Rockfon

Up to 4000m2 of Rockfon ceiling tiles from four ranges, plus grid, trim and accessories, are installed throughout the €233m County Longford resort which features 470 lodges, 30 apartments, a ‘Subtropical Swimming Paradise’, sports hall, bowling, restaurants, bars, shops and a wellness spa – all overlooking a 3.5 hectare lake set in the heart of the forest. Holder Mathias Associate Director David Gallimore, “Rockfon was specified for use in several spaces throughout the resort as they have the breadth of ceiling systems required to meet the particular needs of each.

Part of a £162m investment in cancer care for the region. Affording stunning views, the open-plan chemotherapy department ensures each patient has a dedicated treatment bay, offering the choice to maintain privacy or interact with others. May Ling Nuttman, BDP Architects, “Rockfon Medicare Plus was used throughout the building, with Blanka dB being used to areas where the walls did not extend to the soffit and therefore, where higher acoustic insulation was required. We were very happy with the final outcome.” HTM 60 compliant Rockfon Medicare is perfect for demanding healthcare applications

Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic is installed to create unique acoustic ceiling designs in the refurbished headquarters of both building services engineers Max Fordham, and A+DP Architects – both long established expert practitioners in the field of construction and interiors.

Glenfield in Leicester is one of the UK’s leading hospitals for coronary care and respiratory diseases. The hospital’s Vascular Services Department has been redeveloped to provide additional patient accommodation and services including a new Angiography Treatment Suite with a technically advanced Hybrid Theatre. 2,000m² Rockfon® MediCare® ceilings were installed throughout to meet the demanding specification requirements which included acoustic control, fire protection and hygiene.

We were delighted that Rockfon was chosen to provide the acoustic solution for the refurbishment of the historic Hannington Hall in Oxford. Pacy & Wheatley Director Craig Wheatley, “Working with Wooldridge and Simpson, we developed and achieved a superb project that controls the noise levels within Hannington Hall. Now, diners can enjoy the rich, banquet atmosphere with the reduction of unwanted reverberation.” Wooldridge and Simpson Project Manager Dom Stringer said, “The versatility and flexibility of Rockfon Mono Acoustic not only helped us to achieve the desired result it also offered the acoustic control necessary for a large reverberant space.”

Owned and managed by Eton College, Dorney Lake is a world-class sporting and events venue with an inspiring Olympic heritage – the GB rowing team won 12 medals in London 2012. The Lake’s Boathouse function room offers magnificent meeting facilities and is the perfect place for events and conferences. Rockfon Mono Acoustic was installed here to create a unique ‘wave’ ceiling design inspired by the waterside view.

Leeds City College, the third largest further education college in the UK, has opened a new city-centre campus to offer modern-day vocational study programmes. The campus is a £14 million new build extension and refurbishment of a Grade II listed building into a state-of-the-art specialist vocational centre with training kitchens, a commercial training restaurant, hair and beauty teaching facilities and commercial salons as well as a refectory, library and student services. Being a refurbishment project, the build had a number of challenges.

