Philips and Ecophon, a leader in sound absorbing ceilings, have collaborated to create Soundlight Comfort, an innovative acoustic ceiling panel integrated with LED lighting from Philips. Soundlight Comfort is the result of a partnership between Philips and Ecophon to create people-focused solutions that enhance employee well-being in the workplace, while delivering on energy efficiency requirements and design aesthetics of green buildings. 

Studies show that in good acoustic environments, people make more attempts at solving difficult tasks and increase their accuracy. Good quality white light has also been shown to improve the atmosphere and productivity of workspace, helping concentration.

Philips and Ecophon have worked together to create free-hanging acoustic ceiling panels that incorporate state-of-the-art LED lighting, thus providing an integrated solution that absorbs sound in open-plan offices.  The Soundlight Comfort ceiling panel not only provides office compliant and energy-efficient lighting, but has also been designed to reduce ceiling clutter and exhibits a clean and minimalist look that adds to the interior design of the space.

“Both Philips and Ecophon have people and their needs at the heart of their brands, and are thus well suited to jointly create unique people-focused solutions,’’ said Menno Kleingeld, Vice President and Global Segment Manager at Philips Lighting. “The partnership illustrates our approach of teaming up with leading building systems providers to deliver lighting innovation for offices that are centered on employee comfort.”

‘’In the development phase of this partnership it soon became clear that Philips and Ecophon are a good match. We have complementary knowledge; Philips in lighting and Ecophon in acoustics and its effect on people. Ecophon always strives for high end user value and in Philips we have a partner with whom we will be able to develop innovative solutions that give additional value and increased comfort to people in their working environments,” said Peter Kamps, Global Marketing Director for the Saint Gobain Ecophon Group.

The Soundlight Comfort solution is particularly designed for new buildings equipped with Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS), such as Concrete Core Activation. These thermal management systems work through the ‘concrete core of the building’ (exposed ceilings) which retains heat and also cools the building, and is therefore greener as it saves on heating and cooling requirements.

However, the exposed ceiling structure necessary for this system leads to increased echoing and sound levels which can be uncomfortable for employees, particularly in open plan offices – causing fatigue, disturbance and ultimately impacting their well-being and productivity.  The partially exposed ceilings also poses the additional challenge of integrating office lighting in an aesthetic way, while ensuring the quality of light achieved meets the requirements of a work environment.