"acoustic"

Kroll (previously Duff & Phelps) operate within the risk and financial advisory sector, with UK offices based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter for which we had the pleasure of providing a Type G200 folding partition system during a recent refurbishment. The operable wall allows the space to be transformed from a large open plan area into two separate rooms as and when required.The Type G200 system offers impressive acoustic, achieving up to Rw 47dB when fully closed – minimising noise transfer between the two spaces, without compromising on light transfer. In this instance, a fully glazed, full height pass door allows for easy access between the two smaller rooms when the system is in use.

The financial management firm were looking to adopt a more flexible post-pandemic workstyle and to create an impressive, destination workplace that would help attract and retain the best talent in their sector. The design team have delivered an exceptional office environment that features Milliken's two of Milliken most sustainable carpet designs - Major Frequency and Northward Bound. Specified in sophisticated neutrals, the designs look textural and luxurious. The products' integral cushion backings feel comfortable underfoot comfort and acoustic performance that keeps the office space calm and tranquil. Sustainability was an important element of the project. With high-level recycled content, the carpet products are also fully carbon neutral and re-usable via Milliken's N/XT Life Circularity Programme.

Kroll (previously Duff & Phelps) operate within the risk and financial advisory sector, with UK offices based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter for which we had the pleasure of providing a Type G200 folding partition system during a recent refurbishment. The operable wall allows the space to be transformed from a large open plan area into two separate rooms as and when required.The Type G200 system offers impressive acoustic, achieving up to Rw 47dB when fully closed – minimising noise transfer between the two spaces, without compromising on light transfer. In this instance, a fully glazed, full height pass door allows for easy access between the two smaller rooms when the system is in use.

Artform Urban provide modern and stylish cantilever seating to a new Arts and Humanities facility, at the University of Liverpool. The Yoko Ono Lennon Centre is a newly built teaching and performance building, named in honour of Yoko Ono Lennon, an Honorary Graduate of the University (Hon LLD 2001), campaign ambassador and long-standing philanthropic supporter. It houses the 400 seat Tung Auditorium with space for a 70 piece orchestra, as well as a state of the art 600 seat lecture theatre. Architects and lead designers Ellis Williams worked alongside a number of acoustic and structural engineers in order to achieve optimum acoustic profile and capacity for the orchestra. Artform Urban was appointed by HA Civils to provide seating elements for the landscaped exterior space of the building. The Generation 50 Seat with cantilevered legs was specified for the project due to its minimal and contemporary design that includes a curved timber cladding that echoes that of the main entrance of the building. It is the first installation of Generation 50 in the UK. The Generation 50 range was designed by Robert Chipman and offers a flexible ensemble of style and mounting options.Available with four different cast aluminium powder-coated leg fixing options, a range of armrests and a number of timber options including ipe, jarrah, and thermally modified ash. Providing a perfect addition to complete a range of urban landscapes. The Yoko Ono Lennon Centre will develop a programme of new public-facing cultural highlights including concerts, lectures as well as other events in the University calendar, and will be the new home to the Music Department’s popular Lunchtime Concert Series.Yoko Ono Lennon said:“It gives me great pleasure to know that this centre will serve as a new opportunity for countless future artists and musicians to communicate their work with the local audience in Liverpool, and the world beyond. I can’t wait to see what exciting new work is on its way.” (source)

Rising 143 metres in the London skyline, this 42-storey tower located in Stratford near to the former Olympic park, consists of 248 luxury residential lofts and a 145-bedroom hotel.Designed by high-rise specialist architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, over 17,000m2 of ipasol Light Grey 60/33 glazing was chosen for the facade thanks to its aesthetic of a light grey tint when viewed from outside but highly transparent and neutral when viewed from interior spaces.As the facade includes full height glazing, a combination of solar control and thermal insulation coated glass was needed to allow the facade to achieve its energy efficiency targets. Some glazing types also utilise acoustic laminated glass to maximise the sound reduction properties of double glazing units.

