Acoustic Panels for Ivanhoe East Preschool

The Challenge

Ivanhoe East Preschool, operated by Banyule City Council in Melbourne’s North-East, is beloved for its play-based learning but notorious for noise. Housed in two large, hard-surfaced kinder rooms at 1 King Street, the preschool suffered from excessive echo and prolonged reverberation times that made every lesson feel like rush-hour traffic. Teachers reported vocal strain, children complained of “buzzing” ears, and families swapping pick-up stories described the setting as “exciting but exhausting.”

Unchecked reverberation in early-learning spaces is more than an annoyance; it hampers speech intelligibility, forces educators to raise their voices and can spike cortisol levels in children. Research shows that when sound pressure levels climb just 10 dB above recommended limits, word recognition accuracy in four-year-olds drops by over 25 percent. For Ivanhoe East Preschool, readings peaked at 78–82 dB during free play—well above the 65 dB guideline for kindergartens.

The Solution

After on-site acoustic mapping, we designed a layered package of acoustic panels tailored to the kinder’s speech-frequency hot-spots.

It was immediately clear that the greatest source of echo was the expansive ceiling, which acted like a drum, bouncing every shout, song and laugh back into the room.

Rather than rely on wall panels, which would compete with children’s artwork and could be damaged by curious hands, we designed a ceiling-based acoustic solution using high-performance acoustic panels. These panels were specifically engineered for educational spaces, offering an NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) of 0.9—absorbing up to 90% of sound energy at the frequencies most critical for speech.

By targeting 60% of the ceiling area with these custom acoustic panels, we maximised noise absorption where it mattered most. This approach provided more effective coverage than any wall strip system and preserved the precious display space for children’s creations. The clean white finish of the panels blended seamlessly with the skylight grid, maintaining the bright, airy architecture the school community loved.

Our holistic design didn’t just promise a technical fix—it was crafted to maintain the room’s warmth and creativity while bringing the benefits of a healthy, balanced school acoustic environment.

The Installation

With the design approved and panels fabricated, our team scheduled installation for a single day to minimise impact on the preschool’s routine. Early that morning, our installation crew arrived before the first families. Thanks to precise pre-planning and laser-measured panels, every piece slotted perfectly into place.

The installation method was virtually dust-free and required no invasive drilling into the heritage ceiling structure. There was no need to relocate furniture, no lost teaching time, and no lingering construction mess.

The Outcome:

The results of the new acoustic panels were instantly felt and celebrated. The difference in the room’s character was nothing short of remarkable. Teachers reported being able to speak in a normal, conversational voice all day—no more straining or repeating themselves. Children could hear instructions and each other, improving participation and focus. Small group activities became more productive, and the overall classroom environment was noticeably calmer.

Educators described it as “someone turning down the volume dial on the room.” End-of-day headaches and fatigue dropped dramatically. Circle time and storytelling, once a struggle against background noise, became moments of shared attention and joy. Parents noticed the change, too—children were less overstimulated and more settled when they came home.

The school council, after reviewing the acoustic data and teacher feedback, described the installation as a model for effective noise solutions in educational settings. Ivanhoe East Preschool is now a reference site for Banyule Council, proving that science-backed noise control can be achieved quickly, economically and beautifully.

Acoustic Solutions to Your Loud Classroom

Is your school, preschool, or childcare centre struggling with a loud classroom, constant echo or disruptive reverberation? Don’t settle for less-than-ideal school acoustics. At SoundFix Acoustics, we deliver proven acoustic solutions using custom-engineered acoustic panels that transform even the most challenging spaces—often in just a single day.

Our expert team specialises in school and childcare environments, offering free site assessments, personalised design and rapid, no-fuss installation. With decades of experience and a passion for creating healthier, happier learning environments, we’re ready to help you achieve real results.

Contact SoundFix Acoustics today to book your free noise assessment and discover how our ceiling acoustic panels can solve your school’s noise problems for good.