SoftZone® by Axis Lighting is an innovative solution that integrates acoustic performance with architectural lighting, improving speech clarity and enhancing user comfort in commercial environments. Designed to absorb sound and reduce reverberation, SoftZone panels help prevent conversations from disturbing neighboring zones, making them ideal for creating neighborhoods of intimacy in collaborative workspaces, conference rooms, and open-plan layouts. These versatile panels can be installed horizontally in systems like Stencil® and StencilFlex™, or vertically using Spatial and Sculpt™ linear forms. Their modular design allows architects and designers to vary panel quantities for tailored sound attenuation in each space.
Made from 100% polyester—at least 40% of which is recycled PET—SoftZone panels offer sustainability alongside function. They are Class A fire-rated, moisture-resistant, and offer an impressive Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of up to 1.05 per unit. The panels support easy integration of building systems like sprinklers and speakers by accommodating openings, and they come in 15 standard colors with custom options available to match any design aesthetic. In addition to their acoustic role, SoftZone panels can be unlit or combined with Axis’s powerful lighting technologies, giving specifiers the option to layer light and sound seamlessly.
In horizontal applications like StencilFlex™ SoftZone®, the system enables discrete scalability while maintaining visual harmony. These frameworks accept triangular-shaped acoustic panels and integrate a broad range of lighting options including direct, indirect, and direct-indirect configurations. Direct lighting optics include Flush, Regressed, MikroLite®, Wall Wash, and Louver styles (60 or 70), while blank panels allow for unlit segments to focus on sound control alone. The integrated mini-drivers and available Empower wireless controls simplify installation and enhance flexibility for lighting designers and facility managers alike.
StencilFlex® SoftZone® is more than just lighting—it’s a cost-effective platform for creating layered, acoustically optimized ceiling designs. Patented StencilFlex Hubs, made from die-cast aluminum with soft corners, connect segments and support complex geometric arrangements, enabling creative freedom. Housing is extruded aluminum (0.070" nominal) with die-cast end caps, extruded acrylic reflectors, and 1mm aircraft cable suspension. The quick-release cable grips and modular joiners make installation straightforward while preserving the system’s clean lines and minimalist aesthetic.
Lit segments are available in lengths ranging from 2 to 8 feet, in one-foot increments, and blank unlit segments from 7 inches to 8 feet, with inline hubs used to assemble longer runs on-site. Minimum blank lengths start at 3 feet for accent modules, and at 6 feet for accent and indirect modules. The lighting performance is robust, offering CRI options of 80 or 90, and color temperatures of 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, and 4000K, all with tight color consistency within a 3-step MacAdam ellipse. Luminaires deliver up to 101 lumens per watt and have a minimum LED lifetime of 50,000 hours at 85% lumen maintenance in a 25°C environment, following IES LM-80 testing protocols.
The high-efficiency PMMA light guide used in StencilFlex SoftZone solutions employs patented molecular optics and precision-coupled components, providing controlled three-dimensional light distribution and smooth color mixing for uniform illumination. The result is a luminous surface that emits a diffuse, glare-free glow without visible LED hotspots.
SoftZone systems support 0–10V dimming via integral drivers and are available with standard input voltages of 120V, 277V, universal voltage (UNV), and 347V. Power over Ethernet (PoE) driver options are also supported for advanced control and integration—certified with UL2108 standards and compatible with third-party platforms like Molex, Igor, and SmartEngine (consult factory for specifics). Emergency lighting compatibility is addressed via optional remote battery packs or emergency circuits. Designers should coordinate closely with the factory when incorporating drivers or emergency components to ensure compliance with fixture length requirements and limitations.
SoftZone’s acoustic panels are backed by a one-year warranty from the date of shipment. Axis Lighting will repair or replace any defective products within this period if the claim is submitted in writing. The warranty excludes issues related to normal wear and tear such as fading from sunlight, scratches, or improper installation or use outside intended applications.
Ultimately, SoftZone represents the convergence of acoustic comfort and architectural lighting, offering a design-forward solution that enhances both visual and auditory experiences in modern spaces. Whether used alone or paired with Axis’s StencilFlex lighting systems, it delivers a flexible, high-performance option for elevating commercial interiors with quiet sophistication.
https://www.axislighting.com/products/stencil-softzone