Project: GTIMC, University of SheffieldDate: 2022 Background:·        APL were engaged with the architect to provide a solution using APL StrongBak™, having worked with APL on numerous projects before·        APL’s ability to powder-coat its roll-formed profiles provided the client with a large range of anodised-look finishes ·        APL provided all structural, thermal and acoustic calculations Systems:·        2,400m² of APL StrongBak™ long-span structural wall panel system with external profiles being sinusoidal AP18HR and AP45HR with an anodised-look PPC finish·        150² of APL perforated Slimwall™ flat panels with an anodised-look PPC finish·        APL Tritherm™ GALV sub-framing ·        All flashings, fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Sheffield

Architect: Wellwood LeslieInstaller: Profile Projects LtdProduct: ‘Shiluvit’ by OranitOver 400m2 of Shuluvit panels in WN-2592 (Oak effect) stained yellow pine in 7-600 format were installed across the ceilings of the 2018 Carnoustie Golf Link extension project.The extension was designed to complement the famous golf course; adding new facilities such as golf simulators and The Rookery Scottish-fusion restaurant and bar designed to make the club more accessible to the public.The Shiluvit panels along with LSA Black acoustic mineral wool were used to give a subtle dampening to the spaces and offset the large windows and skylights and exposed metalwork. Flexible panel cross ties were used to allow for a smooth wrap-over ceiling installation.

Port Glasgow Shared Campus SchoolArchitect: Ingenium Archial ArchitectsInstaller: MoorconProduct: Shiluvit by OranitOfficially opened Spring term 2014 the Port Glasgow Shared Campus School is the first project of its kind in Scotland.The new school building houses both Port Glasgow High School and St Stephens High, as well as sharing its ample resources with the Craigmarloch Additional Support Needs School.500m2 of ‘Shiluvit’ panels in Nordic Pine were used across the atrium and second floor corridors of the new shared campus in Glasgow.The product was chosen for both its excellent fire-retardant properties as well as the brilliant acoustic protection it provides against spaces like this which would otherwise be affected by high levels of sound reverberation.

Urbanest Westminster Bridge sets a new standard in student living in London. Situated on the banks of the Thames directly overlooking Westminster Bridge, urbanest Westminster Bridge offers spectacular views of many of London’s iconic buildings such as The Shard, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. The House of Parliament, the London Eye and the South Bank are also in the doorstep.The private and en-suite rooms are lockable and comfortable but have the advantage of being located within a communal apartment for 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 or even eleven people – perfect for making friends or sharing with a group of friends you have already.Over 3000 Dorplan doorsets with varying demands, from security, access controlled, acoustic, FD30 to FD120 and moisture stable for the gym and swimming pools were supplied throughout the project.

The Lindner Group played an important role in the revitalisation of the fifth, sixth and seventh floor with their divisions ceiling and walls.Focus of the remodelling was the arrangement of various small and mediumsized conference rooms: sound-insulated glass and metal partition walls provide the necessary division and acoustics and form a transparent and open finish to the front towards the hallways.Round glass elements in the partition walls are an additional eye-catcher while elegant wooden and glass doors underline the design.Thanks to the installation canopy and heated and chilled ceilings in slat optics, efficient temperature management inside the building is also ensured.Completed WorksPartitionsPartition Systems GlassLindner Life Freeze 137Partition Systems Full PanelLindner Logic 100 TimberCeilingsPlafotherm L 608Plafotherm DS 320

Radii manufactured and installed Parallel 50 double glazed partitioning (45dB Rw) with adjoining Parallel 100 (50dB RW) for TS&W’s glazed fronts on the Ground floor and Level 1, including a number of stunning curved glazed elements. Linear 25 single glazed partitions (38dB RW) were used on Levels 2 to 5.Enhanced acoustic timber doors (40dB Rw) in veneered and painted finishes and with adjoining timber pilasters were utilised for the executive meeting rooms and offices.Auto-operated framed glazed pivoting doors, with visible overhead operators mounted on our top channels, were also installed to give easy access to ‘den’ and collaboration areas.Finally, a fire rated package comprising of structural Ei90 fire rated glazed screens was added on Level 5.

The high-performing FirePro fire rated system — fully developed by Radii’s in-house product development Centre for Excellence — was a key feature in the fit-out for global asset managers Blackstone in London’s Berkeley Square.Working on Level 3 of the building, fire rated solutions comprised FirePro Ei30 glazed fire screens, five FirePro Ei30 single doors and double door sets respectively, and three Firepro Ei60 double door sets. Fire doors were installed with power-assisted openers.Furthermore, our high acoustic performance Linear 50 Plus single glazed partitions (up to Rw 41 dB) and a single glazed Hogan lobby double door set with access control completed the glazed partition package.

