Newlands Primary School

The Challenge

Newlands Primary School in Melbourne is undergoing a major redevelopment as part of the Victorian School Building Authority’s upgrade program. While new facilities are being built, the existing classroom buildings remained in full-time use—and teachers had been reporting the same issue across nearly every learning space: Excessive noise, disruptive echo, and poor speech clarity. Before acoustic treatment, the average reverberation time across classrooms measured 1.14 seconds, far above recommended standards for primary education environments (typically 0.4–0.6 seconds).

Teachers described classrooms where voices bounced relentlessly off walls, making it difficult for students to concentrate, listen, or engage confidently. Speech clarity suffered. Group work became tiring. Neurodivergent learners and prep students were particularly overwhelmed by the excessive echo and background noise. Even in one-on-one settings, sound lingered in the room longer than it should, creating a subtle but constant cognitive load for both staff and students.

The school’s leadership team knew that while a new build was coming, they could not wait years for acoustic relief. They needed a high-performance acoustic solution – one that could immediately improve classroom acoustics, support better learning outcomes, and integrate seamlessly into the existing building fabric.

The Solution

SoundFix Acoustics developed a tailored acoustic strategy for Newlands Primary School that would deliver maximum impact without disrupting daily learning. The solution focused on two high-absorption treatment types:

Ceiling Acoustic Panels

To immediately reduce echo and airborne noise, the team installed premium ceiling acoustic panels throughout the classrooms. These panels target mid-to-high frequencies—exactly where children’s voices sit—drastically reducing reverberation and improving clarity.

Polyester Wall Panels Used as Acoustic Pinboards

Newlands Primary had a secondary challenge: they needed functional wall space for student work, visual learning materials, and teacher displays. SoundFix proposed an elegant, dual-purpose solution:

– Polyester acoustic wall panels
– Installed at full height
– Doubling as safe, soft, pinnable display boards

SoundFix Acoustics developed a custom strategy that would dramatically reduce echo and improve speech intelligibility, while also enhancing the usability and appearance of the classrooms. The design centred on two complementary treatments: ceiling acoustic panels and polyester wall panels.

The panels offered clean lines and a contemporary feel, subtly elevating the existing buildings while delivering the acoustic performance the school urgently needed. By combining ceiling treatments with wall panels, each classroom could achieve maximum echo reduction, improved noise control, and an aesthetic upgrade that blended seamlessly with the learning environment.

The Installation

Completing the installation in an active school presented its own challenges. SoundFix Acoustics worked closely with the school to schedule all works around class timetables. Rooms were prepared carefully, with every desk, chair, and surface protected. The team installed panels quietly and efficiently so learning could resume quickly.

In each classroom, the ceiling acoustic panels were installed first, aligned precisely to create a clean and consistent appearance. The polyester wall panels followed, cut and fitted with architectural accuracy to ensure they not only performed acoustically but also enhanced the visual layout of the room. Once completed, teachers returned to classrooms that looked refreshed, more refined, and significantly more conducive to learning.

The difference in sound was immediate. Voices no longer bounced through the room. Teachers no longer felt the need to over-project. Students responded to the calmer acoustic environment with improved focus, reduced agitation, and a stronger sense of comfort. The combined effect of the acoustic ceiling panels and the polyester wall panels, used as display pinboards, created spaces that were not only quieter but also visually organised and pleasant to be in.

The Outcome:

Before: 1.14 seconds
After: 0.52 seconds

This room experienced the most dramatic transformation—cutting its reverberation time by more than 50%, completely changing the environment for both teachers and students. Schools do not need to wait for new buildings to experience modern classroom acoustics. SoundFix Acoustics specialises in transforming active learning environments into quieter, clearer, more comfortable spaces through expertly installed ceiling acoustic panels and wall acoustic panels that double as practical teaching surfaces. Poor acoustics can affect up to 70% of classroom learning output.

Acoustic Solutions to Your Loud Classroom

Before its redevelopment, Newlands Primary School struggled with loud, echo-filled classrooms that made learning and teaching difficult. SoundFix Acoustics delivered a customised solution using high-performance ceiling and wall acoustic panels, dramatically reducing reverberation times—from 1.14 seconds down to as low as 0.38 seconds. The upgrade improved speech clarity, reduced distractions, and created calm, comfortable classrooms aligned with modern education acoustics standards. This case study demonstrates how targeted acoustic treatment can elevate student engagement, teacher wellbeing, and overall learning outcomes. 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.