Fern Energy

The Challenge

Fern Energy required a high-performing workplace that could support dense, open-plan occupancy without sacrificing comfort or focus.

The primary challenge was acoustic: large floorplates, hard surfaces, and exposed services risked creating a noisy, visually cluttered environment. At the same time, the ceiling—typically treated as a purely technical zone—offered an opportunity to carry both acoustic performance and visual identity.

The question became: how do we turn the ceiling from a background necessity into an active design tool that manages sound, defines space, and elevates the overall experience?

The Solution

We treated acoustics and ceiling design as a single, integrated system rather than separate layers.

• Acoustic ceiling as a feature
• A grid of high-performance acoustic panels was developed using a mix of tones—charcoal, grey, and muted greens—transforming the ceiling into a visual field while actively absorbing sound.
• Variation within a system
• Instead of a uniform ceiling, panels shift in color and density, subtly zoning the space and breaking up sound reflections across the floorplate.
• Suspended acoustic elements
• Hanging baffle screens and partitions are strategically introduced at desk clusters, reducing lateral noise transfer while maintaining openness and light flow.
• Integrated services
• Lighting, HVAC, and AV are carefully coordinated within the ceiling grid, avoiding visual clutter and ensuring performance elements don’t compete.
• Ceiling as identity
• The ceiling becomes the defining architectural layer—visible, expressive, and consistent across spaces from open work areas to meeting rooms.

The Outcome

Fern Energy achieves a workplace that is both acoustically controlled and visually distinct:

• A significant reduction in ambient noise, improving concentration and comfort
• A cohesive ceiling language that unifies the entire workspace
• A sense of openness without acoustic compromise
• A recognizable identity driven by pattern, tone, and suspended elements rather than applied finishes

The result is a space where performance is felt, not seen—and where the ceiling quietly does the heavy lifting.