We were delighted to be selected as Oktra’s partitioning partner for their HQ project. As part of the fit-out, Oktra has showcased Komfort’s enhanced Polar partitioning range and latest door systems to help unite and accommodate different working styles and to maintain a bright and open space.This showcase includes Komfort’s slimline Polar 54 system, Polar 30 single glazed and Polar 100 double glazed partitioning system with impressive acoustic ratings, Komfort’s SwitchGlass technology, Kross Glaze 600, frameless glazed doors, Sonik and Sonik slide doors. Each system complements the people-centric design brief, maximising the feeling of openness and offering leading performance.You can read more about the systems installed and partnership here.

CHALLENGEAs part of a full exterior refurbishment, building envelope contractor, Alumet, required a new façade system that would transform and modernise the exterior of the Jubilee House building, which was originally installed in the early 1970s. Coupled with this was the requirement to improve thermal and energy efficiencies.SOLUTIONKnauf Insulation supplied its Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab to ensure optimal fire, thermal and acoustic performance. The key to Knauf Insulation securing the project was the ability to provide in depth technical support, including complex 3D heat flow modelling calculations which took into account the specific system brackets, which act as a significant cold bridge within rainscreen cladding systems.Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab was installed on the brick facade of the existing building, which once complete, significantly improved the U-value thus reducing the heat loss through the wall.The insulation layer is a fundamental component of any successful rainscreen cladding system and mineral wool insulation delivers a number of advantages for this type of application. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is a Rock Mineral Wool slab containing a water repellent additive, designed for use on masonry wall constructions and as the outer insulation layer in steel frame projects.Quick and easy to install, the product is simple to cut and the slabs knit together to create a snug fit, with no need to tape the joints as may be required with rigid foam boards – ensuring maximum acoustic and thermal performance."We wanted to turn our headquarters into a thermally efficient building and to really project a modern ‘green’ image. The Schueco Façade system, along with Knauf Insulation’s products, helped us to achieve this as well as dramatically reducing our carbon output.We have received some fantastic feedback from local residents saying how good the new façade looks and coupled with the improved thermal efficiencies, we are very pleased."- Alumet Director, Dean Walton

Altro Serenade reduces noise and increases comfort for schoolIssueThe newly-constructed £17 million Reach Free School has created places for 840 secondary level students in a cutting-edge environment. Architect ADP’s concept for the school was an open plan space with a lot of openings that connect the various floors. This meant the potential for noise and reverberation throughout the school was quite high. The Reach Free School specified vinyl flooring rather than carpet, for robustness and ease of cleaning. It was also important for the school that the flooring would bring comfort underfoot. Reducing noise throughout the new building was a priority.ApproachADP consulted an acoustician at the early stages of the design, and were advised that a flooring with an acoustic rating greater than 17dB would give significant reduction in noise from footfall, chairs scraping in the classrooms and overall background noise volume.Altro Serenade flooring was recommended by Horizontal Limited, which installed 1500m² of the flooring on the ground and first floor in all communal areas, stairs and classrooms.SolutionAt 3.9mm thick, Altro Serenade provides 19dB impact sound insulation to reduce noise and provide comfort underfoot. The Reach Free School selected the shade Encore, a pale grey with a good textural design which complements the strong school colours of teal blue and purple."I would recommend this flooring to anyone that wants a hard-wearing, great looking modern solution that also helps to reduce noise and increase comfort in the environment."Richard Booth Headteacher at The Reach Free School"Altro Serenade fit the brief perfectly. It’s ideal for this type of busy, noisy environment where there is a great deal of foot traffic. Many manufacturers struggle to make good acoustic flooring that doesn’t mark or indent but, with Altro Serenade, Altro has cracked this issue with a superb quality product."Jonathan Bown MD, Horizontal Limited

