"acoustic"

Canon Green Court is a large residential scheme in Greater Manchester refurbishing an iconic 1960s high-rise tower block on Salford's skyline and building an 11-story building containing 108 one and two-bedroom apartments. This development is the largest affordable housing development in the area, with the new building joining two pre-existing blocks that have been upgraded. The site is named after Canon Peter Green’s pen name, 'Artifex', a published writer who dedicated his life to supporting poor communities. The refurbishment has a simple building shape with a high-quality terracotta rain-screen façade, combined photo voltaic on the roof and shared high-quality placemaking landscape.Cellecta ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Corstorphine & Wright for this project due to its excellent impact and airborne acoustic performance. ScreedBoard was recognised in the housebuilder awards and took home the winner's award for 'best internal/interior product'.Willmott Dixon was awarded the contract to construct this 6,500m² development.

TODD Architects completes redbrick business school for Queen’s Belfast. Queen’s University’s £17.5 million business school sits within its south Belfast campus, in front of the Grade II-listed Riddel Hall and enclosed by woodland.The new building, built on a former car park, has teaching and learning spaces for postgraduate students along with facilities for supporting the school’s executive education and leadership programmes, with informal study areas, academic offices and shared spaces.The external palette of materials is restrained to sit within its context, combining red clay brick, bronze-framed aluminium and floor-to-ceiling glazed screens. Red cast stone delineates colonnades at the upper and lower entrances.Inside the circulation spaces, exposed concrete soffits with floating ceiling rafts, board-marked concrete walls, timber wall sheeting and terrazzo flooring, create a robust aestheticOne of the key spaces is a top-lit, triple-height atrium with a feature stair providing access from the ground floor reception to the upper ground level, where informal study booths overlook a landscaped courtyard.Primary teaching spaces are restricted to the lower ground floor with large volume lecture theatres set into the surrounding landscape to lessen their visual impact and massing.A low-energy, ecologically sensitive design approach was adopted from the outset. One measure taken was a major geothermal heat system. Piles were driven to a depth of 125m in an adjoining field to extract heat from the sandstone substrate and provide low-level constant heat via underfloor heating, resulting in a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.The £17.5 million project extends to include the partial refurbishment of a listed property.In 2016, Queen’s Business School merged with the William J Clinton Leadership Institute. It is located in the university's Riddel Hall campus on the Stranmillis Road and planned to expand its facilities in 2017 due to continued growth.Architect’s viewOur appointment arose out of a design competition, promoted by the university. We presented a plan diagram based on how we envisaged people might move through the building and a conceptual architectural approach that proposed carefully knitting the built form into its landscaped setting, both of which are still very evident in the finished building.Externally in respect of materiality, the building echoes the neighbouring, listed Riddel Hall in its use of red brick and cast stone. Internally we have sought to ensure a connectivity for users with surrounding mature woodland, with board-marked concrete and other natural finishes combining to create a calm, robust and understated aesthetic.We promoted a low-energy, ecologically sensitive design approach from the outset, securing a BREEAM Excellent rating, with the building’s renewable energy sources including a major geothermal heat system beneath an adjoining lawn and roof mounted arrays of solar/photovoltaic panels.Peter Minnis, project director, TODD ArchitectsClients’ viewsQueen’s University Belfast is moving towards net zero, and this building – which uses sustainable ground source heating – is an important part of the journey. The design of the building, which is sleek, contemporary, and future-focused, boasts the scenic quality of being nestled in the trees of the Stranmillis Conservation Area.The building is helping us a) grow our international stature and esteem by hosting high-profile events; b) expanding our research-led dialogue with the business community by providing space for collaboration and dissemination activities; and c) offers a fantastic student experience via tailor-made areas for learning and study.Professor MN Ravishankar, dean and head, Queen’s Business SchoolThe new Queen’s Business School is the latest building in Queen’s University’s capital investment programme to support world-class education and research and provide an exceptional learning environment and experience for its students. TODD Architects have exceeded expectations in terms of the University’s estate, with this truly iconic building.To address the significant growth in our student numbers and the unprecedented demand for our graduates, the University with full support from local government and employers, approved a capital investment in excess of £26m in a new Business School Building. Designed by TODD Architects, the building provides state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities for more than 3,000 students and 130 academic staff and will play a key role in the future growth and development of Northern Ireland’s business and finance sectors.Through collaboration and a commitment to excellence, TODD Architects has ensured that this facility will enable the Business School to continue its growth, by attracting the best staff and students from Northern Ireland and around the world, and to produce graduates who will make a positive impact on society.We are delighted with our new landmark building that will take Queen’s Business School into the next phase of its development and serving future generations to come.Sonia O’Hare, school manager, Queen’s Business School https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/todd-architects-completes-redbrick-business-school-for-queens-belfast?tkn=1 Project dataStart on site September 2020Completion May 2023Gross internal floor area 6,000m² (including 250m² basement)Form of contract JCT Standard Building Contract with Quantities 2016 EditionConstruction cost £17.5 millionArchitect TODD ArchitectsClient Queen’s University BelfastStructural engineer WSPM&E consultant AH DesignQS WSPLandscape architect McIlwaineAcoustic consultant FR Mark & AssociatesProject manager WSPPrincipal designer WSPBuilding control BCC/Local authorityMain contractor Felix O’HareCAD software used Revit

