Case Study
GOOGLE VENDOR'S OFFICE
Client: Google, CBRE, ISG, SW1 Solutions, Perunding Shanu
Location: Menara Shell, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Completion: 2019
Google opened its first office in Malaysia back in 2011 as part of the company’s expansion strategy in Southeast Asia. Just within the past few years, Google’s business in Asia Pacific has grown 66%, from more than $16 billion in 2017 to close to $27 billion in 2019. To fuel the company’s rapid growth, Google has been expanding its footprint in Malaysia too.
The company recently added over 150,000 sq ft of workspace, across 10 floors of Menara Shell, KL Sentral, to house its burgeoning workforce. Each floor is home to approximately a hundred trendy Google staff during the day.
Challenge
The Google Vendor’s Office was designed with flexibility, collaboration, and fun in mind. The resulting layout features innovative production workspaces, tranquil nooks, entertainment areas, and a suite of meeting rooms within the same floors. A café adjoined to the workspaces is found on 2 of the 10 floors.
For the café, Google had strict requirements to use either waterproof or cleanroom-grade materials. This was to prevent fibres, dust particles, and other elements that could contaminate food and beverages. For aesthetics and comfort, the space uses an open-ceiling design to maximise floor-to-ceiling height, while areas with a drop ceiling had extremely tight above-ceiling space.
These conditions imposed significant challenges for acoustic design.
First, cleanroom criteria rule out soft and foamy materials, which usually have high absorption coefficients that reduce echo but tend to collect dust. Second, silencers were not an option because conventional silencers rely on fibrous materials (like rockwool) to absorb noise, and there wasn’t enough above-ceiling space for installation. Finally, the ceiling—typically the main element for acoustic design—was almost entirely open, with no ceiling panels in place. Walls were the next largest surface area for acoustic absorption, but the “no soft, foamy materials” requirement limited the options available.
Scope and Solution
Phoenix By KSM was engaged to assist with the office design and provide advice on:
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Architectural/Interior Design materials to optimise sound insulation
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Acoustic and Reverberation Time design and calculations
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Mechanical systems noise control
Phoenix By KSM ensured each space fulfilled its purpose. Production workspaces and tranquil nooks remain quiet and conducive for deep work and reflection, while entertainment areas and meeting rooms effectively contain chatter and laughter within their designated zones.
We specialise in designing solutions that optimise workplace acoustics and eliminate noise and vibration issues. As an independent engineering firm, we work with architects, engineers, and other professionals to deliver solutions tailored to each unique project. For the Google Vendor’s Office, we procured acoustic plaster for the café ceiling. This material meets the acoustic requirements while preserving the intended aesthetics.
Fun fact: The acoustic plaster ceiling used in the Google Vendor’s Office was the first of its kind in Malaysia. It was air-flown from Europe specifically for this project.