Ambient Noise Integration in an Open Office Renovation: Duke Energy in St. Petersburg

• Project: Ambient Noise Integration for Office Renovation
• Address: 299 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
• Facility Type: Corporate Headquarters
• Client: Duke Energy
• Objective: Improve speech privacy & comfort in open office settings
• Scope: Replace outdated sound masking system across 3 renovated floors

Duke Energy’s downtown St. Petersburg headquarters underwent a strategic office renovation targeting three of its most active floors—home to key back-office and financial operations. With over 1,000 employees spread across 14 floors, speech privacy and ambient comfort were critical during this remodel. The existing white noise system—originally installed in the early 2000s—was no longer meeting the acoustic needs of the modern open office environment. Commercial Acoustics was brought in to upgrade the system to the next-generation Lencore iNet platform, providing greater control, scalability, and sound quality throughout the renovated floors.

• Industry Leader: One of the largest electric power companies in the U.S.
• Regional Presence: Serves 8.4 million customers across six states
• St. Pete Headquarters: Key operations hub for finance & support teams

Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 electric utility with a strong presence across the Southeast and Midwest. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company provides electricity to millions of homes and businesses through a massive network of power generation and transmission assets. Their downtown St. Petersburg office serves as a central hub for corporate finance, customer service, and administrative support—making it an ideal candidate for an acoustically optimized, modern office renovation.

• Ambient Noise Addition: Raised background levels to mask conversations
• Speech Privacy Enhancement: Reduced distractions in shared spaces
• Technology Upgrade: Switched from legacy Lencore to Lencore iNet system

The renovation introduced a refined ambient noise layer to reduce distractions and improve intelligibility across large, open-plan workstations. By increasing the background noise through properly tuned sound masking speakers, we helped suppress speech clarity between adjacent desks—without making the environment louder.

The Lencore iNet system was a major leap from the legacy platform, offering digital zoning, precise tuning, and long-term serviceability. This upgrade was especially valuable in a hybrid environment where both open bullpens and executive offices exist side-by-side. The iNet system ensures the ambient noise level is consistent, controlled, and adaptive to varied floor plans.

• Speaker Replacement: 300+ speakers installed on 3 floors
• Optimized Placement: Speakers spaced 12.5’ apart on center
• Efficient Cabling: Reused existing J-hooks to speed up install

More than 300 speakers were replaced or installed during the sound masking retrofit. These were positioned in a 12.5-foot grid pattern to ensure even acoustic coverage—eliminating “hot spots” or noticeable volume fluctuations between zones.

The installation leveraged the building’s MDF (Main Distribution Frame) and multiple IDFs to distribute the system’s head-end controls across all three renovated floors. By reusing existing J-hooks, we reduced the demolition timeline and avoided excessive ceiling disturbance. Still, our technicians encountered outdated cabling practices—such as low-voltage lines supported from ACT grid or even sprinkler pipes—which required careful remediation to bring the system up to code.

• Open Office Comfort: Reduced perceived disruptions from coworkers
• Private Office Security: Confidential conversations remain contained
• Balanced Sound Field: Tuned for uniform coverage & performance

One of the biggest acoustic challenges in open office renovations is achieving an environment that feels quiet without being silent. Too little background noise, and private conversations can be overheard; too much, and the workspace feels noisy. By introducing controlled ambient noise, we were able to strike that balance—masking unwanted speech while allowing team members to remain focused and comfortable.

Private offices—often used for HR, legal, or C-suite discussions—benefited especially from the added sound masking. Speech transmission was reduced between offices and hallways, helping ensure confidentiality and trust across departments. Each speaker zone was tuned using an SPL meter to guarantee the target decibel levels and frequency ranges were met.

• Ambient Noise Consistency: Achieved seamless acoustic integration
• Productivity Support: Minimized audio distractions during work hours
• Future Flexibility: System supports re-zoning for future layouts

In modern corporate settings, traditional acoustical design isn’t enough. Duke Energy needed a solution that would evolve with their team’s workflow and workspace layout—especially with the shift toward flexible seating and hybrid schedules.

Sound masking helps standardize the acoustic environment across open areas, cubicles, meeting zones, and executive suites. By deploying a networked iNet system, Duke’s facilities team can now remotely manage volume zones, make real-time adjustments, and scale the system as new renovations or expansions occur. This proactive approach turns ambient noise from a liability into a tool—delivering consistent, high-performance acoustic results that blend seamlessly into the office atmosphere.

For architects and general contractors overseeing office renovations, sound masking is often overlooked—yet essential to achieving comfort and privacy in today’s collaborative workspaces. At Duke Energy’s downtown St. Petersburg campus, the integration of a modern ambient noise system helped transform three active office floors into acoustically optimized zones, supporting productivity without compromising design.

This project demonstrates how a carefully designed sound masking system can solve both open office distractions and private office confidentiality challenges—especially during complex renovations. Whether you’re retrofitting a high-rise corporate headquarters or designing from the ground up, ambient noise integration should be considered early in the planning phase.

Reach out to our team today to explore scalable sound masking solutions that enhance acoustics without disrupting your layout or timeline.