Office Sound Masking Installation: Keesee Architecture in Maitland, FL

• Project: Office sound masking installation
• Address: 300 S Maitland Ave, Maitland, FL 32751
• Facility Type: Architecture & Design Office
• Client: Keesee Architecture, a subsidiary of Total Solutions Group
• Objective: Enhance speech privacy & reduce distractions in open & closed office areas
• Scope: Install 33 sound masking speakers across cubicle areas, private offices & conference rooms

Keesee Architecture’s new 11,000-square-foot headquarters required a solution to improve speech privacy in both open and closed office settings. With a layout that included cubicles, reception areas, private offices, and a conference room, the client needed a system that controlled noise and reduced distractions without costly construction modifications. Commercial Acoustics delivered a complete office sound masking system to meet these goals.

• Founded: Established in 1993 in Maitland, Florida
• Expansion: Grew from design services to full-service architecture & engineering
• Transition: Became employee-owned in 2021 under an ESOP program

Keesee Associates began as a design and production services firm before growing into a comprehensive architecture and design studio. As part of Total Solutions Group alongside FDS Engineering, the company offers a one-stop studio for commercial projects, custom homes, remodels, and builder services.

The 2021 transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan gave employees direct ownership in the firm and reinforced a long-term commitment to clients and the community. Today, Keesee operates under the Total Solutions Group umbrella, continuing its legacy of design innovation and service while fostering a culture of shared success.

• Open offices: Control background chatter & improve focus
• Closed offices: Enhance privacy without costly wall construction
• Demonstration: Live testing showed clear benefits before installation

In open offices, cubicles provide visual partitions but do little to block noise. Conversations from neighboring desks often distract employees and reduce productivity. By slightly raising the ambient sound level, office sound masking makes those conversations fade into the background, helping teams concentrate.

For private offices, extending walls to the deck can be expensive and disruptive. Instead, sound masking speakers were strategically installed to achieve comparable privacy benefits at a fraction of the cost. Before installation, a demonstration with temporary speakers showed how effectively the system reduced the audibility of adjacent conversations.

• Confidentiality: Protect sensitive conversations in offices & conference rooms
• Productivity: Limit distractions in collaborative environments
• Cost savings: Avoid expensive architectural modifications

Speech privacy is critical in professional office environments, especially in architecture firms where sensitive design discussions and client meetings occur daily. Poor acoustics can lead to accidental disclosures or reduced focus. Sound masking provides a reliable, cost-effective alternative to construction upgrades, supporting both privacy and productivity.

• Speakers: 33 total – 23 in cubicle areas, 10 in offices, reception & hallways
• One-day install: System completed before office opening
• Flexible zoning: Tailored volume levels for open & closed areas

The final system included thirty-three sound masking speakers, with the majority installed in the open office cubicle section. Additional units were placed in private offices, the conference room, and high-traffic areas like hallways and reception. Using our Sound Masking Calculator during the planning stage helped us determine how many emitters were needed and where they’d be most effective.

Installation was completed in a single day, with minimal disruption to other trades. After setup, zones were tuned so each area received the right level of acoustic coverage—balancing privacy, comfort, and speech clarity throughout the office.

For Keesee Architecture, sound masking proved to be the ideal solution to balance collaboration with privacy. Employees in the cubicle areas now experience fewer distractions, while closed offices and meeting rooms benefit from enhanced confidentiality. The system was installed quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively, without altering the building’s design or requiring expensive construction upgrades.

Beyond these immediate improvements, office sound masking also supports long-term goals such as higher employee productivity, reduced turnover, and a more professional environment for client interactions. By tailoring the system to both open and closed spaces, Keesee Architecture gained a flexible acoustic solution that will continue to enhance daily operations.

For architects, general contractors, and design firms, this project demonstrates how office sound masking can transform modern workplaces into environments that are both collaborative and private. To learn more about implementing this solution in your own projects, contact our team today.