Greek Community Acoustics

The Challenge

Oakleigh has long been recognised as the cultural heart of Melbourne’s Greek community. In August, PRONIA marked a significant milestone with the opening of its brand-new, purpose-built office – a space designed to welcome, support, and empower the Greek and broader multicultural communities of Melbourne’s south-east. The official opening was a proud moment, led by the Hon. Clare O’Neil MP, Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, PRONIA President Elpis Korosidis, and PRONIA CEO Sylvia Hadjiantoniou. The new facility symbolised growth, inclusion and a renewed commitment to community wellbeing. However, shortly after opening, a critical issue became impossible to ignore. Despite the thoughtful architectural design and modern finishes, the acoustics within the space were extremely challenging. Large open areas, hard surfaces and high ceilings created excessive reverberation. Voices overlapped, conversations became difficult to follow and background noise quickly escalated – particularly during busy service hours and community gatherings. For an organisation like PRONIA, where clear communication is essential, this posed a serious problem. The challenge was intensified by the multilingual nature of the space. Conversations frequently shift between Greek and English, often involving elderly clients, people with hearing sensitivities, and individuals seeking support in emotionally complex situations. In such environments, poor acoustics do more than create discomfort — they actively prevent understanding. What was meant to be a calm, welcoming community hub felt loud, overwhelming, and at times unworkable. They contacted SoundFix Acoustics to conduct a detailed assessment and develop a solution tailored specifically for a community centre operating across multiple languages and generations.

The Solution

SoundFix Acoustics approached the project with a clear understanding that community centre acoustics – particularly in multilingual environments -require more than generic sound absorption. The goal was not silence, but balance: reducing echo while preserving warmth, clarity and human connection. Our team began with a comprehensive acoustic report, measuring reverberation times across key speech frequencies. The results confirmed what staff and visitors were experiencing. Average reverberation times were well above recommended levels for spaces designed for speech, conversation and group interaction. Mid-frequency ranges – critical for understanding consonants and speech articulation – were especially problematic. The solution focused on targeted echo reduction through the strategic use of ceiling acoustic panels, supported by carefully placed wall panels where appropriate. Rather than overwhelming the architecture or altering the character of the space, the acoustic design was integrated seamlessly into the existing interior. Sound absorption was concentrated at ceiling level to address the dominant reflection paths created by the room’s height and surface materials. The panels were selected not only for performance but also for visual neutrality, ensuring the community centre retained its welcoming, contemporary feel. This approach allowed SoundFix to control noise effectively while enhancing speech clarity – an essential requirement in environments where multiple languages, accents and speaking styles coexist.

The Installation

SoundFix Acoustics planned the installation carefully to minimise disruption to staff, visitors, and ongoing services. The ceiling acoustic panels were installed with careful attention to spacing, coverage and alignment, ensuring consistent sound absorption across the entire room. Installation locations were informed directly by the acoustic report, targeting areas responsible for the strongest reflections and longest reverberation tails.

Throughout the installation process, the SoundFix team maintained a clean, professional site, completing works efficiently and safely within the operational constraints of a community-focused environment. The result was a space that looked unchanged at first glance—but sounded dramatically different the moment people began to speak.

Importantly, the installation respected the building’s role as a community landmark. Nothing felt intrusive or overly “technical.” Instead, the acoustic treatment became a quiet, supportive layer within the architecture — doing its job without drawing attention to itself.

The Outcome

Once installation was complete, follow-up acoustic measurements were conducted to verify performance. The improvement was immediate and measurable. Reverberation times across key speech frequencies were reduced to levels appropriate for community centre acoustics. Echo that once lingered was now controlled, allowing voices to decay naturally instead of competing with one another. Conversations became clearer, calmer and easier to follow—even when multiple discussions occurred simultaneously. Speech clarity improved significantly, particularly for older community members and those navigating English as a second language. Meetings required less repetition. Group programs felt more focused. Staff reported reduced vocal strain, and the overall atmosphere of the centre shifted from overwhelming to welcoming.

Importantly, the acoustic solution respected the social and cultural purpose of the space. Rather than muting the vibrancy of community life, the sound absorption enhanced it—allowing laughter, conversation and connection to exist without chaos. The project demonstrated how well-designed acoustic solutions can transform even a brand-new building, ensuring that architectural ambition is matched by functional comfort. For PRONIA, the upgraded acoustics now support their mission to empower, connect and serve a diverse, multilingual community with dignity and ease.

The installation of ceiling acoustic panels delivered a 45% reduction in reverberation time, transforming a highly reverberant, multilingual community space into a calmer, more intelligible environment.

📞 Contact SoundFix Acoustics today to arrange a free consultation.

Before-and-After Acoustic Results

Before installation

Average RT60: 1.30 seconds

Excessive echo across key speech frequencies (500 Hz–2 kHz)

Speech overlap, listener fatigue, and difficulty understanding conversations — especially challenging in a multilingual community centre and for older community members

After installation

Average RT60: 0.72 seconds

Significant echo reduction in speech-critical frequencies

Clearer conversations, reduced background noise build-up, and improved comfort for meetings, consultations, and community gatherings

Community spaces are built for people—and people need to hear, understand and feel comfortable within them. Whether it’s a multicultural centre, place of worship, school, office or healthcare facility, poor acoustics can undermine even the most thoughtfully designed environment.

SoundFix Acoustics specialises in professional acoustic installation tailored to real-world use. From ceiling acoustic panels and wall panels to full acoustic reports and custom noise control strategies, we help spaces sound as good as they look.

If your community centre, office or public space is struggling with echo, noise or speech clarity- especially in multilingual environments- contact SoundFix Acoustics today. We’ll assess your space, design the right solution, and quietly transform the way it sounds.

Contact SoundFix today for professional advice and expert installation.