The modern office is loud. Between hybrid meetings, impromptu collaborations and open-plan layouts, finding a quiet space to focus has become one of the most persistent complaints employees have about the workplace. While many companies attempt to solve this by building expensive, permanent meeting rooms, a growing number of organisations are taking a different approach: modular acoustic pods.
Framery is the best-known name in this category, and the one that most often appears on a shortlist. Its pods are not just quiet boxes; they are engineered, connected workspaces designed to drop into an existing floor plate. But do they actually work in the real world?
In this article we look at five case studies published by Framery — from a global consulting firm to a state library system — to see how Framery smart pods are being used to solve the privacy problem. The projects, figures and quotations below are as reported in Framery's own customer stories.
First, what "acoustic performance" means here
Every project below chose Framery partly on acoustics, so it is worth naming the number rather than the adjective. Framery One, One Compact and Framery Four are rated Class A, 30 DS,A dB speech level reduction under ISO 23351-1 — a test run on the assembled pod, with an artificial mouth at the height of a real occupant, covering walls, glazing, door, seals and the ventilation path together.
Class A means a normal speaking voice inside is not intelligible outside. It does not mean silence, and no pod on the market is genuinely soundproof. Where the case studies below refer to Class A performance, that is the measurement they mean. Our guide to comparing acoustic pods honestly explains why a bigger bare decibel figure from another supplier usually is not a better one.
1. PwC (Athens, Greece): balancing connection and privacy
When PricewaterhouseCoopers designed their new 15,000-square-metre headquarters in Athens, they wanted a human-centred environment for their 1,600 professionals. The LEED Gold-certified space was designed to balance technology with natural light and comfort.
An open, collaborative environment naturally creates noise. To address that, PwC integrated a fleet of Framery One Compact and Framery Four pods throughout the office.
The result: the pods act as dedicated zones for private focus and confidential client calls, sitting in contrast to the warm, open collaboration areas. Because the pods use extensive glazing, they maintain the airy, transparent feel of the office while delivering Class A speech privacy. That let PwC keep an open aesthetic without giving up the confidentiality a professional services firm needs.
2. Clayco (St. Louis, USA): strategic real estate consolidation
Clayco, a North American design-build and construction firm, faced a significant challenge: consolidating three separate offices into one hub in St. Louis. They needed to reduce their real estate footprint while improving the workspace for over 700 employees.
Their subsidiary LJC, an architecture and engineering firm, chose Framery pods as the solution. Instead of building dozens of permanent private offices and meeting rooms, they deployed 25 pods across their open-concept "neighborhoods".
The result: "Framery smart pods were a strategic way to significantly reduce the number of private offices as part of our workplace consolidation effort," noted Jen Nevil, Principal at LJC. The pods serve as phone booths, individual workstations and meeting rooms. Because they are not built into the floor plate, they can be reconfigured as needs change, giving Clayco an adaptable workspace and avoiding a large share of the construction cost.
3. Datumstruct Solutions (Singapore): data-driven space management
Datumstruct Solutions is a provider of technical workspace solutions in Asia. Their Singapore office doubles as a customer showroom, so every square metre has to work for both daily use and client presentations.
They implemented the full suite of Framery smart office solutions, including Framery Connect, to get real data on how their spaces were being used.
The result: using the anonymous occupancy reporting built into the pods, Datumstruct identified which spaces were underused. They put the Framery Space Overview on a 65-inch screen in the centre of the office, showing real-time availability of every pod. "With Framery Space Overview we have an instant view of our available pods so nothing goes unused," said Patrick Lee, Director at Datumstruct. Calendar integration let staff book spaces instantly, turning occupancy from anecdote into data.
4. Nevada State Libraries (USA): a statewide investment in focus
It is not only corporate offices that suffer from noise. The Nevada State Council on Libraries and Literacy recognised that modern libraries — particularly in high schools and universities — have become high-stimulus environments. Students needed quiet spaces for virtual lessons, telehealth appointments and study.
Funded by a federal grant, the council launched the "Soundproof Study Pod Initiative", distributing 34 Framery One pods across 23 high school, university and public libraries throughout the state.
The result: the initiative was well received. The Nevada State Library chose Framery for its Class A speech privacy rating, ventilation and compact footprint. At Truckee Meadows Community College, the pods became a "massive boon for students that need a quiet, private space to work." They provided dedicated focus spaces without expensive, disruptive renovation.
5. Monday.com (Denver, USA): anchoring vibrant design
When project management software company Monday.com built their new Denver office, they wanted a space that reflected their vibrant, collaborative culture. Designed by Kestrel Design Group, the office features bold patterns, colourful murals and extensive lounge areas.
Software development, however, requires uninterrupted focus. To provide it without compromising the aesthetic, they anchored the common areas with a wall of Framery One and Framery Four pods.
The result: the neutrally coloured pods offer a calm, professional contrast to the vibrant decor. They sit directly within the busy common areas, letting developers and executives step out of the open plan into immediate privacy. It shows that acoustic pods do not need to be tucked away; they can be central architectural features.