New Stratford Works is a collection of 154 homes featuring one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom Garden and Sky Villas. Providing private, affordable rent and shared ownership properties, along with two commercial spaces and a linear park which forms the central spine of the development, fronting onto the new woodland designed Linear Park. This development forms part of the major post-Olympic regeneration masterplan for the London Borough of Newham, with Elizabeth Line that gives access to central London within 45 minutes.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 20 was specified by PRP as it is the ideal overlay floorboard for acoustic application incorporating underfloor heating applications due to its low thermal resistance enables the system to run more efficiently, saving on running costs and improving reaction times.Higgins Homes was awarded this 14,000m² contract for this development in London.

The East Slope Student Village is a development of 32 buildings of three to six storey flats and three to four storey town houses accommodating 2,113 beds for students at the University of Sussex. Demolition of existing buildings commenced for the redevelopment of a lightweight steel frame mixed-use facility which includes a kitchen, student hub and retail space. Due to the steep slope of the site, a 30,000m³ of bulk excavation was required and buildings were arranged in linear blocks. The BREEAM Excellent rated development was designed to blend with the existing Sir Basil Spence campus and includes grassland as an environmental impact measure.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Pascall+Watson due to its excellent impact and airborne acoustic performance. ScreedBoard was recognised in the housebuilder awards and took home the winner’s award for ‘best internal/interior product’.Balfour Beatty was awarded this 30,000m² contract for this student accommodation in Sussex.

The Hurlingham Club is a green oasis of tradition and also internationally renowned. Recognised throughout the world as one of the more exclusive private members’ clubs, it retains its quintessentially English tradition and heritage, while providing modern facilities and services for its members. The Club continually looks at ways in which it can improve standard specifications for both current and future generations.We were contracted by The Hurlingham Club to resolve an issue with reverberation problems in one of its many hallways. The chosen solution was the Absorb-R GypLine αw system.Along with the installation of several feature down-lights, a shadow gap to the ceiling perimeter was incorporated, allowing the preservation of the original ornate cornice, a beautiful feature within the room and essential to the characteristics of the building.

Built on the historic Iffley Road track where Sir Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. This state of the art multi sports facility is part of the Acer Nethercott Sports Centre built by Beard Construction, which was part of the Universities new redesign. The walling was split in two sections; from 1.8m up hosts our Topperfo 16/16/8 (aw 0.75, Absorption Class C, NRC 0.90) whilst the lower section has had the Topperfo plain installed. Both with a European Oak Veneer both installed to withstand impact according to DIN 18032.

A world-class space for sport, events, and education using out Topperfo Micro perforated panels. The indoor sports facility has utilised one of our wall systems to combat sound reverberation, voice intelligibility and to lower the sound pressure levels typically created in such a large hard surfaced area.

GSS designed this superb lecture theatre incorporating our Topakustik 9/2M for the ceiling and wall. The fantastic finish was installed by Titan (Horbury Group) on behalf of Galliford Try installed the Topakustik product between the plaster board sections.

The main hall at Bohunt, a state-of-the-art secondary school in Wokingham, benefits from superbly adaptable space thanks to a contemporary DORMA Hüppe Variflex operable wall, installed by UK supplier, Style. Meeting the demand for a system with a particularly narrow stacking solution, the Variflex incorporates panels and pass doors that can be as little as 976mm wide, as opposed to the more standard 1200mm width. Recognising a high level of commitment to craftmanship in the finishes and interiors section, Style recently won their 10th Gold in the prestigious FIS Contractor’s awards.

Saffron Health medical centre has successfully created highly adaptable space where doctors, nurses and other staff can run meetings and training sessions. Working with P&HS Architects and Wildgoose Construction, partitioning experts Style installed two manually operated Dorma Hüppe Variflex ML100 moveable wall systems, allowing the area to be quickly divided into up to three small rooms, as required. This capital investment will deliver a good return in the long run, saving money by accommodating several meetings at one time, avoiding the need to hire external training rooms or to pay for staff to travel to other medical centres.

