Winter Park, Florida-based tech company Highwinds, a content delivery network provider, was rapidly outgrowing its old office and needed a new space with room to expand. The company’s new space, located within a recently constructed building, promised an open, collaborative environment with plenty of unique design features and natural light.
While providing more options for architectural and design considerations, Highwinds’ new open office space had far fewer walls for blocking sound, meaning speech privacy would be compromised and noise distractions would be elevated unless a solution could be found.
SOLUTION
Director of IT Dave Herrell asked Highwinds’ property manager, CNL Real Estate, if they could recommend a vendor who could provide audiovisual solutions for the conference, lobby, and break rooms. CNL recommended Sound Stage, also of Winter Park, to handle the integration. Given the open nature of the new office, Chet Neal from Sound Stage suggested that sound masking, the process of adding unobtrusive background sound to an environment to reduce noise distractions, could prove to be beneficial. By making nearby conversations unintelligible, sound masking protects speech privacy and allows individuals to work more productively in a space with fewer interruptions. Additionally, sound masking is more cost-effective than other acoustical treatments such as partitions or soundproofing materials.
Sound Stage determined the best solution for the project to be Biamp’s QtPro™ sound masking system, which utilizes barely visible speakers which were seamlessly installed within the office’s unique octagonal-cloud-ceiling design. These speakers were then connected by cables to a QtPro™ control module residing in the server room.
CONCLUSION
Highwinds was able to create an open office environment that’s both beautiful and functional. Office chatter in the area is unintelligible (and therefore less distracting) at distances over fifteen feet, and conversations in the break room, lobby, and corridor don’t spill over into the work area. As an added bonus, the small emitters fit in design-wise with the office’s unique ceiling.
“The Qt® 300 that Sound Stage installed is incredibly easy to manage and gives us greater reduction of noise and distractions, allowing our staff to be more productive and feel more private,” says Herrell. “QtPro™ even meshed aesthetically with our multistyle tile ceiling design. Employees don’t notice the emitters directly above them.
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.
