Alberta Motor Association (AMA) Calgary Branch Office
Location: Westbrook Mall, Calgary, Alberta
Owner/Operator: Alberta Motor Association (AMA)
Interior Design: Mackey Design Group
Acoustical Design Challenge for Multi-Service Mall Branch Office Fit-out in Calgary
The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) has long been recognized as a trusted provider of roadside assistance, insurance, travel, and driving education for Albertans. With a membership exceeding one million, AMA’s commitment to service excellence is reflected in its approach to facility design. The new Calgary branch at Westbrook Mall presented a unique acoustical challenge: to create a welcoming, multi-functional environment that supports confidential consultations, high-traffic public services, and collaborative staff operations—all within a single, open-plan footprint.
AMA’s vision for the Calgary Westbrook Mall branch included a diverse array of spaces: reception and community partner zones, driver’s education testing and passport photo areas, registries and insurance desks, travel services, private offices, meeting rooms, and staff support areas. The mix of public-facing and back-of-house functions demanded careful attention to speech privacy, noise control, and user comfort. The project’s location within a busy retail mall, adjacent to multiple tenancies, further heightened the need for robust acoustical separation and mitigation of mechanical noise.
HGC’s Acoustical Assessment Approach
HGC Noise Vibration Acoustics was engaged early in the design process to provide comprehensive acoustical consulting for the AMA Westbrook Mall branch fit-out. The team began by reviewing architectural drawings and site context, identifying key drivers of acoustical concern: mechanical equipment noise, sound transmission between adjacent spaces, and the risk of excessive reverberation in open and glass-partitioned areas.
Site visits and background noise measurements informed HGC’s recommendations for mechanical system upgrades, including the use of acoustic duct lining and consideration of sound masking systems to maintain appropriate ambient noise levels. The assessment also addressed the impact of mall adjacency, with particular focus on demising wall construction and the need for enhanced insulation to prevent sound intrusion from neighboring tenants.
Office Acoustics and Speech Clarity Considerations
The AMA Westbrook Mall branch office’s open layout and extensive use of glass partitions posed challenges for speech intelligibility and privacy. HGC’s review highlighted the importance of controlling reverberation, especially in consultation areas, meeting rooms, and community gathering spaces. The design team’s selection of high-performance ceiling tiles and suspended acoustic baffles was validated, with further recommendations for wall treatments in critical zones to absorb sound and limit propagation.
Private offices and meeting rooms required special attention to ensure confidential discussions could occur without risk of overhearing. HGC advised on the use of solid core doors with acoustic seals, and recommended extending demising partitions above ceiling level to minimize sound flanking paths. In areas where sliding doors were specified, alternatives were proposed to improve acoustic sealing and overall speech privacy.
Recommended Office Fit-out Acoustical Solutions
Drawing on best practices and past office fit-out project experience, HGC recommended a suite of acoustical treatments tailored to AMA’s operational environment needs. Batt insulation was specified for all demising walls, with strategic extension above finished ceilings and, where feasible, to the underside of the roof structure. Double-glazed or laminated glass assemblies were recommended for spaces requiring enhanced separation.
Ceiling treatments with a minimum NRC of 0.8 were installed throughout, complemented by acoustic baffles in exposed areas. Upholstered seating and targeted acoustically absorptive wall panels further contributed to reverberation control, supporting both speech clarity and user comfort. The acoustical design suggestions also incorporated flexible solutions for future adaptation, ensuring the office could evolve with AMA’s service offerings.
Acoustical Consulting Services Provided by HGC Noise Vibration Acoustics
- Acoustical design review and recommendations
- Site measurements and background noise assessment
- Mechanical noise control strategies
- Partition and demising wall sound insulation consulting
- Room acoustics and reverberation management
- Privacy and speech intelligibility solutions
- Construction phase support and commissioning
