Roche Accelerator required office acoustic solutions that could reconcile two opposing demands inside a single building: the quiet, private conditions needed for concentrated scientific work and the open, collaborative environment the Accelerator was created to foster. As Roche’s first in-house accelerator globally, the facility was designed to strengthen Shanghai’s healthcare innovation ecosystem and support start-ups working across pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, personalised healthcare, artificial intelligence and digital solutions. Located in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Pudong, the project transformed an existing research building into a 5,000 m² innovation hub combining state-of-the-art laboratories, offices and collaborative spaces. The acoustic complexity stemmed directly from this mix of uses: focused scientific work, meetings and collaboration had to coexist within a flexible and open layout. Because the renovation retained the existing structural framework, acoustic performance had to be coordinated with architectural, technical and façade constraints rather than designed from a blank slate. Internal comfort, speech privacy and control of noise transfer became critical considerations, and the project demanded compliance with relevant building acoustics standards to ensure spaces suited to both research and collaboration.
Delhom Acoustics supported the Roche Accelerator project from initial design through to construction and on-site verification, with the acoustic strategy shaped around one central tension: giving researchers the quiet, private conditions that concentrated scientific work requires while preserving the open, collaborative environment the Accelerator was built to encourage. Because the project reused an existing 20-year-old building, every acoustic solution had to work within the limits of the existing structure, façade and mechanical systems, demanding careful acoustic design and close coordination with the architectural team. Delhom Acoustics tailored the approach to each type of space, covering offices, meeting rooms, laboratories, shared collaboration areas and equipment rooms, applying building acoustics principles to control noise transfer and support acoustics in offices without compromising the flexible layout. As acoustic consultant, Delhom stayed involved once construction began, carrying out on-site verification to confirm the finished spaces actually delivered the acoustic comfort intended, and helping resolve the gaps between design and as-built conditions that typically appear on a live construction site. This continuity gave Roche confidence that the completed building would perform as intended in daily use, not only on paper.
The completed Roche Accelerator Building provides a modern environment where laboratories, offices and common spaces are brought together to support research, entrepreneurship and collaboration. Acoustic considerations formed part of the wider transformation of the existing building, contributing to spaces that can accommodate concentrated work and interaction while maintaining the functional flexibility required by accelerator members. The integration of acoustic requirements alongside architectural, façade and workplace design also supported the project’s objective of upgrading a 20-year-old asset without a major structural overhaul. Completed and inaugurated in 2023, the building now serves as Roche’s first globally operated in-house accelerator and a key part of its Shanghai innovation ecosystem, demonstrating that strong acoustic design can coexist with open, collaborative workplace goals. Any project-specific acoustic targets, calculations, measurements or final testing results should be confirmed by the project manager before external publication.
