Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Stratford Insurance works to provide British Columbians with competitive auto insurance policies through its innovative safe-driving technologies and commitment to customers. It was important for Stratford to have a space that visually reflected its professionalism and innovation while also providing an environment for the team to communicate with each other and customers efficiently and comfortably. Fortunately, Stratford utilized AtlasIED’s sound-masking technology to reduce the distraction of ambient office sound and protect sensitive client discussions without compromising the visual appearance of the space.
When moving into Stratford's new space in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district, the industrial style of the office, including wood ceilings, brick walls, and polished concrete floors, posed an acoustical challenge. As is often the case in office design, what is beautiful to the eye is not always to the ear. Stratford wanted to maintain the modern and visually appealing aspects without compromising its team’s ability to communicate with customers and each other effectively. Teams of employees worked with differing noise levels, ranging from quiet work groups to a bustling claims group fielding many calls daily. The result was a high potential for reduced productivity and increased frustration due to speech sounds traveling around the office. Additionally, Stratford wanted to ensure the boardroom, with a long glass wall that separates the space from the adjacent open office area, was masked to protect the confidentiality and privacy of its teams, customers, and partners’ conversations.
