This disclosure describes a beamforming microphone array integrated into a wall or ceiling tile as a single unit where the beamforming microphone array picks up audio input signals. The beamforming microphone array includes a plurality of microphones that picks up audio input signals. In addition, the wall or ceiling tile includes an outer surface on the front side of the tile where the outer surface is acoustically transparent. The beamforming microphone array is coupled to the tile as a single unit and is integrated into the back side of the tile. Additionally the beamforming microphone array picks up the audio input signals through the outer surface of the tile.