Perkins Eastman Chicago Studio

Perkins Eastman Chicago studio meets WELL’s 10 categories of building performance: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community. Using Rockfon solutions, design teams can fulfill requirements for eight out of 10 categories. The WELL Sound concept aims to bolster occupant health and well-being through the identification and mitigation of acoustical comfort parameters that shape occupant experiences in the built environment. At more than 12-feet-high, Perkins Eastman Chicago studio’s exposed ceilings complement brickwork walls and poured floors. These hard surfaces also reflect sound and can cause distractions and stress. To reduce noise and improve acoustic comfort, Rockfon Sonar panels are strategically positioned within the open office plan, such as in the materials library, the hallways and the glass-walled conference rooms. Providing a best-level Noise Reduction Coefficient with up to a 0.95 NRC, Rockfon Sonar ceiling panels were installed in Chicago Metallic® 4500 Ultraline™ 9/16-inch ceiling suspension system.

“It is a basically ceiling-free space. The design team blends the industrial aesthetic of an exposed deck with high-performing Rockfon Sonar acoustic stone wool ceiling panels to capture the sound in the open environment,” said Rockfon’s regional manager of architectural sales, Diana Hart, CSI, IIDA. The studio’s materials library serves as a bridge between the communal team spaces and the individual workspaces. Recognized for its thoughtful selection process, Perkins Eastman carefully reviewed materials and products chosen for its Chicago office. The WELL Materials concept aims to reduce human exposure, whether direct or through environmental contamination, to chemicals that may impact health during the construction, remodeling, furnishing and operation of buildings.

Perkins Eastman signed the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Materials Pledge and is committed to using building and design materials that support the health and well-being of people, our climate, and those who manufacture and produce those products. In addition to signing the AIA Materials Pledge, Perkins Eastman’s Human by Design philosophy includes “sourcing natural products that are free from hazardous materials, localizing our supply chain, thereby reducing emissions and energy usage.”

The Rookery building’s expansive windows not only bring in natural light from the exterior perimeter, but also from an interior skylit courtyard, helping illuminate Perkin Eastman’s interior offices. Making effective use of the natural and electric lighting, Rockfon Sonar’s bright white surface reflects up to 86 percent of the light and diffuses it for optimal visual comfort.

Supporting these goals, Rockfon Sonar acoustic stone wool ceiling panels provide no sustenance for mold, bacteria or potentially harmful microorganisms. Stone wool also naturally resists fire and water, without the use of additional chemicals. Contributing to indoor air quality (IAQ), Rockfon stone wool products are UL® GREENGUARD® Gold Certified for low VOC emissions. Along with material selection, Perkins Eastman addressed WELL v2 strategies for IAQ management during construction and once occupied, through ongoing monitoring.

In the largest and most comprehensive research of its kind, a 2022 study published in the Journal of Building and Environment found that occupants in WELL Certified spaces in North America reported overall workplace satisfaction improved by nearly 30%, occupant-perceived well-being scores increased by 26% and mental health scores increased by 10%, and productivity gains were up by 10 median points. Overall occupant satisfaction also improved in areas of lighting (84%), physical comfort (81%), indoor air quality (76%) and acoustics (50%). Perkins Eastman Chicago studio’s post-occupancy survey results showed a 98 percent overall workplace satisfaction.