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Overview
This case study shows how sustainable meeting pod design and open office acoustic strategy can work in real-world projects.
XFrame integrated dbsorb’s X-Clip, a glue-free, demountable fixing interface, into their modular acoustic ceiling system. The result is a ceiling solution that:
- Supports circular economy principles
- Absorbs construction tolerances
- Installs quickly and reliably
- Maintains strong acoustic performance in open offices
- Allows panels to be removed and reinstated without damage
- Reduces waste during future reconfigurations
It demonstrates that eco-friendly office design is not just about materials. It is about building systems designed to adapt over time while maintaining performance and aesthetic intent.
Beyond the Pod: What Matters in Sustainable Office Design
Sustainable meeting pod design is often focused on the pod itself: walls, finishes, and acoustic panels. But truly sustainable open office design looks at the bigger picture. It considers ceilings, structures, and fixing systems that allow spaces to evolve without waste or demolition.
This project is a good example. XFrame integrated dbsorb’s X-Clip into a modular acoustic ceiling system, supporting adaptable, low-waste interiors and created a system that works in tandem with open office pods.
About XFrame: Circular, Flexible, and Design-Friendly
The XFrame Room-in-Room range built with innovative 3D unitised plywood frames is an industry-leading circular privacy solution for retail, office, education, and healthcare.
- Low-Carbon Circularity: XFrame spaces unlock spatial flexibility through a circular kit-of-parts. Adapt, grow, and flex without emissions.
- Freedom of Design: Rooms integrate seamlessly into broader architectural pallets. Supply chain linings, glazing, lighting, and furniture can be customised to match any fitout, achieving a cohesive look across property portfolios.
- Made Local: All systems are locally manufactured, supporting domestic supply chains and reducing transportation emissions.
dbsorb and XFrame share a commitment to high-performance, flexible, and sustainable acoustic solutions.
Designed in Partnership, Built for Change
How X-Clip Works with Modular Acoustic Ceilings
The X-Clip was developed through close collaboration between XFrame, dbsorb, and Vivid Origin, bringing together system design, manufacturing precision, and real-world fabrication insight. XFrame designs precision-engineered, modular and demountable building systems that allow interior spaces to be assembled, adapted, and reused over time.
Designed to enable perpendicular mounting across dbsorb’s award-winning range of glue-free mounting systems, the X-Clip was refined through this collaborative process and integrated by XFrame into their latest acoustic ceiling solution as part of an end-to-end, room-within-a-room system.
By resolving the fixing interface at a system level, the ceiling absorbs construction tolerances with ease, installs quickly, and adapts effortlessly as room sizes or layouts change. The emphasis is on predictable outcomes on site, rather than manual adjustment after installation.
The X-Grid Ceiling System
Showcased at the 2026 Interior Design Show in Toronto, the X-Grid ceiling detail for Room-in-Room spaces demonstrates the capabilities of this circular, adaptable ceiling system.
- Circularity: Adhesive-free mounting via X-Clip/Ready-Clip system
- End-of-life pathway: Materials return to the manufacturer for reprocessing
- Easy assembly: Snap-on hardware, no overhead screw fixing
- Compatibility: Works with MyModular plug & play soft-wiring kits
- Material compatibility: Works with 12mm PET materials
- Acoustic improvement: Creates a 12mm air-gap for better reverberation performance
This solution demonstrates high acoustic performance, flexibility for hybrid offices, and true circularity.
In-life access is simple and intuitive. Panels can be removed and reinstated without damage, making maintenance straightforward and preserving the quality of large-format ceiling elements over time.
“The outcome is a clean, refined ceiling solution that looks resolved on day one and remains reusable, serviceable, and adaptable throughout its life—supporting change without waste and preserving design intent well beyond the initial fit-out.”
Ged Finch, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, XFrame
Designing X-Clip together has resulted in a fixing interface that installs predictably, adapts easily, and continues to perform as spaces change. We enjoy seeing how XFrame and other forward-thinking designers leverage these tools to create more adaptable, long-life spaces.
Why This system for Open Office Design
Supporting Flexible Workspaces and Hybrid Teams
Open offices are constantly changing. Teams grow. Departments move. Meeting rooms shift to collaboration zones. Focus pods become huddle spaces.
Traditional ceilings rely on adhesives or fixed grids. Layout changes often result in damaged materials ending up in landfill, difficult access to services, and compromised acoustic performance.
The X-Clip approach changes that. It allows a ceiling system to:
- Be installed quickly and accurately
- Be reconfigured as spaces change
- Maintain acoustic performance
- Be maintained without damage
For sustainable meeting pods, this approach shows how modular, reusable systems can support both the environment and the user experience.
Maintaining Acoustic Performance Across Changes
Sustainable design is only valuable if it works.
Open offices need:
- Speech privacy
- Reduced noise distraction
- Clear zones for focus and collaboration
By integrating dbsorb acoustic panels with XFrame's modular system, acoustic performance remains consistent, even during reconfiguration.
Panels stay secure, absorption is effective, and sound quality does not degrade. Longevity equals performance, a core principle of sustainable meeting pod design.
Materials and Mechanical Fixing for Eco-Friendly Office Design
Avoiding Adhesives for Reuse and Recycling
Adhesives may make installation easy, but they limit reuse and recycling.
Mechanical fixing systems like X-Clip allow:
- Panels to be removed and reinstated without damage
- Fixings Without the VOCs and toxic fumes
- Clean material reuse and recycling between projects
- Component replacement without waste
- Reduced embodied carbon over time
Even ceilings can be part of a circular economy if they are designed with this kind of thinking.
Circular Economy in Practice
Reducing Embodied Carbon Through Modular Components
This project demonstrates several circular design principles:
- Layers of Change: Ceilings and panels operate as adaptable layers
- Fixings Dictate Deconstruction: Mechanical interfaces allow safe removal
- Standardisation Supports Reuse: Predictable installation enables components to be reused
- Preserve Design Intent: The system remains visually resolved over time
These principles make sustainable office design practical and scalable.
Maintenance and Lifecycle Benefits
Easy Panel Removal and Reinstatement
Sustainable design also considers maintenance:
- Panels can be removed for service or cleaning
- Access does not damage the system
- Lifespan is extended, reducing replacement cycles
Good design protects both performance and the environment.
Lessons for Sustainable Meeting Pod Office Design
Modular, Adaptable, and Long-Lasting Solutions
Even though X-Clip was developed before this project, its application here highlights how circular, glue-free fixing systems enhance sustainable meeting pod design.
Key takeaways:
- Modular, demountable systems reduce waste
- Acoustic performance can be maintained through change
- Materials and fixings designed for reuse support long-term sustainability
- Flexibility and serviceability are as important as appearance
Sustainable meeting pod design is not just about what is built. It is about how easily it can be adapted tomorrow.
Supporting People, Planet, and Productivity
This project shows that sustainable open office design works when performance, modular engineering, and circular principles align.
When systems are designed to be reused:
- Waste is reduced
- Carbon impact is lower
- Spaces can evolve without losing function or aesthetics
This partnership demonstrate practical circular economy thinking in action, proving that people and planet benefit when interiors are designed to last.