ChallengeContractors Guaranteed Asphalt (GA) faced a unique conundrum regarding the insulation of the roof of the O2 Arena, the centre piece on the site of the former Millennium Dome and the first purpose-built music venue in London since The Royal Albert Hall in 1871.As the area required superior acoustic properties, a rock mineral wool product was the obvious solution, however the split-level roof form of the construction meant that loose mineral wool fibres were visible in the surrounding airspace. This is where Knauf Insulation’s technical expertise became invaluable! Knauf Insulation was able to specify a bespoke white-tissue-faced Krimpact product which entrapped the loose fibres.SolutionKnauf Insulation supplied over 100 tonnes of their Rocksilk® Flat Roof Slab Extra at 150mm (2x75mm), a consistent, high density rock slab with superior impact and compression resistance. This material is designed to offer not only the acoustic performance required by such a venue, but also good thermal resistance and an excellent fire rating classification (Euroclass A1 non-combustible, the highest level possible). The white-tissue-faced product was suitable to be exposed to the elements, and later sprayed with a grey solar reflective paint to seal the surface and enable the product to camouflage into its environment.To make the project even more complicated, the cranes used in the production did not fit under the existing structure of the Dome which meant that the roof had to be constructed at ground level and lifted into its final position. This was no problem for Knauf Insulation thanks to its innovative Supakube delivery system, which meant the product could be delivered to the correct area of the project with minimum effort. Supakube uses advanced compression technology and strong packaging materials, which ensures the product is not only easy to store but can be delivered more efficiently saving time and reducing carbon emissions from delivery vehicles as more product can be loaded onto each lorry.

108 Cannon Street is billed by clients Endurance Land as ‘not your typical office space’.The innovative focus on an adaptable, reconfigurable internal design meant that modular partitions were a key part of the overall strategy.The holistic open-plan design would offer numerous spaces that differed in size, functionality and aesthetic design to cater for a variety of work habits.As leading innovators in the design and manufacture of adaptable and reusable solid and glazed partitions, Radii were a perfect fit for this project.Alongside our range of high-end commercial glazed partitions — all of which are fully demountable — our highly sustainable adaptable ‘2D’ crosswall solution would work in conjunction to produce the modular grid that the client would require to add the flexibility of space they desired.Fully interchangeable with the adjoining glazed fronts, this modular dry-jointed 2D system has been designed to be erected, taken down and reconfigured multiple times throughout the product lifecycle and add or remove private spaces as required.Radii combined our double-glazed Parallel 125 partitions (Rw 50 dB) and demountable adaptable 2D crosswall (Rw 52 dB) to create meeting spaces with exceptional acoustic privacy. Crosswall panel finishes varied to match the design of each space by architects Barr Gazetas, with magnetic writeable whiteboard also specified to add additional functionality for end users.Our single glazed Linear 25 (Rw 38 dB) and double glazed Parallel 50 (Rw 45 dB) partitions were also used due to the variety of acoustic requirement for the 14 different office and meeting rooms across the Lower Ground, Ground and Levels 2 and 3. These were fit alongside single, leaf and a half and double Hogan pivoting glazed doors.Finally, Radii also manufactured and installed a FirePro Ei30 fire rated double door set and screen in the reception lobby.

Fulham is the oldest of the ten London Premier League football clubs. Founded in 1879 by the Reverend John Henry to offer the young workers of the neighborhood an alternative to less healthy temptations, since 1896 it has had its home in the mythical Craven Cottage.The site and the club have evolved dramatically since. Located on the banks of the River Thames, very close to the refined London neighborhoods of Chelsea, Kensington and Chiswick, the stadium is one of the main tourist attractions of the London capital due to its significance in the history of football, and its extraordinary location on the banks of the Thames.The south-western part of the British capital is now undergoing an ambitious redevelopment plan that includes the demolition and new construction of the legendary Riverside Stand, adjacent to England's most important river. The scheme is being led by the club itself, appointing Buckingham Group as main contractor and Populus as its lead architect. As part of the wider scheme, an URSA specification has been made to ensure all thermal and acoustic targets are met. The project will see the redevelopment and expansion of the current Riverside Stand to increase its capacity from 4,689 to 8,650 whilst increasing the overall capacity of Craven Cottage to 29,600 seats. Creation of a new public riverside walk as well as new restaurants, cafés, bars, corporate hospitality and event space forms an important part of the scheme. Below ground, a new basement will provide ‘back of house’ facilities, club and lounge area whilst nine serviced apartments will be made available on site.Partnering with distributor, Encon and liaising directly with the installation team at Grant Plastering, the project used URSA TERRA glass wool slabs to insulate the ceilings and soffits. Normally used behind rainscreen cladding systems, URSA WALLTEC 32B was chosen because of its class leading thermal conductivity of 0.032 W/mK, acoustic performance and ease of installation.In addition to the low thermal conductivity, the slabs have exceptional acoustic absorption and are non-combustible (Euroclass A1), so they do not contribute to the propagation of fire, an advantage that is fundamental in an installation of this type, designed to house thousands of people.Another noteworthy aspect is the sustainability that they bring to the buildings in which they are installed, and which are recognized by the most prestigious European certifications. URSA's range of glass wool insulation products are completely recyclable and use less energy in their manufacture, transport and installation. Ian Claydon, URSA UK Technical Manager, commented; “This is an incredibly important development for the capital that sees a huge amount of investment in one of the UK’s oldest football clubs. The site location and wider ambitions of the project make this an incredibly exciting development to be part of.“We have worked closely with the project managers technical team and installers to ensure they made the very best specification. Opting for one of our core products, we have managed to fulfil all of their wider needs in terms of the insulation specification.”The works will include an increase in capacity and new amenities, but also seek to enhance the space for residents, fans and tourists, with a public promenade running along the banks of the Thames, commercial spaces and new meeting rooms underneath the grandstand.  