Forming an important part of a £200m redevelopment, the flagship three building Llys Cadwyn (Chain Court) mixed-use riverside development encompasses office and retail units alongside a state-of-the-art library, café, leisure fitness and community facilities in the heart of Pontypridd. Owner client, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, awarded the design of this eye-catching project to Darnton B3 Architects, who have worked with Willmott Dixon since 2018, to bring the innovative, ambitious £38m scheme to fruition. Around 9500m2 of Rockfon acoustic ceiling and wall systems are installed throughout the three building scheme to add a wow factor and help create healthy interiors where people can work, visit, study, socialise and relax. Architecture that looks and feels good The facades of two of the buildings are glazed, with those facing the riverside designed with sun-deflecting vertical fins in a mix of warm primary colours from yellow through to orange and red – adding a positive, contemporary accent. The third building sits in contrast to the others with its organic, aardvark curved outer shell clad completely in shimmering zinc tiles, reminiscent of the futuristic Bullring in Birmingham and the Guggenheim in Bilbao. The twin buildings required high levels of sound absorption due to the predominantly open-plan office interiors on their upper floors. Independent research shows that stress levels are reduced by 27% and focus is increased by 48% by improved acoustics in these environments. The high light reflectance offered by our ceiling systems optimises natural light, aiding wellbeing and helping provide the best working conditions whilst minimising energy usage and costs. Ensuring the desired Shhh In the Library, sound control was an obvious specification requirement. Happily, Rockfon ranges - including Rockfon® Universal™ Baffles - offer acoustic performance which deliver the desired Shh. Elsewhere in the café, gym and community spaces, our products are tough enough to deal with the impact of heavy use. Darnton B3 Project Architect, Martin Hurley, “I met with our client to discuss the acoustics in a large atria which sits between the children’s, and general reference libraries. We agreed to create a feature art wall using a selection of colours influenced by the council’s own corporate identity. The completed design works really well, delivering the visual impact and sound control we desired. Rockfon Eclipse® wall panels were used to create the stylish art wall, featuring dark greys, purples, turquoise, teal, lime and orange which were NCS-matched. Eclipse can be specified in a variety of shaped formats with a clean minimalistic A-edge and unlimited custom colour matching. Quick and easy to install, the fixing kit allows panels to be set at varying distances from the wall to enhance creative possibilities. Delivering the dream Tonypandy-based M&P Group, were responsible for the installation. The firm’s Andrew Pearce commented, “Co-ordinating the process of installation across three buildings within a tight, riverside, city-centre site presented particular challenges. It was vital the supply line remained on schedule, with deliveries on-time and in good order – something the Rockfon team helped ensure. In fact, the project came together well and everyone is very pleased with the completed job.” Nevill Long Area Sales Manager, Mike Parkin, “This was a technically and aesthetically interesting project to be involved with. It was a pleasure to work with Rockfon to ensure the correct materials were delivered on time and in full.” Great performance and fabulous looks Rockfon Specification Manager Rowan Green, “It was really beneficial to be part of the design specification process for this landmark build from an early stage. A guiding requirement was to achieve the least visible grid, using a selection of Rockfon ranges to create aesthetically pleasing results with high levels of sound absorption. In addition to the Eclipse feature wall, versatile, technologically advanced Rockfon Blanka® was installed throughout the three buildings, with specialised Blanka Bas utilised in meeting rooms to promote speech intelligibility. Rockfon® Koral™ was used exclusively within washrooms and lobbies.” The Rockfon Blanka range offers a wide choice of alternatives for installation and usage. All embody Class A sound absorption (aw 1.00), 87% light reflection and >99% light diffusion and room to room sound Insulation >26dB. Blanka’s easy clean, anti-static surface prolongs product life and is non-directional, which speeds up installation, saving time and money. Within the futuristic building, an arrangement of elegant, circular, Rockfon Eclipse islands, in white, are hung from ceiling wires, creating the illusion they are floating in mid-air. In common with other Rockfon ranges, Rockfon Koral offers excellent sound absorption and the highest fire safety characteristics. It is easy to clean with a vacuum or a damp cloth and is available in semi-concealed and visible grid options.

Rockfon acoustic ceilings are installed in a new state-of-the-art health assessment clinic, Preventicum, in Central London. This specialist healthcare provider offers bespoke, in-depth health evaluation and diagnostics which includes full-body scanning. High-tech luxury Sonnemann Toon Architects designed the clinic’s interior with a high-tech spec that has the feel of a luxury hotel. Architect Galina Borovikova explains how Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic helps create a sense of opulence, “It combines the elegance of a seamless ceiling with outstanding sound absorbing qualities which enhances the sleek interior and creates client privacy.”

Islwyn High in Caerphilly is an ambitious project to amalgamate two former schools in a new purpose-built development. Part of the 21st Century School Programme across Wales, the impressive three storey building comprises a range of modern teaching spaces, an amphitheatre, technology workshops and science labs. A variety of Rockfon® acoustic ceiling tiles are installed throughout the school to control noise and harmonise with the contemporary interior.

Delivered under the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, the new Caldicot School building in Monmouthshire offer the innovative and flexible learning facilities demanded by a contemporary secondary school. There are spacious classrooms, a multi-use hall, theatre-style learning areas and studio spaces for students to study informally. The building is designed to be energy efficient and natural light has been optimised throughout. Monmouth Comprehensive is equipped with state of the art facilities. Rockfon acoustic products play a pivotal role in both schools by creating stimulating learning environments that are at the heart of the architect’s vision.

Seven Rockfon ceiling and wall system ranges make valuable contributions to the innovative £40m Harris Academy Sutton, South London – the first Passivhaus secondary school in the country. Our acoustic, ceiling and wall systems are fully recyclable. Their thermal insulation and light reflectance properties help minimise the need for power to regulate heat and light. Non-hygroscopic and non-combustible, they are impervious to most environmental pressures, embodying very high humidity resistance, up to 100% RH. Architect Mark Martines commented, “They offer good sound control, absorption and reverberation, and allow us design freedom without compromising on performance.

