Acoustic panels make monument spaces usable

Acoustics played an important role in the renovation of Shell's monumental headquarters. "Since minimalist architecture has made its appearance and open-plan offices have become indispensable, solid measures must be taken to make the sound in the rooms pleasant," knows Hans Schroots, director of Incatro.  

Shell's renovated headquarters also shows a lot of hard stucco and clean masonry. In addition, the office was divided into new, smaller spaces with a diversity of functions. Huddle rooms, call boxes, office gardens, smaller offices, meeting rooms, breakout rooms and recovery and rest rooms are spread over five floors. Wherever hard surfaces caused annoying sound reflections, Incatro addressed the acoustics.

Comprehensive customization

"It was a huge project," says Schroots. "We first designed the appropriate acoustic panel for Shell. Then we customized it for each room, taking into account wall sockets, thermostats and AV materials, in the color as indicated by the architect and according to the standards of LEED gold certification. Everything up-to-date and state-of-the-art. To give an idea of the magnitude of the project: this involved 15,000 linear meters of aluminum profile, 7,500 corner connectors and 4,000 square meters of fabric."

25 years of knowledge and expertise

Incatro Room Acoustics was the first in the world to develop a high-quality sound absorber that continues to set international standards. Now it advises, designs and arranges the engineering, production and installation of the acoustic solution. With the knowledge and expertise it has built up over 25 years, it is at the top of this specialist market. Schroots: "In this regard, collaboration is an important item within our company. At Shell, this meant cooperation not only within our own departments, but also with our suppliers and the other partners within this project. And that cooperation has been enormously successful."