Combining various types of moveable wall within the same building is fast becoming the latest trend for architects aiming to create the ultimate flexible space solution. One recent example is the London offices of Anglo American, a leading global mining company, where partitioning experts Style installed a complex arrangement of moveable wall systems to divide a single large space into four individual rooms.To achieve the level of adaptability required, Style utilised both solid and glass Dorma Hüppe Variflex semi-automatic moveable walls, as well as vertically rising, fully automatic Skyfold Classic 60 moveable walls.This combination enables the entire space to be re-configured quickly into smaller or larger meeting rooms, with the 57dB acoustic rating of the solid moveable wall, 52dB of the glass moveable wall and 59dB of the Skyfold delivering such an exceptional sound barrier that all rooms can host busy meetings without causing any disturbance between them.Anglo American is a leading global mining company whose products are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. Its portfolio of world-class competitive operations, with a broad range of future development options, provides many of the future-enabling metals and minerals for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world.Style worked with architects, MCM, and contractor, BW, to create wide-ranging flexible space in the ‘Office Zone’ and ‘Innovation Hub’ located at Anglo American’s offices in London. Within the configuration, the Skyfold walls meet with Dorma walls in T shapes, turning this very large room into four individual rooms accessible via a corridor, created when the glass moveable walls are in position.By integrating four fully-glazed pass doors into the glass moveable walls, there is ease of access into each of the meeting rooms from the temporary corridor.“This is a superb example of how a range of complementing moveable walls can combine to deliver truly first class, flexible office space,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director.“The final configuration gives Anglo American so many options as to how to use the space and is a real showcase for anyone visiting the building.”

Puddle Ducks is a thriving business welcoming over 20,000 babies and children at a number of locations across the UK every week. Staffed by a highly qualified team, the company prides itself on providing child-led instruction in a safe and nurturing environment.Classes at the swim school’s brand-new, dedicated pool in Barons Quay, Northwich, were flourishing but increased attendance had resulted in unwanted noise, making communication difficult. These conditions can result in a phenomenon known as The Lombard Effect or Lombard Reflex, which often occurs in spaces with poor sound control. It is an involuntary tendency of speakers to increase their vocal effort to enhance the audibility of their voice and can have a negative physiological and psychological influence on wellbeing. Staff members working in these conditions might also suffer vocal damage.Acoustic analysis and guidelinesPuddle Ducks wanted to remedy the situation in the best way possible, so an inspection and measurements of the acoustics in the teaching pool area were commissioned by Rockfon and conducted by Hepworth Acoustics of Manchester. In their report they advise that the most useful description of reverberation is Reverberation Time (RT), which is the amount of time it takes for the sound level to become inaudible after the sound has stopped. The report also mentions that, although there are no specific guidelines for privately operated pools, ‘Acoustic design of schools: performance standards’ Building bulletin 93 (February 2015) (BB93), does offer guidance for design targets for swimming pools in schools. The aim of these guidelines is to provide suitable reverberation times (RTs) to allow clear communication of speech between teacher and student. The RT is quoted in terms of the mid frequency reverberation time Tmf, which is the arithmetic average of the reverberation times in the 500 Hz, 1 kHz and 2 kHz octave bands. The maximum reverberation time for swimming pools with a floor area of less than 280 m2 is 1.5 Tmf, per second. Consultation process and proposalRockfon Area Manager, Natasha Checketts, “Following a referral, I visited the site with Gary Hymanson of Granmore Ceilings and discussed the issues being experienced at the pool with Puddle Ducks Business Development Manager, Jo Warner. In addition to unwanted noise, there were challenges with maintaining the appropriate environmental conditions in the pool hall, meaning a tailored solution would be needed. Following further consultation, I proposed our solution and plan of action to Puddle Ducks and was given the go-ahead.” Granmore’s Gary Hymanson, spoke about the process, “Regarding the installation, the trickiest part was finding a suitable solution to carry out the installation without draining the pool. We decided to board the pool area out so we could use access equipment above the water level. Also, due to the difficulty in reaching the pool through the building, an access point was specially built into the wall of the space, enabling us to get the materials and access equipment in place. Once this was done, the installation went very smoothly.”Specialist systems offer perfect solutionsHACCP certified Rockfon® CleanSpace™ Pro was considered the perfect choice for the project. The range embodies high sound absorption (Class A) and highest fire safety (Class A1), ISO Class 4 low particle emission, and does not contribute to the growth of microorganisms. CleanSpace Pro is highly durable and will withstand numerous cleaning and disinfection regimes. It is available in a full range of formats, in semi-concealed and visible grid options. It also demonstrates humidity and sag resistance up to 100% RH with no visible deflection in high humidity.The ceiling tiles were installed into a Rockfon, Chicago Metallic T24 Click D2890 ECR grid. The grid components and accessories of this specialist system all meet the highest-Class D corrosion resistance protection requirements of EN13964. “The work really has made an amazing difference” The maximum Tmf measured at the pool prior to the new ceiling being installed was 3.46. Once the Rockfon ceiling was in place, this reading was dramatically reduced to 0.93, well within the 1.5 target adopted as a maximum permissible level of reverberation for the Puddle Ducks teaching pool.James Shaw, Senior Consultant at Hepworth Acoustics, “It is clear from the results above that a significant improvement has been achieved. This is consistent with feedback from staff who use the pool.”Rachel Bateson is the Puddle Ducks Manager at Barons Quay, “The pool was opened in August 2021 and we are extremely proud of the facility. Customers loved it but, as numbers increased, we began struggling with an echo in the pool hall which was becoming disruptive. Since the work has been done, the difference has been incredible. Teachers love the change – they are no longer having to strain their voices and are finding it much easier to communicate with parents and children. Customers have also reacted positively, telling us that lessons are a much calmer and more enjoyable as a result. The work really has made an amazing difference.”

