Acoustic assessment of shared workspaces

With increasing mobility and rising costs, shared workspaces have become popular alternatives to traditional fixed-desk open-plan offices (OPOs). This study examines differences in acoustic attributes, specifically noise levels and noise disturbance, between shared workspaces with temporary and flexible usage patterns and fixed-desk OPOs. Additionally, it explores task types and their mental workload in shared workspaces. The research was conducted in two shared open-plan offices of similar size (350 m²) in Istanbul: one labeled “normal” and the other “silent.” Occupied noise measurements were complemented by subjective user feedback from 35 participants using the Gêne Acoustique dans les Bureaux Ouverts (GABO) questionnaire, as specified in BS ISO 22955-2021, expanded with the NASA-Task Load Index (TLX). Results revealed that, while noise levels were similar to traditional OPOs, the “silent” office exhibited higher noise levels than the “normal” office. Interestingly, louder activities, such as phone calls and video meetings, were more frequently conducted in the “silent” office. These findings highlight the complex relationship between acoustic environments, user behavior, and task characteristics, providing insights for improving shared workspace design.