In modern interior design, aesthetics often take center stage. Sleek glass walls, polished concrete floors and soaring open ceilings create visually stunning meeting spaces that reflect innovation and transparency. However, these same design elements can introduce significant acoustic challenges, especially in spaces where clear communication is critical — like meeting rooms.
At InfoComm® 2025, booth visitors commented on this very challenge, indicating they were looking for products that would resolve poor audio pickup in their beautiful, modern meeting rooms.
Their core issue lies in reverberation. Hard, reflective surfaces like glass, concrete and metal bounce sound waves around the room, creating echoes and muddled audio. High ceilings exacerbate this issue by increasing the distance sound must travel. The result is spaces that may look impressive but sound chaotic, making it difficult for in-room participants to hear clearly and even more frustrating for remote colleagues relying on microphones and conferencing systems for both calls and transcription.
This conflict between form and function is a growing concern in many organizations. While interior designers and architects often prioritize visual harmony and brand expression, audio clarity is essential for productivity and inclusivity. A beautifully designed room that hinders communication ultimately undermines its purpose and frustrates users and staff managing the spaces.
Bridging this gap requires collaboration between design and technology teams. Acoustic treatments (such as sound-absorbing panels, ceiling baffles and soft furnishings) and the installation of carpet and drop ceilings can be subtly integrated into the design without compromising aesthetics, but designers need to acknowledge they have a role beyond just the creation of beautiful spaces.
At Nureva, we’re acutely aware of this tension. Our audio systems are designed to adapt to challenging acoustic environments, using advanced algorithms to deliver consistent sound coverage even in reverberant spaces. We have also designed an acoustics measurement tool to assist in the placement of our integrated mic and speaker bars in a space.
But, we can’t overcome impossibly reverberant spaces. We need the active participation of designers in the creation of acoustically sound spaces to allow our products to perform as intended.
Ultimately, the most effective meeting rooms are those where aesthetics and acoustics are treated as complementary, not competing, priorities. By involving acoustics specialists early in the design process and embracing discreet acoustic solutions, organizations can create spaces that are both beautiful and functional, where every voice is heard clearly, no matter where it originates.