Powerlink North

BSE was engaged to deliver acoustic solutions for Powerlink North, a workplace conversion within Powerlink’s Virginia site in Brisbane.

The project involved the transformation of an existing industrial warehouse into a mix of workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and multi-use areas. A key issue was noise transfer from an adjoining warehouse, where forklift activity remained clearly audible through interconnecting sliding doors.

The project required targeted acoustic design to manage noise intrusion and create a functional and comfortable workplace environment within an industrial context.

Our team undertook investigation, benchmarking, and acoustic design for the converted workspace.

Initial assessments included on-site benchmarking and reverberation testing to quantify noise intrusion and internal echo levels. Testing identified that the existing sliding doors provided insufficient acoustic separation, while the large warehouse volume, exposed concrete finishes, and air handling systems contributed to high reverberation times exceeding six seconds.

To address these conditions, BSE implemented separation corridors to reduce noise transmission from the adjoining warehouse and associated air handling systems. Reverberation was controlled through the strategic integration of carpets, ceiling systems, and wall panels, improving internal acoustic conditions while maintaining the functionality of the space.

The completed works improved acoustic performance within the converted workspace, reducing the impact of external warehouse activity and internal reverberation.

The resulting environment supports day-to-day workplace use by providing improved speech clarity and reduced noise disruption, contributing to occupant comfort and usability within a previously industrial setting.