In the staff canteen, people meet sometimes by design, sometimes by chance, and across departments. Interaction and exchange with colleagues are valued just as highly here as the food itself. For architects and planners, designing a canteen is always a particular challenge. In addition to the structural, legal and organisational requirements, it is essential to keep the needs of a wide range of users in mind. The typically open and high-ceilinged layout, combined with high occupancy during peak times, demands particular attention to room acoustics. The aim is to ensure adequate audibility in a person’s immediate vicinity, whilst simultaneously reducing speech intelligibility over greater distances.