From Clatter to Clarity: Podcast Friendly Double Glazed Glass Partitions

The Brief

Glass partitioning looks fantastic. It gives a modern, open design and stops studios, just like our client’s, from feeling like a bunker. But anyone who’s ever tried to record on the other side of a shiny partition that hasn’t been correctly specified for its environment knows the downside: acoustics.

With the wrong glass partitioning system installed, sound bounces, reverberates and turns a crisp sentence into something that sounds like you’re broadcasting from the Tube at rush hour.

Studio RHE turned to our experts for help. Alongside their acoustic troubles, we noted that their existing glazed walls had an existing glass manifestation (a set of decorative patterns applied across the panels) that fed into the studio’s overall look. Any solution needed to preserve these graphics to maintain the existing design.

So, the requirements were clear:

• Improve sound quality in the studio for podcasting
• Keep the existing glass manifestation intact
• Maintain the stylish, modern studio interiors

A tricky brief? Absolutely. Impossible? Not on our watch.

The Solution

We came to our client with several solutions to ensure we found one that met their budget, timeline and design goals. The conclusion was to overlay the existing partitions with 10mm safety toughened glass. This essentially gave the studio partitions a double glazed partitioning effect, without the need to remove the existing panels.

By installing the new panels directly over the existing glass, the solution:

• Significantly reduced sound transmission between spaces
• Minimised echoes and reverberation within the recording area
• Preserved the studio’s original interior design, including the glass manifestation patterns

Using 10mm safety toughened glass meant the partitions had an added layer of safety, perfectly in keeping with high traffic, creative environments. Double glazing works by creating a small air gap between two panes of glass. This system interrupts sound waves, reducing their ability to travel from one side of the pane to the other.

In general, the thicker the glass and the larger the gap, the more sound energy is absorbed. Of course, this depends on factors such as your installation method and other materials used in your build.

The new double glazed glass partitions in this project maintained the studio’s open, light-filled appearance, while providing a noticeable improvement in acoustic performance. All podcast hosts and guests now experience recordings that are crisp, clean and free from distracting background noise that had previously plagued the studio. It’s a small change with a big impact: style, safety and sound, all in perfect harmony. Exactly how we like it.

If your workplace, whether that’s a studio or office, struggles with echoes, background noise or you just want to improve acoustics for better work quality, it’s time to talk to our experts. We know how to make glass partitions work for you, not against you. Get in touch to discuss your project requirements today, or, why not get a quote for an indicative idea of costs!