The Grade II Listed Victorian Tamworth Assembly Rooms had secondary glazing installed by Selectaglaze as part of a multi-million-pound project to refurbish and restore the much respected theatre. A solution was required to insulate the single glazed original arched casement windows in the auditorium to provide suitable acoustic and thermal insulation. Selectaglaze’s Series 41 side hung casement secondary glazing was specified with 6.4mm glass to each of the windows, matching the sightlines and providing full access to the originals for cleaning and maintenance.

When interior design company Sibley Grove was appointed to re-design the public areas at The Chamberlain Hotel near Tower Hill in London, sustainability was paramount. The company ethos states that design should be a vehicle for positive change – both environmentally and socially. Consequently, to help achieve this, Troldtekt’s wood wool panels make an important contribution to the overall design of the luxurious interpretation of an industrial basement bar. As part of the concept, the interior has been stripped back to create height and volume, revealing structural columns and ductwork within. In addition, the façade has been adapted so that natural light can flood in and reveal the inner working of the space. By its very nature, this created a lot of hard surfaces so Troldtekt’s acoustic wood wool panels were specified to help combat the problems generated by noise and reverberated sounds. The designers were keen to specify as many sustainable and Cradle-to-Cradle certified materials as possible such as wall and floor tiles, timber, carpets and Troldtekt’s wood wool ceilings (certified to Silver Level). By specifying these products, the environmental impact is minimal and also that, if and when the time comes for a change, the materials can be reused, re-appropriated. recycled or upcycled. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme fine to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Designer Jeremy Grove commented, “We believe good design should enhance people’s lives and work in harmony with the natural environment. The hotel industry is inherently wasteful, but people are looking for ways to correct this. Cradle-to-Cradle is an extremely effective way of tackling issues such as global resource depletion, exploited labour and excessive waste. The Chamberlain Hotel is our third collaboration with Fullers in the last 12 months that has used a considerable number of Cradle-to-Cradle products.”Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from tel 01978 664255 or visit www.troldtekt.co.uk. More information on Troldtekt’s Sustainability and environmental policies can be found here: www.troldtekt.com/Environment-and-CSR 

Creating a fluid environment to encourage collaborative working, partitioning experts Style, designed and delivered a unique and highly innovative ‘working wall’ solution for Adobe’s new offices in the landmark White Collar Factory building, Shoreditch. The cluster of individual sliding and pivoting wall panels can be used to create numerous sized spaces for impromptu meetings and brainstorming sessions. They can also be pulled together to form a wider temporary wall. Delivering further flexibility, Style installed a fully automatic, Skyfold vertical-rising partition capable of delivering 55dB acoustic privacy, as well as a semi-automatic DORMA Moveo double-glazed operable wall.

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.

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.

Over 12 weeks RSR were tasked with the interior design, full M&E design all completed in-house The refurbishment included reception and office space,chill out zones, kitchen areasand toilets. The boardroom and customer facing was the main focus of the design creating a bespoke boardroom table and display units.Location Size: 5500 sqft Industry: Games and Puzzles Project Length: 12 Weeks Project Value: £400,000Full case study here: https://soundtect.com/media/shkaf3te/ravensburger_offices_bicester_case_study.pdf

R&R Area

Set in the centre of Birmingham, BLAZE Studio marked a significant first for David Lloyd Clubs. It was first stand-alone HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Centre to be created outside its 64-strong network of Clubs. But its creation in the heart of the city’s business district, and its planned dynamic and fast-paced HIIT sessions involving Cardio, Strength and Combat sessions synced to high energy music, presented potential acoustic issues. TVS installed its well-proven RESI Dry Floating Floor System throughout the project area and even isolated individual boxing bags using specially designed isolation pads.

Following years of neglect, the Grade II Listed Fellowship, Bellingham - London has undergone a huge transformation and in June 2019 reopened as the ‘Fellowship and Star’. Harking back to its history as a music and entertainment venue, it has a new cinema, theatre, concert space, pub; and is also home to charity ‘Lewisham Music’. To prevent the ingress of traffic noise from a busy thoroughfare outside and to prevent noise outbreak from the concerts and music lessons, 32 secondary glazed acoustically insulating units were manufactured and installed by Selectaglaze, to improve the performance of the original crittal windows.

St Pauls’ Way is an award-winning 1, 5, 6, & 7 story building with 23 units consisting of one, two and three bedroom flats over a ground floor community space. This scheme was designed using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating of 72.7%, awarding it winner of 6 national housing awards, including Evening Standard New Homes Award 2019’s ‘Best Regeneration Project'. Constructed of light gauge steel frame and faced with a buff brick, this scheme will contribute to London Borough of Tower Hamlets Community Plan.HiDECK Overlay 18 was specified by Architecture PLB in this project as the overlay flooring solution. It’s ideal for flooring applications incorporating an underflooring heating system due to its high thermal conductivity which provides rapid reaction times, saving on running costs. In addition, its high density makes it perfect for a variety of acoustic applications.Stack London was awarded this 6,300m² contract for this development in Tower Hamlets.

