Project Challenge

This 240㎡ family-run handmade pottery studio with front retail gallery is located in Brooklyn, New York. It features exposed brick walls, concrete floors and open ceiling joists, matching the raw handcrafted brand aesthetic — but hard reflective surfaces create noticeable reverberation during weekend peak hours. Pottery wheels, kiln ventilation, polishing equipment and customer chatter build up quickly, making staff product explanations hard to hear. The clay dust and high humidity also require acoustic materials that are stain-resistant, easy to wipe clean, and dimensionally stable in damp environments, without losing the workshop’s rustic craft identity.

Our Solution

We installed cement-bonded wood wool acoustic ceiling panels across the main gallery and studio production area, with an NRC rating of 0.80–0.90. The dense textured fibre-cement finish resists clay dust buildup and supports regular wipe-down cleaning, while blending seamlessly with the exposed joist and brick interior and absorbing scattered reflected sound across the high-ceilinged space. Behind the checkout counter we added E0-grade formaldehyde-free polyester fiber acoustic panels in warm terracotta tones, NRC 0.85–0.95, CNC cut to match the built-in shelf display layout.

All panels carry ASTM E84 Class A fire certification, meeting US retail and light manufacturing venue safety requirements. Installation was completed after hours over 8 days with zero disruption to daily production and sales.

Project Results

Peak-hour ambient noise across the gallery and studio dropped by an estimated 36%. Customers can hold conversations at normal volume even at full capacity, and average in-store dwell time increased by 25%. The wood wool ceiling holds up well to regular clay dust exposure and cleaning, with the owner noting it reinforces the brand’s handcrafted industrial aesthetic rather than looking like a functional add-on.