Why campuses (and especially libraries) are installing more and more soundproof booths
On campuses, the demand for quiet, private spaces has reached new heights. Students are looking for places where they can concentrate, follow an online lecture, prepare for an oral exam, or make a phone call without disturbing others — and without the university having to build new rooms.
This is exactly what searches such as “school soundproof booth” or “university pod” are all about: quickly creating functional micro-spaces in already constrained environments (university libraries, learning centres, student co-working spaces, open-plan administrative offices, halls, corridors, and passageways).
In this guide, we get straight to the point: which size to choose (1 / 2–4 / 6 people), where to install it, and what to check before buying (acoustics, ventilation, lighting, connectivity, ergonomics), with specific technical specifications from the Essentielle range.
The best booth for your needs
The right choice depends first on the intended use, then on traffic flow and the location.
- Individual work, concentration, online classes, solo video calls: 1-person booth (phone box style).
- Video calls for two, interviews, tutoring, one-to-one discussions: 1 to 2-person booth (duo format).
- Student projects, mini-meetings, teaching briefings: 2 to 4-person booth, designed as a mini room without the need for construction work.
- Examinations, workshops, team meetings, multi-purpose use: up to 6-person booth, if you have a genuine need for capacity.
On a campus, you don’t just choose a size. You choose a user experience: a booth in a library must remain comfortable and quiet despite high turnover, whilst a booth in a corridor must cope with foot traffic and noise spikes.
Use cases that justify an acoustic booth in schools and universities
Taking an online course or delivering an oral assignment without disturbing the library
The challenge is simple: to allow students to speak and be understood, without disrupting study areas. The main focus is on voice privacy and good video call comfort (less echo, clearer voice).
The realistic goal is not absolute silence. What matters is reducing audibility from outside. And as the booths are used frequently, the criteria that make the difference are very practical: effective ventilation, stable temperature, pleasant lighting. A booth that gets too hot or feels stuffy will be ignored, even if it provides good soundproofing.
Making sensitive calls: academic matters, careers guidance, work-study schemes, HR, student health
Some conversations have no place in the corridor. Career guidance, work-study schemes, corporate relations, social support, student health: the booth provides a space where one can speak normally without exposing the conversation.
Here, the expected benefit is immediate: greater confidentiality, less disturbance to those around, and a closed environment that provides reassurance.
Creating focus zones when rooms are full
When workrooms are full, shared spaces become noisy, and the reverberation is tiring. Pods have an operational advantage: they organise the space without the need for building work, creating pockets where people can settle down, make progress, and get things done.
Providing more inclusive spaces
Some people need a more stable, less stimulating, and more controlled environment (visually and acoustically) to concentrate or express themselves. Without overstating the benefits, a booth offers a more discreet setting, one that is more predictable and often more comfortable.
Acoustic booths, alcoves, panels: understanding the solutions before buying
Enclosed booth
A booth is an enclosed space. It is ideal for video calls, phone calls, interviews, tutoring and small meetings. It is also the most frequently searched term: acoustic booth, soundproof booth, phone box, pod.
Acoustic alcove
The alcove absorbs some of the ambient noise and reduces the sensation of echo. However, as it is not completely enclosed, conversations remain audible. It is suitable for short bursts of work, reading, or as a quiet, semi-open area.
Acoustic panels
Panels address overall acoustics (reducing reverberation), which is very useful in university libraries or learning centres. But they do not create a private space. The key point: absorption ≠ isolation.
The criteria for a good booth on campus
Acoustics designed for speech
On campus, effective acoustic performance is that which protects speech. The Essentielle pods offer a reduction in speech levels of up to -30.3 dB depending on the model. This is a concrete benchmark for achieving greater privacy, particularly for calls and video conferences.
Keep in mind: location matters just as much as the technical specifications. A booth placed near a door, a printer or a coffee area will always be less “quiet” in use.
Ventilation
Ventilation is often the number one factor in satisfaction. In a university library, a booth may be used for back-to-back sessions all day long. The Essentielle pods provide a complete air change in under 40 seconds, with a flow rate of up to 750 m³/h depending on the model.
In practice, this also means adhering to installation guidelines (clearances) to maintain air circulation and thermal comfort.
Lighting for fatigue-free working
Reading, note-taking, screen work, video calls… A pod must be comfortable from the very first minutes. Essentielle features dimmable LED lighting up to 800 lm, at 3000 K, a comfortable colour temperature for prolonged use.
Connectivity
On a campus, expectations are clear: being able to plug in quickly, without having to search for a socket. Essentielle pods offer connectivity designed for everyday use: USB-C, USB-A, and RJ45 (useful for securing video calls when Wi-Fi is unstable), with a control panel to manage lighting and ventilation.
Ergonomics
A quick-call booth and a long-term work booth are not designed in the same way. Table, height, seating, circulation: it’s these details that transform a booth into a proper workspace — or into a space people avoid.
Which Essentielle format should you choose for a school or university?
Single-person booth: the standard BU
For libraries and quiet study areas, this is the most cost-effective format: high turnover, intuitive use, immediate efficiency.
Here, the priority is simple: ventilation, lighting, connectivity, and a “plug & work” experience.
2-person pod: tutoring and interviews
The right format for career guidance, work-study programmes, educational discussions and interviews. The comfort of conversation and the table layout make all the difference.
2–4-person pod: projects and mini-meetings
This format is a great alternative to a small meeting room for short meetings, student group work or hybrid video conferencing. It avoids monopolising a proper meeting room whilst maintaining a good level of comfort.
Essentielle L specifications (1–4 people)
- External dimensions: 136 × 190 × 212 cm
- Floor area: 2.4 m²
- Ventilation: 750 m³/h, air change rate < 40 s
- Lighting: LED 800 lm / 3000 K
- Reversible door, mobile base (castors + gas struts), full connectivity
Pod for 1–6 people: panel discussions, workshops, team meetings
Choose this option when collective use is frequent (panels, workshops, meetings) . Otherwise, it is better to opt for multiple smaller units, which are often used more frequently.
Essentielle XL specifications (1–6 people)
- External dimensions: 160 × 190 × 212 cm
- Floor area: 3 m²
- Ventilation: 750 m³/h, air change rate < 40 s
- Lighting: 2 LED spotlights 800 lm / 3000 K
- Full connectivity, mobile base
Encouraging cabin use
A cabin is not just a piece of equipment. On a campus, it is a service.
- Open access: perfect for high-turnover single-person cabins.
- Booking: useful for meetings, tutorials and interviews.
Add a very brief code of conduct (duration, cleanliness, noise levels, confidentiality) and establish a simple maintenance routine. The best approach: appoint a point of contact (library, facilities management, campus management). Without a designated person in charge, the equipment deteriorates faster and usage drops.
Conclusion
On a campus, the right choice is rarely decided on paper. It comes down to actual usage.
Choose the right size (1 / 2–4 / 6), check the essentials (voice privacy, ventilation, lighting, connectivity, ergonomics), and position them intelligently, taking footfall into account: this is what ensures a booth is used, appreciated… and recommended.With its pods designed for intensive use and clear technical features (rapid ventilation, comfortable lighting, comprehensive connectivity, mobile base), Essentielle supports schools and universities that simply wish to offer a true modern luxury: a space where one can work and communicate in peace.