Technical Manager Tim Spencer “The initial need was for an elegant high-performance ceiling grid that could span 2500mm and support the ceiling infill. The answer was a bespoke version of our Rockfon® System MaxiSpan™ grid. We were then briefed to find an acoustic solution to resolve the acoustic challenges for the spaces which would host a variety of music concerts. We worked in partnership with ROCKWOOL and the solution was bespoke 100mm thick Rockfon Color-all® black ceiling tiles in combination with 100mm ROCKWOOL FLEXI® overlay and 40mm thick Color-all panels together with 100mm or 160mm FLEXI for the walls.”

Rockfon brings the Wow and the Ssh to Sheffield Hallam Adsetts Library Rockfon welcomed the challenge of collaborating to conceive a ground-breaking acoustic ceiling installation that not only looks great but controls sound beautifully, helping create the perfect environment for students to read and study in. Sheffield Hallam University appointed an alliance team to undertake their larger scale construction works over for the next six years, in partnership with BDP Architects, BAM Construction and CBRE Facilities Management. Adsetts Library – a vital resource and haven The library provides an impressive, balconied, multi-storey focal point for students and staff, to educate, learn, read and study in a variety of open plan and more formal spaces. Traditionally the library also provides a haven where a certain hush can be relied on by its thousands of users – something Rockfon understands the mechanics and science of more than most. Following issues with the original steel and metal ceiling panels installed at The University Library, BAM invited installation specialists Brebur to find a solution to the university’s needs at the library. In turn, they, approached Rockfon in order to explore options and generate plans to design and install a replacement, taking in to consideration site access and the library’s vast height, inclines and span, alongside the need to retain services for students and staff. Brainstorming a bespoke solution Brebur Commecial Director, Tommy Burke, talked about the project, “Working with the Hallam alliance team, BAM construction and our supply chain partners, Rockfon, we looked for the structural and aesthetic solution that would best fulfil the acoustic requirements. Brainstorming sessions resulted in a unique specification that would ‘tick all the boxes’ whist also improving the efficiency and performance of the building.” Rockfon Technical Manager, Tim Spencer, recalls the development and specification process, “Initially we looked at options for traditional wire-suspended ceiling islands, but these were quickly discounted due to the available space for fixing and the varying pitch of the structure. Fortunately, Rockfon had developed an innovative new direct fixing system for its Rockfon Eclipse® Islands, for use in situations of restricted height. Even so, installing islands at pitches of 45 and 60 degrees was new territory. Thoughts then turned to designing a system of grid steelwork to successfully fix the islands, which would handle the loads over a 3m span, whilst also subsequently accommodating lighting specified by the client. The answer proved to be our Chicago MetallicTM 55mm structural ‘I’ profiles positioned at 600mm centres, fixed with a unique combination of U-bolts and bracketry.” Due to the library ordinarily being open 24/7, the first national lockdown in early 2020, offered an opportunity to carry out the necessary works while the space was being less utilised. Following complete removal of the existing panels and substrate, work began to install the Rockfon scheme. The perfect fit for a unique space Around 400 1170mm x 1160mm Eclipse islands were installed throughout the library’s vast, multi-faceted space, which is four storeys high at its apex. Clear glazed roof sections to one side allow natural light to flood in and reflect against the smooth, deep-matt, super white surface of the Eclipse islands which provide high light reflection and light diffusion. Eclipse islands can be specified in a variety of shaped formats with bespoke colour matching options. They provide superior sound absorption and reduce reverberation – allowing design freedom without compromising on performance. All Rockfon ranges are made from non-hygroscopic, non-combustible, stone wool, which is impervious to most environmental pressures, embodying very high humidity resistance, up to 100% RH. Their anti-static surfaces repel dirt while providing no sustenance to harmful micro-organisms such as mould and fungi, playing an important role in limiting the spread of bacteria. Brebur’s Tommy Burke, “The project was a challenge – you can say that again – but, as ever, with the assistance of the project team and of course, Rockfon, it was successfully delivered to the highest standard, on time, within budget and to the satisfaction of the whole team.”

