naturals is Focal Point’s collection of nature inspired finishes, offered for several acoustic solutions and architectural luminaires.
The Hub was outfitted with Mora™ Inspire custom pattern, an acoustic ceiling system, comprised of TruBlade™ Acoustic baffles, complemented with ID+ 3.5" Pure Cylinders for effective illumination.
The renovation project was driven by the following key objectives:
• Increase productivity and well-being
• Showcase Focal Point’s innovative solutions
• Improve acoustic comfort
• Enhance aesthetic appeal
Sophisticated Texture for a Bistro Built to Impress
The Bistro, as the name suggests, is a gathering space for employees and guests that is outfitted with a large pantry, a bar complete with a beer keg, and several high and low tables. It is used to host customers that attend factory visits, for special events, and by employees for meetings and other activities. The combination of open ceiling and reflective materials makes the space loud during large gatherings.
Challenge
The Bistro features a wide, curved expanse of glass walls, minimal drywall, and an open ceiling that amplify sound reflections, resulting in poor speech intelligibility. The room is approximately 47 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a ceiling height of 20 feet, which yielded a high reverberation time (RT60) of over 5 seconds. To ensure the space achieved optimal acoustic performance, the Focal Point team utilized its online acoustic calculator to determine the target reverberation time of 0.8 seconds, a benchmark for comfort in collaborative environments. This data-driven approach guided the selection and placement of acoustic solutions, ensuring both functional and aesthetic goals were met with precision.
Solution
Focal Point addressed this challenge by installing a full ceiling of Seem 1 Acoustic and AirCore Blade, lit and unlit high-performance baffles that combine sound absorption and a wood-like aesthetic with the Chestnut finish from The Naturals collection. The array lowers the ceiling and infuses the room with a natural finish, enhancing both visual warmth and acoustic control. In addition, two large Lia pendants of 36" diameter in the color Berry were installed above the bar, ensuring ample and comfortable lighting over the food and beverage serving area while adding a beautiful pop of color.
Results
Following installation, a post-treatment acoustic analysis confirmed a significant improvement in the space’s performance. The design achieved the targeted baseline RT60 of 0.8 seconds, well within the recommended range of 0.7 to 1.3 seconds from the acoustic calculator. This reduction demonstrates the effectiveness of Focal Point’s acoustic solutions in absorbing sound reflections, minimizing echo, and ultimately creating a more comfortable and enjoyable environment for meetings and social gatherings.
Play the video to hear the difference!
Bistro Fixture Schedule
B1: AirCore Blade, 8″ height, various lengths, Direct to Strut, Chestnut, 8″ OC spacing (AUBS-8-DTS-CHT-NC-XXft)
B2: Seem 1 Acoustic Lit & Unlit continuous, 8″ height, ~20′ lengths, 500 lm, 3500K, Chestnut, 8′ 6″ OC spacing (ASM1S-RL-500LF-3500K-1C-UNV-LH1-J96-XXft XXin-CUSTOM)
B3: Lia Acoustic Pendant, 36″ diameter, 12″ height, 4000 lm, 3500K, Fabulous Fuscia Housing, Berry, 5′ 6″ OC spacing (DLIA-36S-CRV1-12-BRY, FSDL-33-CX-4000L-35K-1C-UNV-LH1-C96-DLIA-FF)
B4: 3.5″ Pure Cylinders, 11000 lm, 3500K, Chestnut & White (FLCY3N-RD-7H-1100DN-35K-1C-UNV-SC-CUSTOM-LH1-C144-BK-DNT-WFL-CD-CHT)
Shaping Sound to Shape Experience
The Hub serves as a multi-purpose, collaboration and breakout space, where employees gather for training, informal meetings, brainstorming sessions, and social events. Surrounded by a semi-circular glass wall with a high open ceiling with clerestory windows letting in the natural light, the Hub suffered from similar reverberation issues as the Bistro. The hard surfaces caused sound to bounce freely, making the space acoustically harsh and unfriendly for group activities.