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys is one of three secondary schools in the Tunbridge Wells area. The school has been extended and modernized to offer further school places to the local community. The expansion includes a new a three-storey satellite facility that houses general teaching classrooms, ICT and food technology spaces, and a five-court sports hall. An expanded dining room has also been created through the refurbishment of the existing sports hall.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Bond Bryan Architects due to its unrivalled acoustic performance in isolating a floating screed from a structural concrete floor. This product is lightweight making it easy to install. YELOfon HD10+ is also delivered in rolls to ensure it’s easy to handle.Willmott Dixon were awarded this 7,950m² contract to construct this latest school project in Sevenoaks.

After standing vacant for some years, the iconic Tower Gardens Pavilion in Skegness has been completely refurbished to create a multi-use council facility. Delivering flexibility to the main hall, partitioning expert Style was contracted to install a Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall, successfully creating one large and one smaller room that can accommodate two events running concurrently. A sustainable and cost-effective option, the Variflex elements are manufactured separately to the frame, which means only panel facings need to be changed in the future, to match a new interior décor for example, or if one becomes damaged.

Rockfon was given the opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of its specialist ranges to meet the specific needs of a wide range of spaces while contributing to the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental status of this stunning project.This new five storey medical school enables students to experience real life situations encountered by those in the medical profession. It includes lecture theatres, laboratories, a clinical skills suite with mock consultation rooms to simulate hospital wards or a GP surgery, a pro-section anatomy suite and bio-medical and health sciences library. Professor Mary Stuart was University of Lincoln Vice Chancellor at the time, “It represents more than just a building – it is a commitment to current and future communities in Lincolnshire to develop sustainable healthcare for the region.” HLM were the client architects, ‘The scheme has been modelled to create the optimal sustainable environment through informed decisions on site layout, massing, orientation, building fabric, elevational treatment and Integrated renewable energy systems. To further enhance student mental health and wellbeing, the scheme uses biophilic design principles including natural lighting and ventilation, visual links to natural landscape features and natural materials.’Meeting and exceeding client aspirationsShradha Mishra was Project Manager for the Estates Department at University of Lincoln. At its completion she said, “The Lincoln Medical School… has had a strong focus on sustainability throughout the design and construction process. With this in mind, the strategy for the building required exposed ceilings and therefore it was important to review and manage the acoustic requirements of the spaces to ensure a suitable working and teaching environment. Following extensive design and consultation with acoustic engineers, Rockfon were recommended for installation across the project which included a variety of both suspended ceiling grid tiles and acoustic baffles in open plan areas to support the absorption of sound.”BAM were main contractors for the project with BAM Design leading architectural design. Brebur Limited were responsible for the installation of ceiling and wall systems at Lincoln. Operations Director Vinny Lilley had this to say, “We have an excellent relationship with Rockfon. Their wide range of specialist products always ensures the architectural vision is achieved. They are always on-hand to offer technical advice and commercial acumen, with around 2,500sqm of tile and grid components being supplied by regional distributors.Acoustics reducing stress and enhancing healthAcoustic Rockfon Eclipse® islands are utilised within open plan areas where they are suspended on wires from the soffit, giving the illusion that they float. They can be specified in a variety of shapes with unlimited custom colour matching. Eclipse islands are perfect for thermal mass installations and where a traditional suspended ceiling cannot be installed. At Lincoln they are also present as wall panels to further control sound.Improved acoustics can increase focus by 48% and reduce stress levels by 27%, which aids learning and wellbeing (independent research). The high light reflectance characteristics of Rockfon ceiling and wall systems also help reduce the need for artificial light, saving energy and enhancing health.Elsewhere within the school, Rockfon Blanka® is installed. Available in a wide range of sound control and durability performance characteristics, its non-directional, anti-static surface prolongs product life. The range embodies Class A sound absorption (aw 1.00), 87% light reflection, >99% light diffusion and room to room sound Insulation >26dB. Rockfon’s Chris Carr-Elliman, “All Rockfon ranges are made from inert volcanic rock (stone wool) which offers no sustenance to microorganisms and demonstrates outstanding reaction to fire. Most are available in a full range of formats including concealed, semi-concealed and visible grid options from our extensive Chicago Metallic grid systems.” Specialist ranges for every spaceHTM 60 compliant Rockfon Medicare was the perfect fit at Lincoln where it offers outstanding performance in terms of infection control. Simple cleaning and low particle emission (ISO Class 4) also mark it out as a first choice for healthcare specification, along with its Class A sound absorption and highest fire safety (Class A1). Also within the building, the superior moisture resistant properties and wipe clean surface of Rockfon® Koral™ were important considerations for its use. Affordable, Rockfon® Artic™ was also put to good use in several areas at the school. In common with other Rockfon ranges, both Koral and Artic offer excellent sound absorption and fire safety characteristics.Shradha Mishra continued, “Since completion of the building, we have had positive feedback from building users about both the aesthetic appearance of the Rockfon products along with the acoustic performance of them.” 