The Dyson Institute has been established with the ambition of being the best higher education engineering institution in the world. The campus radiates around the two-storey Roundhouse where 220 panels of Rockfon Eclipse® ceiling islands are installed. Rockfon Eclipse is very versatile and can be hung from several kinds of structures where traditional suspended ceilings cannot usually be installed. World leading architectural practice Wilkinson Eyre designed and oversaw the project. Hannah Richmond, “We chose Rockfon because we were looking to construct a floating, acoustic ceiling and found the Eclipse system to be the best product to realise this intent

Weaponness Park in Scarborough has been transformed into a £15million development comprising an improved community leisure centre, a new stadium for Scarborough Athletic Football Club, a University Technical College and a satellite campus for Coventry University. Willmott Dixon were appointed by Scarborough Borough Council. The ground is next to the new UTC and Coventry University Scarborough Campus, a purpose-built campus with library, IT suites, café, mock law court, engineering and science labs. Rockfon worked successfully with Willmott Dixon and FaulknerBrowns to establish a fully compliant range of acoustic ceiling solutions that meet or exceed performance specifications in all buildings.

Ceilings from four ranges were specified to suit particular needs throughout this four storey school and meet BB93 requirements. David Woolley from The Laurus Trust, “The brief had significant environmental, educational and financial challenges. Architects Pozzoni have faced each of these head on with great creativity. They have developed a fabulous design ….” Design Manager Lee Parker, BAM, “We collaborated with Rockfon to create the ceiling specifications proposal and then liaised with the acousticians Ramboll and Graham Flynn of installers, Sound Interiors, to ensure the varied demands of each space were successfully met.”

Festool, a premium brand Power tool manufacturer, has recently refurbished their UK head office to create a healthy acoustic environment. ROCKFON® Tropic™ ceiling tiles were chosen to replace the dated wet felted tiles. ROCKFON Tropic is perfect for a busy office environment offering the highest Class A sound absorption to reduce reverberation and an outstanding fire safety rating, A1. A robust ceiling tile which is easy to clean with a vacuum. It is available in a range of sizes and installation options including semi-concealed and visible grid tiles giving architects the freedom to design offices to any configuration.

To help meet the client’s architectural ambitions and acoustic challenges, Rockfon acoustic ceilings were specified. In designing its new HQ DocuSign wanted to break down barriers and find new ways of working to empower employees. Open plenum ceilings, polished concrete floors and warm timber express the space’s raw, contemporary architecture. Crina Toderic – Henry J Lyons, “…a number of meeting rooms had one solid wall with the remaining three being glazed. It was agreed Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic be installed for its high sound absorption. Being completely seamless, the system allowed us to easily integrate with the rest of the interior aesthetic.”

Coal Drops Yard, the new retail and lifestyle district where acoustic performance was vital for the SamsungKX experience space. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic provides Class A sound absorption helping create the perfect environment for visitors to interact with Samsung technology. Associate Trevor Gidlow from KSS, “The installation fully achieved the original design vision”. ROCKFON Mono Acoustic is a unique product providing the elegance of a seamless ceiling with high performance sound absorption, previously thought only possible with modular suspended ceilings. Craig Wheatley, Pacy & Wheatley Acoustics, “What an amazing project, from design to completion, another real flagship project for us.“

Architecture and design practice KSS Associate, Trevor Gidlow commented, “We were commissioned by interior fit-out specialists, Portview, to review various ceiling systems for application within Coal Drops Yard. Five were reviewed including monolithic and stretched fabric systems. Our assessment criteria included - appearance, sustainability, acoustic class, fire resistance, combustibility, weight, installation angle and curved edge profiles. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic was our final recommendation and main contractor selection based on the ability to install as a multi-gang operation, thereby gaining significant programme benefits. The appearance of the installation fully achieved the original design vision”.

Designed by IBI Group, construction of the 7000sqm. Barnsley Blood Centre, was commissioned under the DoH and Social Care’s ProCure 22 Framework. Rockfon retains P22 preferred supplier status and we are very pleased Rockfon® MediCare® Standard has been installed throughout the centre’s four laboratories, open plan offices, meeting rooms and catering facilities. Helping provide a great working environment Chris Sims, NHS Blood and Transplant, said, “It has been fantastic to see the building taking shape. We’re very proud of our new centre... Barnsley will be a great place from which to deliver our life saving and life enhancing services.”

“The Word has set the standard for Design thinking in the UK.” David Lindley, Executive Director at Designing Libraries. The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, is the iconic centre piece of a multi-million pound regeneration project in the heart of South Shields. Arranged as a modern rotunda, The Word offers innovative facilities designed to inspire creative ideas and nurture a love of learning. ROCKFON® Mono® Acoustic seamless ceiling system is installed throughout to meet both the aesthetic and acoustic requirements which helped the project win the prestigious Public Sector Interiors Project of the Year award.