Challenge
The open layout and hard surfaces led to high noise levels, making it difficult for employees and guests to focus and communicate effectively. The space is 47 feet long, 23 feet wide, with a ceiling height of 20 feet, boasting many of the same challenges that plagued the Bistro pre-treatment. The Hub held a reverberation time of over 7.5 seconds, while the target reverberation time of 0.8 seconds, selected within a recommended range of 0.7 to 1.3 seconds, would ensure optimal acoustic comfort. Rather than replicating the solution used in the adjacent area, the Focal Point team took the opportunity to highlight our commitment to innovation and design versatility by implementing a distinct acoustic product. This approach allowed the team to achieve the desired acoustic performance while offering a unique visual aesthetic that differentiates the space and reinforces Focal Point’s broad design capabilities.
Solution
Given the sheer scale and volume of the space, Focal Point utilized its own Mora Build Wave acoustic ceiling system, featuring the TruBlade acoustic baffles. Designed to tame difficult acoustics in large open ceilings, this modular system effectively absorbed excessive sound reflections, maintained the open feel of the space, and delivered a clean, modern aesthetic. The Mora system, in Classic White, was installed across the entire ceiling to enhance acoustic performance through broad sound absorption. The selected PET felt color and the spacing of the baffles, 6" on center, let the natural light from the clerestory windows above permeate the room and result in a bright, almost glowing ceiling on sunny days. Paired with strategically placed 3.5" Pure Cylinders for balanced, glare-free illumination, the design delivers a seamless blend of acoustic comfort and modern aesthetics in a sleek, contemporary space.
Results
The result was the transformation of the Hub into a welcoming, multi-functional space, perfect for small or large groups. With the integration of the Mora Build Wave ceiling system and ID+ 3.5" Pure Cylinders, Focal Point achieved a remarkable transformation—reducing the RT60 reverberation time from over 7.5 seconds to under 0.9 seconds, creating a dramatically more comfortable and acoustically balanced environment. The suspended Mora system lowered the center portion of the ceiling to the same level as the surrounding acoustic tile ceiling, making the room feel cozier and more cohesive. The surroundings are sprinkled with ID+ 3.5" Downlights, matching the aperture of the cylinders, for a coordinated look.
Play the video to hear the difference!
Hub Fixture Schedule
H6: Mora Inspire Custom Pattern, 31′ L x 19′ W array, various heights from 8-16″, Direct to Strut Magnet, Classic White (AUMRC-CUSTOM PATTERN-CWH-31FTX-19FTX-4OC-DTSM)
H7: 3.5″ Pure Cylinders, 4″ Height, 1300 lm, Tunable White 2700-6500K, Flood 2, White, 5′ OC spacing (FLCY3N-RD-4H-1300DN-92765T-1C-UNV-DPC-WH-DZTW-C72-WH-DNS-FL2-WH-WH)
H8: ID+ 2.5″ Square Downlight, 1100 lm, 3500K, Flood 2, White (FLC22D-SDO-SW-1100L-UNV-LAW1-T-CP, LC22-SDO-35K-DNS-FL2-WH)
H9: Seem 4 Direct/Indirect, Batwing, 375 lm Direct, 625 lm Indirect, Tunable White 2700-6500K, 30′ Length, White (FSM4BS-BW-BW-375DN-625UP-92765T-2C-UNV-D1TW-WH-30′)
Focal Point’s renovation of the Bistro and Hub spaces was a successful display of its innovative acoustic and lighting solutions. By addressing crucial sound challenges while maintaining architectural elegance, the company transformed these spaces into comfortable, visually engaging environments that enhance the visitor and workplace experience. These spaces serve as a central hub for Focal Point’s daily operations and culture. They are regularly used to host client tours, offering visitors a firsthand experience of our acoustic and lighting solutions in a real-world setting. In addition, the areas support leadership and team meetings, fostering collaboration and strategic planning. Beyond work, they also provide a welcoming environment for company-wide social events, reinforcing connection and community at the heart of Focal Point. The project serves as a blueprint for modern workspace design, showcasing how thoughtful integration of lighting and acoustics can create an ideal balance between style, comfort, and functionality.