Multi-Family Soundproofing Underlayment in Colorado: Art District Flats in Denver

• Project: Art District Flats – Denver, CO
• Address: 1225 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204
• Facility Type: Multi-Family Apartment Complex
• Objective: Cost-effective floor underlayment to meet strict IIC targets
• Scope: Supply & consult on 63,000 SF of soundproofing underlayment

Located in the vibrant heart of Downtown Denver’s Arts District, Art District Flats (ADF) is a modern multi-family development designed for residents who expect premium finishes and superior living comfort. With over 125,000 SF across eight stories, the project was planned to meet stringent acoustic performance standards, ensuring tenants enjoy privacy and peace in a bustling urban setting. Commercial Acoustics was brought in to provide an efficient, budget-conscious solution for reducing footfall and airborne noise between floors, without compromising performance or code compliance.

• Footfall Noise: Minimized impact noise from footsteps & furniture movement
• Airborne Sound: Reduced transfer of voices, TVs, & music between units
• Tenant Satisfaction: Enhanced comfort in a premium urban residence

In dense urban living environments, noise from neighboring units can quickly become a tenant’s top complaint. Impact sounds from upstairs — like footsteps, dropped objects, or moving chairs — can easily travel through flooring assemblies. Airborne sounds such as music, conversations, or television audio can be equally disruptive. By integrating the right soundproofing early in construction, developers can prevent these issues before they start, improving both tenant satisfaction and property value.

• Assembly Type: 5.5″ concrete slab with laminate floor topping
• Performance Goal: Target IIC rating of 56–58
• Budget Efficiency: More affordable than 10mm rubber underlayments

The ADF ownership group needed an underlayment that would meet — and ideally exceed — Denver’s multi-family acoustic standards. The assembly in question included a 5.5″ concrete slab, which is slightly thinner than the common 6–8″ concrete base. This made base layer performance even more critical. The goal was to achieve an IIC rating in the 56–58 range without resorting to higher-cost 10mm rubber products, making the solution both technically effective and financially practical.

• Material Composition: 6mm EVA-MLV layer with polyester scrim
• Code Compliance: Meets STC/IIC 50+ building code requirement
• Coverage Area: 63,000 SF supplied & stored until installation

Commercial Acoustics proposed the 6mm Floor Blokker underlayment, a hybrid solution combining a dense EVA-MLV (ethylene-vinyl acetate + mass-loaded vinyl) layer with a durable polyester scrim. This design provided optimal impact and airborne sound control while remaining lightweight and easy to install. The system met the STC/IIC 50 building code requirements for multi-family dwellings, even on thinner concrete slabs, and delivered the desired IIC range of 56–58.

• Warehouse Storage: Material held locally until GC was ready
• On-Site Coordination: Worked directly with flooring contractor
• Best Practices: Ensured proper installation for peak performance

Once approved, 63,000 SF of Floor Blokker was shipped to Denver and stored in a secure warehouse until the general contractor needed it on-site. Commercial Acoustics’ consulting team worked alongside the owner’s flooring contractor to confirm proper installation techniques, ensuring the subflooring would deliver maximum performance over the building’s lifespan. Attention to detail during this phase helps avoid common pitfalls like improper seams, gaps, or material compression.

• Mississippi: Explore solutions that improve comfort in apartments & condos.
• Louisiana: See how our designs enhance sound privacy in shared living spaces.
• Texas: Check out projects focused on meeting STC & IIC targets in large developments.

Beyond Florida and Colorado, our expertise supports multi-family projects throughout the South. In Mississippi and Louisiana, we’ve delivered solutions that quiet common walls and amenity spaces without sacrificing design goals. In Texas, where large-scale developments dominate, we focus on assemblies that meet strict STC and IIC ratings while keeping projects efficient and buildable. Together, these Southern case studies show how we adapt noise control strategies to fit regional codes, climates, and construction styles.

By choosing the right soundproofing underlayment, Art District Flats ensured residents would enjoy a premium living experience with minimized noise transfer between units. The Floor Blokker solution met performance targets, stayed within budget, and was installed to the highest standards — setting the project up for long-term acoustic success.

If you’re an architect, general contractor, or developer seeking to integrate cost-effective and high-performance soundproofing solutions in your next multi-family project, reach out to our team for expert guidance from design through installation.