Queens University Belfast - SU Building at One Elmwood

The new Students’ Union facility at Queens University Belfast opened at the end of the summer in 2022. It offers a mix of educational, pastoral, and leisure facilities to students including free hang-out spaces as well as dedicated parenting and quiet rooms. The brand-new student centre at One Elmwood covers 10,000m2 of new spaces over 3 floors as well as a rooftop garden and an outdoor terrace.

QUB is the largest single campus University in Ireland with more than 25,000 students registered. Looking after the students is a top priority for the university and this new Students’ Union facility has representatives and services in place to support all aspects of student experience from health and wellbeing to housing and leisure. One Elmwood also houses the university’s social clubs and societies as well as volunteering organisations.

LSA supplied over 2,000m2 of linear and acoustic wall and ceiling systems from our core product ranges to the project in Northern Ireland. Gustafs ribs were used throughout the main entrance atrium, cladding the face of the mezzanine levels as well as interior stair cores. Gustafs acoustic panel system was installed to the walls and ceiling of the Mandela Hall multi-use theatre space.

Product Used

More than 2,000 Oranit ceiling panels in the new 8-080 format were chosen for this project. Panels were made from natural yellow pine timber, which comes with PEFC certification as standard, and finished in a custom stain to match the appearance of walnut timber. 8-080 panels deep blades at wider centres than the 7-series styles for more flexibility for services installation including lights and ventilation.

Gustafs Linear Ribs in different widths were used in the main atrium and stair cores of the SU facility. 38mm and 88mm wide ribs are part of the standard rib range as of 2020 as well as narrow ribs at 22mm. Using a mixture of rib widths adds texture to the installation and allows for wider gaps (and better acoustic performance) without a sparce appearance. Ribs for this project were finished in natural walnut veneer.

Gustafs Panel System in natural walnut veneer was used in the Mandela Performance Hall. The ceiling panels were installed to the perimeter of the space to give acoustic performance without affecting the ceiling rigs for lighting, ventilation, and decorative suspensions. This ceiling section was installed with a special upstand detail made from small sections of panel system with lacquered edges for neat corner profiles.

Wall sections of Gustafs panels were installed in tiers around the outside of the hall with special cladding to the AV room viewing box at the back of the theatre. A mix of plain and high-performance acoustic panels with SM8 perforations were used in the hall. Niveau capax profiles were used to install the staggered panels. This profile allows for 42mm of additional panel overhang from the support grid which was used to hide the LED strip lighting.