Entering a building is usually the only way to find out what takes place inside. But that’s not the case with the Manchester Metropolitan University’s new School of Digital Arts (SODA). It acts as a giant canvas to illuminate digital content produced by students, thanks to an LED rainscreen façade on its northern face. The five-storey, 5,200m2 SODA building is adjacent to the Manchester School of Art and will provide space for a digital innovation and User Experience (UX) lab, film studios, green screens, edit suites, sound, music and production studios; alongside a screening room and gallery space. Like all rainscreen façade projects, the SODA building needed insulation to meet the required thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance, but the LED façade added complexity to the specification. The chosen rainscreen panels were perforated with small holes to allow the lights to shine through – but this also meant the insulation could be seen from certain angles, so the insulation needed to look aesthetically pleasing too. During the design process, architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios had specified Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the project. It is non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, so complies with building regulations that ban combustible insulation on certain buildings over 18m tall in England and Wales.  Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab also has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK so could meet the U-value of 0.19 Wm2K. And thanks to its sound absorption characteristics, critical for low mass rainscreen structures, it will help create a quieter space for the students. The principal contractor Kier Construction had tasked specialist façade contractors Maple Sunscreening with determining the required thickness and aesthetics. So they contacted Knauf Insulation to discuss the best solution.  Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team undertook 3D U-value calculations and confirmed that a 150mm slab should be used for the project.  What’s more, Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. This gives Knauf Insulation’s mineral wool its unique brown colour, so the insulation won’t stand out behind the perforated rainscreen panels. It also makes it soft to touch, easy to handle and generates low levels of dust and VOCs. As a result, products made with ECOSE® Technology have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is designed to be easy to install correctly. Slabs are robust which makes them easy to manoeuvre into place. Once in position, they butt tightly together and adapt to any imperfections in the substrate. This prevents unintended air gaps that can compromise thermal, fire safety or acoustic performance. Using Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab was the optimal solution for the SODA building providing both the high thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance demanded of modern buildings. And thanks to its unique brown colour, the mineral wool insulation won’t be a distraction, instead acting as the perfect backdrop for the dazzling LED light displays created by the students. 

Early collaboration with Knauf enabled delivery architects TW-2 to achieve specification by integrating Knauf specialist drywall systems into the overall design of a prestigious residential and commercial development in London. Triptych Bankside in Southwark is a mixed-use development designed by London architects Squire & Partners. Three striking, sculptured buildings with undulating curves comprise two residential towers featuring 169 high-end, luxurious apartments with outdoor spaces and private amenities, an office building, and retail and cultural facilities. This was a complex project with multiple contractors, manufacturers and designers. For the interiors, proper integration for the wall systems and the overall design was critical. Through early engagement with Knauf, TW-2 was able to successfully create a specification which streamlined and simplified installation.The support from Knauf was invaluable as Vikki Knight, Architectural Designer at TW-2 explained: "After the initial wall specification with Knauf, the technical advisors and Project Design Manager, Stuart McNeil, remained on hand to answer my queries relating to changing design requirements and provide useful details and wall spec updates throughout the project." As a result, a combination of Knauf products has been installed in the residential towers by drylining and façade specialist Conneely Group. Knauf Soundshield Plus has been used on the ceilings to enhance acoustic performance and provide the necessary levels of fire resistance.  Richard Cockerton, Contracts Manager from Conneely Group agreed on the benefits the Knauf system brought to the build. “All the products worked seamlessly together, both in terms of specification and installation. It made meeting the strict building safety requirements easier. When it came to working on site, having the Knauf team available to answer questions on wall detailing or systems was really helpful.”The Knauf Isolator system divides the individual apartments and communal spaces. This twin stud system combines high performance plasterboards to ensure the maximum acoustic performance. The fully integrated Independent 'I' Stud wall lining system has been used in limited access areas for services and pipes, and to improve wall acoustic and thermal levels. Inside the apartments, Knauf Performer partition systems were specified between rooms with staggered partitions constructed between kitchens and bedrooms or where sound reduction was needed. Different board solutions, including AQUAPANEL® for wet rooms and areas with tiles and PIR laminates, complete the drywall systems and achieve enhanced levels of thermal insulation.Externally, the Knauf AQUAPANEL® Cement Board Outdoor was specified as the substrate for a render finish in some external areas, such as where service risers went through the rooftops or in separated plant areas. The product is unaffected by water and offers the levels of noise and fire protection required by high-density residential buildings such as Triptych. Vikki Knight concluded: "Knauf was integral in assisting us with ensuring high standards were met and Building Control requirements achieved through the correct allocation and technical detailing of their products." The development's name reflects its distinctive architecture with the three sculptured buildings. It is based on the meaning of Triptych - a set of three associated artistic, literary or musical works intended to be appreciated together. Photos: Triptych Bankside by JTRE London