Marking a £10.6m investment, a Hampshire County Council (HCC) designed school in Wellesley, Aldershot provides an excellent start to a child’s learning. Knauf Ceiling Solutions' HERADESIGN® Superfine contributes to this vision by helping to create a healthy acoustic environment. HERADESIGN® is manufactured from sustainably sourced wood wool with a unique, organic aesthetic that can match any colour as ceilings, baffles, canopies and wall absorbers. Thanks to the technologically-advanced mineral wool core, HERADESIGN® demonstrates exceptional sound absorption which makes it suitable for a variety of environments, from schools and leisure buildings through to offices and hospitals.

Working with architect, T P Bennett and contractor, Overbury, moveable wall specialist Style was recently specified to create flexible seminar space on floor 1 of Aviva’s new London head offices in Fenchurch Street.A single Dorma Huppe Variflex ComforTronic, semi-automatic moveable wall, boasting an outstanding 59dB acoustic performance, separates the seminar area from the catering and breakout zone. A second Variflex system allows the space to be further sub-divided into two smaller rooms. Both walls are finished in a chic Kvadrat Encircle fabric, one grey and the other a deep green, perfectly complementing the interior décor.Aligning with Aviva’s commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2040, the Variflex system has an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804. This certification provides transparent and verified information about the environmental impact of the product across its lifecycle. Aviva’s new head office is spread over multiple floors, providing modern and spacious working areas that aim to facilitate collaboration and innovation amongst the 1,500 employees that work there. “This is a very sophisticated seminar area,” said Michael Porter, Style’s group managing director, “and thanks to the ease of manoeuvrability and high-end acoustic ratings of the two Dorma Huppe Variflex moveable walls, it can be quickly transformed to cater for one large, or two small, seminars.“Once the seminars are over, the room can also be fully opened up into a vast open plan area for catering and networking, making this an exceptional solution for Aviva whose requirements can change daily.”Style is the exclusive UK partner to Dorma Huppe, offering a wide range of manual, semi-automatic and fully automated moveable walls.Further attesting to the sustainability of the installation, Style is accredited under the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System. This certification ensures that the company adheres to practices that maximize sustainability and minimize waste throughout their operational processes​.

Skyfold has launched a pioneering, fully automatic, moveable wall solution into the UK.The Skyfold Prisma, which is exclusively available from leading moveable wall specialists, Style, is a new and streamlined glass vertical partition which not only allows light to shine in but does so without the use of any wall or floor tracks, rendering it completely invisible when stored in the ceiling.“This is a real breakthrough in moveable wall technology from our global manufacturing partners, Skyfold,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent.“As a fully automated, acoustic glazed moveable wall that stacks into a ceiling cavity, its slim metal frame, clean lines, and sleek design will add elegance and an abundance of light to a wide range of rooms. We see demand being very strong in the corporate, hospitality, education, healthcare, religious and public sectors.”Skyfold Prisma's glass panels combine with a minimalist frame to allow light penetration into otherwise dark rooms and corridors, creating an open plan feel to any area, positively impacting both mood and productivity.With an impressive 52 Rw dB acoustic rating, Prisma also delivers privacy between divided spaces, allowing confidential meetings, classes, and collaborations to occur simultaneously. With space always at a premium, the panels of this innovative new partitioning wall cleverly ‘taper’ down into position, making it suitable for restricted areas or where there is potential for obstructions. Further maximising space, when not required, the partition can be quickly retracted into the ceiling cavity where it is neatly stored, completely out of sight. Skyfold has announced that Prisma is available in a variety of materials including glass, frosted glass and solid panels, with almost any combination being possible. Solid elements can be finished in fabric, vinyl, paint, laminate or even marker-board, allowing a true showcase feature to be created that is both superbly aesthetic as well as highly functional.

The Ada Benson Centre for Sixth Form and the Arts used our Topakustik 29/3M system has been utilised to assist the foyer, atria and circulation system to combat Sound Propagation, Reverberation and Sound Pressure levels in line with the Building Bulletin 93.

As part of a £1.7m investment, Loughborough University recently remodelled Quorn Hall into an impressive 560-seat lecture theatre. Adding functionality to the new facility, Style was contracted to install a 57dB Dorma Hüppe Variflex ComfortDrive moveable wall system with fully automatic operation, allowing the vast space to be divided into two separate areas. A complex project, Style was specified by Core Architects to design a system that not only accommodated the exceptionally high ceiling but that also incorporated the stepped-rise of the seating.

Design and acoustic performance were key criteria for this project, which is why HERADESIGN® was installed in all the classrooms as floating canopies and throughout the school, in the main corridors, where bespoke swing down access panels were also installed. Reddy Architecture commented, “We really love the architectural raw wood wool quality of HERADESIGN®. The visible texture provided the required aesthetic contrast.” A calm neutral colour palette with HERADESIGN® specified in warm-white provided a gentle contrast with the soft charcoal walls and floors - the perfect backdrop for bold bursts of colour at the entrance to the classrooms.

