If you live in New York City, you truly understand the meaning of “noisy.” As one of the most densely populated and happening cities in the world, noise is just part of the game. That said, many of New York City’s main attractions, such as its illustrious collection of fine dining restaurants and towering high rise offices housing the world’s greatest corporations, the ability to block sound is crucial to business.
The sun rising over the New York City skyline.
Fine dining, in particular, requires more than just amazing food, but an amazing experience, which always involves premium sound control. It’s not overtly obvious, but controlling sound in a fine dining experience is as important as the food itself! If you are eating the best dinner of your life, what if you couldn’t hear your friends talking at your own table because there was so much noise, whether other guests, neighbors, or the streets outside? The distraction and your annoyance could even alter your perception of the taste of the food!
I recently worked with an event space in NYC that lives in a building that has a wildly popular and renowned restaurant next door. The walls between the event space and restaurant were not soundproofed, and many of the events hosted there have loud music and the sounds of an excited, happy crowd. Although they weren’t meaning to be an annoyance, and because the events, especially in this exciting space, aren’t exactly quiet affairs, the sound was coming through the walls and interfering with the ambiance of the restaurant. The owners asked the building management what could be done about it, and I helped them come up with a plan to use soundproofing materials along the wall to keep these two business neighbors from negatively impacting one another. Even in an old building, and with NYC’s notorious building codes, I was able to provide a unique and straightforward solution that provided major relief.
Soundproofing doesn’t have to be complicated! Even if you can’t alter the building itself, there are numerous solutions to achieve soundproofing and dramatically enhance your business in NYC.
That’s why I created this helpful guide for everything you need to know about commercial soundproofing in NYC, including product recommendations, installation tips, and more! Let’s dive in.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Soundproofing the Noisiest Commercial Space Possible
To walk you through commercial soundproofing in NYC, I decided it would be best to show you how to create the most soundproof space in the worst possible conditions.
Follow my step-by-step guide to soundproofing the noisiest commercial space possible:
Step 1: Soundproof the Doors
The first thing you’ll want to do is soundproof your doors. Most of the sound transmission through doors happens in the gaps around the door’s edges. So, if you’re going to create a soundproof door, you should seal all the air gaps around the perimeter of your doors. The following products are ideal acoustic solutions for the noisiest commercial spaces.
PrivacyShield® Soundproof Door
PrivacyShield® Soundproof Door closeup of door handle assembly
If you’re interested in creating a completely soundproof solution, replacing your doors with a PrivacyShield® Soundproof Door is the ideal solution. This product comes with seals already in place and a solid-core door for optimal sound blocking.
PrivacyShield® Soundproof Door Kit with Acoustic Threshold
Acoustic Door Seal Kit
If you don’t want to replace your entire door, you can use the PrivacyShield® Soundproof Door Kit with Acoustic Threshold to make your current door soundproof. This product comes with jamb seals for the sides and the top of the door and a threshold for the bottom, to block sound.
Step 2: Soundproof the Walls
Next, you want to soundproof the walls. In many spaces, outdoor noise pollution isn’t as significant a problem as in NYC, so a few wall panels can work wonders, but if you’re trying to soundproof a noisy commercial space, you’re going to need to do a little more than that. That’s why we recommend floor-to-ceiling acoustic solutions for soundproofing the walls in commercial buildings.
AlphaSorb® Barrier Acoustic Panels
AlphaSorb® Barrier Acoustic Panels
Most acoustic panels are used to reduce echo, but the AlphaSorb® Barrier Acoustic Panels have two fiberglass barriers – one for reducing echo and another for sound blocking. It is delivered ready to install and must be placed directly on the walls, floor-to-ceiling, to prevent sound transmission. So no matter how loud it gets outside, the sound won’t be able to permeate the space.
AcoustiWall Fabric Stretch System
Installations can be configured to meet just about any design requirement or geometric pattern.
We recently worked with a large event venue in NYC that wanted to reduce the sound transmission created at their events. We utilized the AcoustiWall Fabric Stretch System. This revolutionary soundproofing product can be installed from floor to ceiling to provide optimal sound blocking. Plus, you can even install sound barriers behind the stretch wall for enhanced soundproofing for the noisiest spaces.
Step 3: Soundproof the Floors
If your space is like most commercial spaces in NYC, you probably have more than one floor, so you should definitely put some time and attention into soundproofing your floors. After all, no one likes hearing all the noise created by their upstairs or downstairs neighbors, which can be the case in a bustling office space.
Iso-Step® Soundproofing Underlayment
Iso-Step® Soundproofing Underlayment
The Iso-Step® Soundproofing Underlayment is the ideal soundproof flooring solution. This product is installed directly beneath the flooring and stops the vibrations caused by footfall noise. In a multi-story office space, this soundproofing underlayment can make it seem like you have no upstairs neighbors. That might sound like a miracle, but that’s just a side effect of high-quality, professional soundproofing!
Step 4: Soundproof the Windows
Next, you’ll want to focus on soundproofing your windows. Windows can be a vulnerable area in any commercial space, especially in a metropolitan area like NYC. If you’re searching for high-quality sound-blocking window treatments, look no further than our exclusive selection of acoustical window solutions.
The PrivacyShield® Window Seal Kit is easy to install and remove.
Step 5: Soundproof the Ceilings
Finally, you’ll want to focus on soundproofing the ceilings. In many commercial spaces, drop-down ceilings are a significant source of sound transmission. Not only can this affect sound transference within the building, but outdoor sound can bleed through the ceiling, as well. If you’re trying to soundproof a noisy commercial space in NYC, you’ll want to focus some time and attention on the ceilings.
PrivacyShield® Ceiling Tile Barrier
PrivacyShield® Ceiling Tile Barrier 2’x2′
If the commercial space has a drop-down ceiling, as most commercial spaces in NYC do, the PrivacyShield® Ceiling Tile Barrier is the ideal soundproofing solution. It is installed directly onto the ceiling tiles, to block any sound transmission and keep the room as quiet as possible.
PrivacyShield® Light Hood
The fully assembled PrivacyShield® Light Hood and Ceiling Tile Barriers will reduce the sound transmitted through the ceiling grid for as long as they are installed in the ceiling grid system.
The PrivacyShield® Light Hood is another ceiling soundproofing solution that is necessary for drop-down ceilings with lighting fixtures. The light hood is installed above the ceiling, directly over the gaps around the lighting fixture, to create a completely soundproof seal. For optimal performance in a super noisy environment, you’ll want to use this product in conjunction with the PrivacyShield® Ceiling Tile Barrier.
Commercial Soundproofing in NYC by Acoustical Solutions
When trying to create a soundproof office or commercial space in NYC, you have to consider every area that contributes to sound transmission. Fortunately, we offer high-quality, affordable products for every aspect of commercial soundproofing.
While there are companies available in NYC that offer soundproofing solutions, none of them will have the state-of-the-art technology created by Acoustical Solutions. Our products can be installed by anyone with some development experience, including your local contractor.
Contact us today to learn how Acoustical Solutions can transform your commercial space into a quiet, peaceful, and productive environment!
To learn more about how Acoustical Solutions can solve your noise control problems, use our contact form, call one of our Acoustical Sales Consultants at (800) 782-5742, or visit us on the web at acousticalsolutions.com.