Located on the former BBC site, Circle Square in Manchester aims to create a vibrant neighbourhood comprising city living apartments, prime office, retail and leisure space. Phase two of the development saw the construction of No’s 5 to 8, four buildings totalling 677 luxury flats with private dining, resident lounge, gym and cinema, as well as commercial space. Specification requirements FK Group were appointed to design and install a bespoke façade solution which meant they were responsible for specifying the insulation. There were three main performance factors that needed to be considered.  Firstly, the insulation had to be non-combustible to ensure compliance with building regulations in England and Wales, which ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of certain buildings over 18m tall.  The second consideration was thermal performance. “When you’re designing a bespoke façade solution, accurate thermal modelling is essential because there are so many variables that can affect its energy efficiency,” explained Ben Hufton, Associate Design Director of FK Group. “One of the reasons we work with Knauf Insulation so much is because of their technical support. They always conduct 3D U-value calculations for rainscreen façade projects, so we know the insulation will deliver the performance we need to achieve.” This enhanced level of accuracy is one of the main benefits of 3D U-value calculations over other calculation methods, because it ensures a building’s real world thermal performance matches its initial design.  To achieve the required U-value of 0.28 W/m2K, the Knauf Insulation Technical Support Team recommended 200mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the external cavity. This has a thermal conductivity of just 0.034W/mK. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is manufactured from Rock Mineral Wool and is BBA certified for use in high rise buildings for the broadest range of build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. It is also non-combustible with the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. This means it will not contribute to the development or spread of fire should it occur. The final specification factor was acoustic performance due to the site’s busy city centre location.  FK Group conducted offsite acoustic tests to ensure that the build-up met the requirements of Approved Document E. The Mineral Wool insulation contributes significantly to the acoustic performance of the build-up thanks to its open structure. Sound waves are trapped between the individual strands of Mineral Wool and turned into heat energy. This will help to reduce noise from surrounding roads, ensuring residents can enjoy peaceful homes. Other performance factors As it has been developed for external applications, Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab contains a water repellent additive which is combined with a fibre matrix that promotes run-off. This ensures it can resist moisture ingress whilst maintaining its excellent vapour permeability. The physical characteristics of the fibres are unaltered if they get wet. Therefore, the thermal properties of Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab are not affected by exposure to moisture and the product will perform as expected once it has dried out. The product is easy to install correctly thanks to superior robustness and durability, allowing it to be manoeuvred easily into place. Its natural flexibility means it adapts to minor imperfections in the substrate, while slabs interlock, eliminating air leakage that could reduce thermal and acoustic performance. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is also manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable, and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binder, so it is more environmentally-friendly. Products made with ECOSE® Technology generate low levels of dust and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and have been awarded Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort (Gold) certification. Circle Square will give residents access to everything they need from a community district – just as Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab ticked all the boxes for FK Group.