A portfolio of Rockfon acoustic systems feature throughout the former British Gas Engineering Research Station (ERS) where iconic 1960s modernism meets 21st Century needs following sensitive and innovative refurbishment on a grand scale.The former ERS building at Killingworth has a very strong architectural pedigree. The 50,000sq.ft. Grade II* listed structure sits within a ten acre site and was the brainchild of pioneering architectural partnership Ryder and Yates. Built in 1967, the starkly beautiful, uncompromising construction was influenced by such luminaries of modernism as Le Corbusier and Lubetkin.Collaboration delivers heritage sensitive solutions Rockfon were very pleased to have been selected for the project and to have worked with RIBA Chartered Architects, Ainsworth Spark Associates on the specification of acoustic ceiling and wall systems for such an important and sensitive undertaking on behalf of property owner and main contractor North Tyneside Council. The building is now a fit for the future, multi-use resource which includes public access areas, open plan work spaces, smaller offices and meeting rooms. A primary eco-drive for the project was to bring the building back into use rather than wastefully demolish it only to build a new facility elsewhere. Recognition and respect for the building’s listed status were at the forefront of the architects’ plans. The development offered Rockfon the opportunity to demonstrate a portfolio of acoustic systems to match the particular demands of each space throughout the building.Rachel Charlesworth of Ainsworth Spark Associates talked about the project, “We needed to expose the history of the building and respect its architectural heritage whilst delivering a positive, modern working environment. An example of this was to painstakingly remove original service grid, thoroughly clean all components, down to each nut and bolt, and reinstall to help tell the historical story visible above the Eclipse Islands. The Rockfon team worked closely with us, providing solutions, particularly for the 1st floor concourse. Rockfon Blanka® X with a concealed grid and bespoke edge trim delivered the smooth, seamless appearance we were looking for to fantastic effect. The new ceiling systems clearly define the refurbishment and were a crucial part of the build.”Rockfon Blanka® offers a wide choice of options for installation and usage. Its smooth high white surface is non-directional, speeding up installation, saving time and money. The range embodies Class A sound absorption, 26dB – 46dB room to room sound Insulation, 87% light reflection and >99% light diffusion. Blanka B was also used as wall panels. All Rockfon acoustic systems are made from naturally occurring inert volcanic rock stone wool, are non-combustible and will not harbour harmful microorganisms and bacteria. Rockfon also contributes to a more sustainable future. They are recyclable and have a high recycled content, supporting the closed-loop circular economy, and are certified to leave a positive impact on people and the planet as the firm’s latest Cradle to Cradle certification confirms. Architectural legacy meets modernityThe building’s interiors use a pared back palette of greys and light wood to great effect with occasional elements picked out in blue. Original floor to ceiling strip windows and new, glazed screens, allow light to filter through.In the vast, open plan work spaces around 600 square format Rockfon Eclipse® Islands have been used to control sound and diffuse the visual impact of the exposed mechanical and electrical services above. These elegant, frameless acoustic islands are suspended in a linear formation by wires affixed to the three metre high plenum but they can also be installed using a suspended grid or fixed directly to the soffit. They absorb sound on both sides, helping to reduce reverberation time and improve ambient sound levels. Their smooth, deep matt, super white surface has anti-static properties which extend product life. Elsewhere in smaller spaces, Rockfon® Koral™ and Rockfon® Tropic™ tiles were used. Dimensionally stable, each has an attractive moisture resistant surface. Installed with semi-concealed or visible grid options they both offer Class A sound absorption and Class A1 fire safety.Rockfon expertise and support always availableKD Building Solutions were responsible for the ceiling systems installation. The firm’s John Duffy, “We wanted to develop our expertise in ceiling installation and this project certainly gave us the opportunity to do that. We faced challenges due to the need to protect the listed interiors and the re-use of original materials but Rockfon’s Jim Lundy was always available to offer support and advice. Thanks also to Minster, Newcastle for ensuring Rockfon materials were there on time. The completed installations look and perform brilliantly.”

Working with architects, Broe & Co LLP, Style was specified to install a new folding wall system to the ground floor of the Bloomsbury Street Day Nursery in Brighton, creating a flexible environment where children are encouraged to learn, play and explore at their own pace.Allowing nursery staff to separate the room into two, Style recommended a Stylefold acoustic glass folding wall with a 44dB Rw rating, ensuring that activities either side of the wall can take place undisturbed. By choosing a glazed folding wall, staff can maintain a watchful eye on the children and the area continues to enjoy an airy and open feel, even when the wall is in place.This manually operated folding wall is light and simple to open and close, encouraging staff to change the room configuration to suit daily activities. The pass door means the wall can remain in place for longer periods if desired without hindering access between rooms.“For schools, day centres, and community halls the Stylefold folding wall is a really effective solution,” said Michael Porter, Style’s group sales director.“It can be opened and closed in seconds, the acoustics are superb – which means you can enjoy privacy either side, and this modestly priced folding wall solution is ideal for when budgets are tight.“A folding wall can also help cut energy costs by avoiding having to heat and light a large open plan area when the entire space is not actually required – something that is at the top of most people’s priorities at the moment.”As well as the glazed option, the Stylefold folding wall is also available in a variety of finishes, including painted, polished wood veneer or a wide range of standard or high-pressure laminates.It can also be installed with writeable white board panels, which is ideal in a teaching environment.