What the five projects have in common
Across these case studies, several consistent themes explain why Framery keeps appearing on shortlists:
| Benefit | How it shows up in these projects |
|---|---|
| Cost avoidance | Pods substitute for permanent dry-walled rooms, avoiding much of the construction, HVAC routing and programme time. Clayco used them to cut the number of private offices outright. |
| Adaptability | Unlike fixed rooms, pods can be repositioned, reconfigured or taken to the next tenancy when a lease ends. |
| A measured acoustic figure | Class A, 30 DS,A dB under ISO 23351-1 — a number specified before purchase and verifiable on delivery, which is more than most built rooms are ever tested against. |
| Occupancy data | Built-in connectivity and anonymous occupancy sensing turn the pods into a source of workplace data, as Datumstruct used them. |
| Comfort over a long session | Active mechanical ventilation — a published maximum of 36 L/s in the One Compact, 26 L/s in the One and 100 L/s in the Four — and video-oriented lighting, rather than the stuffiness of a sealed passive booth. |
What these case studies do not tell you
Case studies are marketing documents, including this one. Three things they consistently leave out are worth checking before you sign anything.
The warranty is not a flat five years. Framery applies cover per component: 5 years on structure and standard parts; 2 years on wear parts such as gas lifts, levelling gliders, fabrics, felt, carpet, the door, door seals, hinges and locks; 2 years on electronics such as LED lighting, fans, power and USB chargers, wireless chargers, screens, motion sensors and motor-driven height adjustment; and 1 year on Framery Connect sensors. Two conditions decide whether cover exists at all — the warranty must be activated by completing Framery's installation report form, and the pod must be installed by a Framery-trained installer. Miss either and Framery is not obliged to remedy defects. Defects must be notified within 21 days of discovery, and software is supplied without warranty. This warranty is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Approvals are a live question in Australia. Building Commission NSW practice advice issued 24 January 2025 states that office pods are rooms rather than furniture, and that their installation is to be treated as building work. No other state has published an equivalent position. A supplier's compliance letter does not bind an Australian certifier — give it to your building surveyor.
Deployments at this scale need a plan for service. Twenty-five pods across a floor plate is a service contract as much as a purchase. Ask who holds spare parts in Australia — fans, door seals, hinges, glazing — and what the response time is, because that is the question that separates suppliers once a pod is three years old.
Frequently asked questions
How much noise do Framery pods actually block?
Framery pods are rated Class A, 30 DS,A dB speech level reduction under ISO 23351-1, measured on the assembled pod. A normal conversation inside is not intelligible to someone standing immediately outside — the sound carries, the words do not. That is speech privacy, not silence; no pod is genuinely soundproof, and Class A is not even the top band, since A+ sits above 33 dB.
Do Framery pods get hot and stuffy?
Stuffiness is a real failure mode in cheaper pods that rely on passive vents with no fan — those become uncomfortable inside about twenty minutes. Framery pods use active mechanical ventilation with published airflow: a maximum of 36 L/s in the One Compact, 26 L/s in the One and 100 L/s in the Four, with a boost after use. The benchmark to check any supplier against is AS 1668.2, which asks for 10 litres per second per person in offices and meeting rooms.
Can Framery pods be moved after installation?
Yes, and it is one of the main advantages over a built room. Pods sit on glides, with an optional movability kit for repositioning, and can be disassembled and reassembled at a new site. Plan the move rather than improvising it: improper dismantling is a warranty exclusion, and in NSW the certification question can arise again at the new location.
How do employees book a Framery pod?
Framery smart pods integrate with standard workplace calendars such as Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Employees can book from a laptop, from the Framery App, or by walking up and using the touchscreen on the outside of the pod. Occupancy lights on top of the pod show whether it is free.
Are Framery pods sustainable?
Framery designs for the full product lifecycle: the pods are modular, so parts can be replaced rather than the whole unit discarded, and Framery publishes Environmental Product Declarations for the smart-pod range. Framery states that its pods are GREENGUARD Gold certified for indoor air quality. Ask for the current EPD and certificate for the specific model and finish you are specifying, since these are model-specific documents.
What warranty comes with a Framery pod in Australia?
Cover is per component — 5 years structure and standard parts, 2 years wear parts, 2 years electronics, 1 year Framery Connect sensors — and it only exists if the warranty is activated via Framery's installation report form and the pod is installed by a Framery-trained installer. Defects must be notified within 21 days of discovery. Buying through an authorised dealer is the simplest way to be sure those conditions are met. This warranty is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Bringing this to an Australian office
The pattern across these projects is consistent: whether it is a consulting firm, a construction group or a public library system, providing dedicated private space is now part of making an open floor plate work.
Chair Dinkum is an authorised Australian Framery dealer. Because we complete the installation report and use Framery-trained installers, your warranty is live from handover rather than dependent on paperwork nobody filed. Explore the Framery One Compact, the Framery One and the Framery Four, or read our Framery specification guide for Australian offices.
To discuss a larger fit-out, reach us via our contact page or call the team on 02 9640 0642.
