Oklahoma City-based professional liability insurer PLICO hired Elliott + Associates Architects to design their new office, located in the city’s version of New York’s Flatiron Building. The company’s upper management wanted a space with a modern design aesthetic and natural light while preserving the history of one of Oklahoma City’s most unique buildings.
The renovation encompassed the entire two-level building, including modern additions to the rooftop, boardroom, and outdoor deck. Although the building did not include cubicles, walls were made of a clear polycarbonate material that helped protect visual privacy while allowing for natural light. A two-foot space between the top of the walls and the open ceiling was implemented to create a more open feel.
Elliott + Associates Architects worked with Rob Rogers from technology integrator Audio\Visual Design (AVD) to ensure acoustical privacy within the offices. Rob recommended a sound masking system be installed before completion of the construction to help mitigate the anticipated issues.
SOLUTION
Sound masking is the process of adding an unobtrusive background noise to an environment through speakers installed in the ceiling, used to cover up excess speech noise. PLICO agreed and decided to incorporate the QtPro™ sound masking system into the office renovation. AVD installed small, barely visible emitters (loudspeakers) throughout the open ceiling areas of the space, connected by cables to an intuitive Qt® 300 control module mounted in the server room. These emitters were small enough to be easily placed in similar enclosures to the ones holding some of the light fixtures. “Incorporating the emitters into the design was easy,” says Bill Yen from Elliott + Associates. “I’ve worked with Rob Rogers from AVD for a long time, and he knows how to incorporate technology, including sound masking technology, into our designs seamlessly.”
CONCLUSION
PLICO’s new office is everything they hoped it would be, excelling in both form and function. Employees can now concentrate with minimal speech noise distractions, holding meetings in their private offices and conference rooms without fear of being overheard. Additionally, the small size of the emitters ensured the sleek, industrial interior design wasn’t compromised. Sound masking even helped cover up some nearby road noise. “The sound masking system makes it so speech noise just kind of fades into the background and you don’t notice it,” says Brook Barnett, office manager at PLICO. “We love our new office!”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