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

Edinburgh city centre’s landmark £750m mixed-use Quartermile development is benefitting from a highly effective curtain wall façade sound reduction solution thanks to Siderise.

Standing tall in a prime location at the entrance to the Salford Quays – one of Greater Manchester’s most vibrant and prominent media and culture hubs – Anchorage Gateway is here to make a statement. The 250,640 sq ft, 29-storey residential high-rise, completed three months ahead of schedule, is set to be the tallest residential brickwork building in the UK.  Yet, behind this traditional brick façade finish is a design that demanded a modern approach to diverting moisture from the cavity to the outside of the building, using construction methods far more efficient than the conventional. Key information Completion date September 2023 Sector Residential Developer Cole Waterhouse Main Contractor Domis Construction Façade Contractor Kinlan Brickwork Delivery Architect Jon Matthews Architects  Products used Siderise CT Cavity Tray  Design and specification Representing the gateway entry point into Salford Quays, the build-to-rent (BTR) Erie Dock Apartments (Eda) development replaced a vacant four-storey office block of 1990s construction with a building designed to offer a truly contemporary residential experience. Hosting 290 apartments of various sizes and private amenities such as co-working spaces, a fitness studio, a screening room, and more, it was important that the building’s exterior reflected a feeling of home and community, giving it a sense of place in this rapidly developing part of the city.  The building’s L-shaped footprint is emphasised by the use of stepped massing, with the slimmer block extending to the top of the building and external rooftop terraces at the crown of each ‘block’. Each elevation is constructed from pale-coloured brickwork, supported by an SFS System and concrete core works, giving the building a solid and striking, yet clearly domestic feel in an area dominated by glazing and cladding.  Moisture management is a fundamental element of any masonry construction, and cavity trays must be installed to ensure that any rainwater entering the wall cavity through the external brickwork is directed away from the inner structure, reducing the risk of internal damp and mould. Main contractor, Domis Construction, and brickwork contractor, Kinlan, had previously been using the traditional approach comprising metal cavity trays. However, in their search for a more efficient method that could improve the speed and cost of delivery without compromising on quality, they came across Siderise CT Cavity Tray.  After carrying out their due diligence, the team engaged the Siderise Site Services to deliver training onsite, which included a benchmark installation. It was then that Domis Construction and Kinlan realised the huge labour and time-saving benefits Siderise CT Cavity Tray could offer and that ‘it did what it said on the tin’. The factory-engineered system was subsequently trialled on a section of another Salford project before being put forward to the fire consultants and building control officers for the high-rise Anchorage project.  The CT Cavity Tray achieves an A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire classification to EN 13501-1, is BBA certified and can comply with NHBC, LABC and Premier Guarantee warranty requirements.  David Ashworth, Project Manager, Domis Construction: “Siderise CT Cavity Tray has been a gamechanger for us. We’d been using traditional all-metal cavity trays, site-formed and pre-formed. Even though we’d used Siderise Cavity Barriers and Firestops before, we were somewhat unsure about this single-fix tray and insulation combo at first.   Nevertheless, we researched the product, confirming that it met regulatory compliance criteria and seeing the potential benefits in terms of time saving ability, labour cost reduction, and scaled-down site complexities associated with specialist tools, equipment, and segregated workshop areas for onsite fabrication.”  Installation and inspection Over 3,200 units of Siderise CT Cavity tray were used on the project, helping to realise installation benefits that carried real value for the project. On previous projects where traditional cavity tray solutions were used, the installation teams would need to share masts with the bricklayers on a 50/50 circa ratio. This meant that the bricklayers would take longer to complete their job, due to the time it would take to form and fit the cavity trays, as well as other products, ahead of them.   By using the pre-engineered Siderise CT Cavity Tray, which combines a flexible aluminium tray with non-combustible insulation, the installation team was able to install this lightweight element much faster with just a cutting knife and sealing tape for joining at details such as corners or windows. The requirement for specialist equipment, isolated onsite workshop zones, vast site storage facilities, soldering, sealants and installing insulation as a separate fix and was eliminated, enabling them to free up mast usage, with an estimated ratio of 70/30 in the bricklayers’ favour, speeding up the build programme.   David Ashworth, Project Manager, Domis Construction: “Working with our brickwork contractor, Kinlan, the Siderise Site Services team came down and delivered an in-person practical training programme before the install and it was during this in-depth session that we started to realise the operational advantages it would have. They have also been supporting us continually on the build, checking how we are installing their product and giving us any advice necessary to ensure a top-class delivery.”  Summary Anchorage Gateway demonstrates, with tangible evidence, how traditional building methods can be improved using modern products that have been engineered and tested to meet the demands of contemporary construction, allowing the creation of beautiful brickwork buildings without sacrificing on speed or quality of build.