Project Case Study: Creating Acoustic Privacy in an Open Office

MO BOX Pods for a Global Pharmaceutical Company in Shanghai

Project Location: Shanghai, China
Product Used: MO BOX Acoustic Pods
Building Area: Approx. 50,000㎡
Industry: Global Pharmaceutical & Healthcare
Completion Date: 2025

Introduction: Redefining Privacy in the Modern Open Office

Open-plan offices have become the standard for global enterprises, encouraging collaboration, transparency, and flexibility. However, as offices become more open, a new challenge emerges: how to maintain acoustic privacy and focus in a highly dynamic workspace.

This project showcases how MO BOX acoustic pods were integrated into the Shanghai office of a globally leading pharmaceutical company, creating quiet, functional, and human-centered spaces within a large open-plan environment.

Client Background: A Global Leader in Pharmaceutical Innovation

Founded in 1891 in Western Europe, the client is a world-renowned pharmaceutical company with operations across the globe and more than 75,000 employees worldwide.

The company entered the Chinese market in 1992, establishing its China headquarters in Shanghai, where it operates an integrated model combining research & development, manufacturing, and commercial functions. Today, over 5,000 employees work across China, continuously delivering innovative medicines and vaccines to patients.

As a science-driven organization, the client places a strong emphasis on focus, confidentiality, and efficiency—all of which directly influenced the office design strategy.

Design Challenge: When Openness Meets Noise

The Shanghai office adopted a highly open and flexible layout, aligned with modern workplace trends. While this design enhances communication and visibility, it also introduced unavoidable challenges:

• Phone calls overlapping in shared spaces

• Keyboard sounds and conversations traveling across the floor

• Lack of private areas for confidential discussions

• Limited spaces for focused, individual work

The goal was clear:

Create quiet, private, and flexible spaces without compromising openness or natural light.

Solution: MO BOX Acoustic Pods as Modular Quiet Spaces

To address these challenges, the design team introduced MO BOX acoustic pods throughout the office.

Rather than treating privacy as an enclosed, isolated concept, MO BOX pods were strategically placed within open areas, becoming part of the overall spatial rhythm.

Key advantages of MO BOX in this project include:

• Multiple sizes and configurations for different work scenarios

• Color options that integrate seamlessly with the interior palette

• Modular placement without altering the building structure

• Excellent sound insulation performance

360° Views, Natural Light, and Visual Transparency

One of the most striking aspects of this project is how acoustic privacy coexists with visual openness.

Placed along the glass façade, MO BOX pods benefit from:

• 360-degree city views

• Abundant natural daylight

• Transparent glass panels that maintain visual continuity

Even when occupied, the pods do not feel enclosed or disconnected from the workspace. Instead, they become quiet islands within a flowing office landscape.

Acoustic Performance: Turning Noise into Calm

In an open office, sound travels fast. Conversations, phone calls, and typing noise easily disrupt concentration.

Once the MO BOX pod doors close, the environment changes instantly:

• External noise is reduced to a low, indistinct background murmur

• Speech privacy is significantly improved

• Users experience a sense of calm similar to a private room

As described by the design concept:

“When the door closes, conversations, phone rings, and keyboard sounds dissolve into low-frequency murmurs. Inside the pod, only controlled sound and steady breathing remain.”

This acoustic transformation allows employees to focus, think, and communicate more effectively.

Flexible Usage Scenarios for a Dynamic Workplace

The MO BOX pods support a wide range of daily activities, including:

• Private phone and video calls

• One-on-one meetings

• Focused individual work

• Short breaks requiring quiet time

Their presence reduces the demand for traditional meeting rooms while giving employees autonomy over where and how they work.

A New Interpretation of the Open Office

This project proves that open offices do not have to sacrifice privacy.

By integrating modular acoustic solutions like MO BOX, companies can:

• Preserve openness and collaboration

• Provide essential quiet zones

• Improve employee satisfaction and productivity

• Adapt spaces without major renovation

The result is an office that feels both dynamic and calm, structured yet flexible.

Conclusion: Human-Centered Acoustic Design for Global Workplaces

For global enterprises, especially in industries such as pharmaceuticals where focus and confidentiality are critical, acoustic comfort is no longer optional—it is essential.

This Shanghai office project demonstrates how MO BOX acoustic pods successfully bridge the gap between openness and privacy, offering a scalable solution for modern workplaces around the world.

By redefining how sound, space, and people interact, MO BOX helps create offices that truly support the way people work today—and tomorrow.