ROCKFON has successfully worked together with Global Contract Interiors, Kier Construction and Architects Seymour Harris, to establish a fully compliant range of acoustic solutions that meet the required performance specifications at the new Phoenix Academy in Telford; built as part of the council’s Building Schools for the Future programme. Around 2,000m² of ROCKFON products: Rockfon Scholar and Samson wall panels; Rockfon Contour suspended baffles; and Rockfon Alaska suspended raft islands, were installed throughout the school to improve acoustic sound absorption – particularly in areas where the school design meant that traditional suspended ceilings were unable to be installed.

The Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick is one of the biggest campus libraries in Ireland and one of the most digitally advanced in the world. The €30m project includes a 7,600sqm extension and new facilities that offer students advanced computing, collaboration and communication spaces. Acoustic ceilings from Rockfon® are fitted throughout and play a pivotal role in helping the university realise its vision.

Recent economic growth in Cambridgeshire has led to huge demand for new educational facilities. An ambitious £37.5 million Littleport complex comprising special educational needs (SEN) and primary schools, an Academy and a leisure centre is nearing completion. Rockfon ceilings, baffles and wall panels are installed throughout the Academy and the SEN school which opened their doors in 2017. Rockfon products were chosen because they offer excellent sound control, Class A1 fire safety, durability and are environmentally friendly.

Architecture & design practice KSS redesigned the changing suite for Premier League Southampton FC. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic was chosen to help ensure the perfect environment for pre-match preparedness. KSS Michael McCollum, “Excellent acoustics are fundamental to creating the right atmosphere, and good speech intelligibility is critical. Finishes are necessarily of resistant materials, so a class A acoustic absorber was required. Rockfon was specified by KSS as it was able to conform to the curvilinear geometry of the room. Mono Acoustic provides a high quality, monolithic appearance fulfilling the brief for a single, unifying, neutral ceiling element, enclosing but not dominating ..”

We are proud to have been specified throughout the Kier Construction Eastern Riverside Leisure Centre in Essex. The centre employs ground-breaking sustainable innovations which will deliver a greener legacy for the community. Pick Everard Architectural Assistant George Young, “We wanted to make a feature of the height of the space rather than install a traditional suspended ceiling. We decided to use ceiling islands to create a real design feature, whilst providing the desired acoustic properties. Rectangular Rockfon Eclipse Islands were specified in a stylish, linear pattern to lower the ceilings and obscure the mechanical services, creating a modern industrial vibe.”

Senior Project Architect Stephen Herbert from HOK were responsible for the design, “We were looking for a ceiling manufacturer that could provide a full range of ceiling systems appropriate to the specific requirements of the function of each space. We were also very careful about specification with regards compliance to the Government’s ‘Health Technical Memoranda’ for the NHS.” The main contractor Skanska said, “We specified Rockfon because of their technical suitability, appearance and easy maintenance. We’re pleased with the finished installation and would certainly specify Rockfon on future projects.” Rockfon Blanka®, Rockfon® MediCare® Standard, Rockfon® MediCare® Plus Rockfon® System MaxiSpan™

Skibbereen Community School, situated on the southern tip of Ireland in County Cork, is a new state-of-the art learning facility created as part of an ambitious multi-million PPP programme. ROCKFON ceiling solutions were installed to help create the ideal conditions for learning and enhance the architect’s contemporary design. ROCKFON ceiling systems were selected for Skibbereen because they either met or exceeded the acoustic requirements specified by the Department of Education. Fire safety was also an important factor and ROCKFON products provide Class A1 fire resistance, the safest fire classification.

Rockfon® Tropic™ ceilings are installed in Europe’s largest car showroom, Sytner BMW, Sheffield. Designed by AT Architects, the three-storey, 18,500m² BMW and Mini dealership can display up to 872 cars. Its impressive facilities are arranged to offer the very best service and convenience in luxurious surroundings. There are customer lounges, which include Europe’s first dedicated M lounge which displays all BMW M models, with a barista serving complimentary refreshments in the bar café.

ACME Architects’ multi award winning £165million Victoria Gate is a vibrant new shopping destination in Leeds city centre, offering well over 1million square feet of premium retail and leisure floor space. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic seamless acoustic ceiling and wall system was specified for the project to help create the desired look whilst helping deliver ambient acoustic comfort.was specified for the project to help create the desired look whilst helping deliver ambient acoustic comfort.

Following a €12million restoration, iconic Dublin landmark Bewley’s Grafton Street, has reopened to offer seating for 500. The new interior has been described as ‘the same but different.’ Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic ceilings are installed throughout to create a comfortable acoustic environment and meet the aesthetic demands of this historic space.