Products from F. Ball have been used to create a hygienic flooring finish as part of a refurbishment at The Doctors Laboratory, in Salford, Manchester.Flooring contractors used Stopgap Fill and Prime 700 Superflex flexible levelling compound to prepare 1500m² of metal raised access panels before installing vinyl sheet floorcoverings and coving. Once the primer had cured, Stopgap 700 Superflex flexible levelling compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth finish for the receipt of floorcoverings. With the subfloor preparation complete, the flooring contractors could install Tarkett IQ Granit Acoustic Vinyl sheet throughout the entire area using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive which possesses a high initial tack, making it ideal for the installing of floorcoverings over larger areas. Finally, the contractors used Styccobond F66 contact adhesive to install PVC coving. 

Calderdale Council recently embarked on an extensive refurbishment project of the ballroom in the Grade I listed Todmorden Town Hall, which completely refreshed the interior using specialist redecoration services and colour insights from Crown Paints.The 19th century building, which includes a ballroom with ornate ceiling features and plasterwork, has been home to a variety of events over its long history. The Council’s £120,000 investment into the ballroom included improvements to the acoustics and a redecoration project that aimed to refresh the building while being sympathetic to its rich history.As part of the works, Crown Paints’ colour consultancy team devised a new colour scheme for the ballroom with a rich blue called Jet Stream and Victoria White with red and yellow accent colours. It is based on the hues and tones of the original Minton tiles which were hidden beneath the ballroom’s wallpaper and rediscovered before work began.

Product: ‘Shiluvit’ by Oranit in Stained Yellow Pine1600m2 of Oranit Panels were installed to the angular raking ceiling at Merthyr Bus Station in 2021. The panels are in 7-502 (22mm x 45mm blades with 40mm gaps) format in PEFC certified Yellow Pine stained to resemble a rich Oak with the bold grain texture of Pine.The £11m bus station, which opened in Spring 2021, is set to become an important transport link between bus and South Wales Metro services in the area as well as improving electric vehicle resources for both Buses and Taxis with plans to ‘electrify’ the town’s bus fleet.Oranit panels were installed to the interior and exterior ceilings of the bus station, inside the ceiling was lined with LSA Black 20mm mineral wool for increased acoustic control and exterior panels were treated with an additional lacquer to protect them from the Welsh weather.

182m2 of custom Oranit panels were supplied to the West of Scotland Radiotherapy facility in Lanarkshire in 2015. Panels were installed to the walls and ceilings of the public area at the hospital including a wrap-over feature wall and ceiling behind the main reception desk with integrated lighting and concealed cupboard doors. The American Red Oak panels were built in a custom module format with 48mm wide and 20mm deep horizontal blades at 75mm centres for optimised acoustic performance and minimal overall panel depth. The wall panels were made in custom sizes to suit the installation and require minimal tooling on site.   Oranit panels are suitable for non-clinical healthcare environments; when finished using the standard clear lacquer panels can be reliably cleaned using Actichlor Plus cleaning solutions as approved by NHS Scotland in addition to conventional cleaning products.

The centrepiece of the building at 80 Fenchurch Street is a stunning glass atrium that spans the entire length of the core structure, flooding the lower floors with natural light and providing a breath-taking arrival experience when entering the building’s lobby.Radii AG were commissioned to utilize their intricate knowledge of glass to produce a dynamic, multi-storey frameless glazed atrium that matched the ambitious design intent.An additional consideration was for the atrium to accommodate the stepped, angular elevation changes due to the terraced roof gardens on the top five levels.The finished atrium at EightyFen epitomises Radii AG’s core philosophy of extracting the full capabilities of glass as a building material.Structural, acoustic and fire rated performance all formed a part of the finished installation, allowing Radii AG to provide a bespoke, technical solution alongside dramatic visual aesthetics.

Radii joined the fit-out for this asset management company’s new European headquarters in mid-2022, working for approximately 20 weeks to deliver our high-end commercial solutions for 179 offices and meeting spaces across Levels 1 to 4 of the 88,000 sq ft site.Curved double glazed Parallel 50 (45dB Rw) partitions were manufactured and installed by Radii for a number of meeting rooms fronts, while single glazed Linear 25 (41 dB Rw) and double glazed Parallel 100 (50dB Rw) were also deployed to match the variety of acoustic requirements. Mesh glass was used in places on Levels 2 to 4 to provide extra privacy around reception and lounge areas respectively.Partitions were complemented with smoked dark European oak timber veneered doors throughout the space.

The Sands - Durham WaterfrontArchitect: Ryder Architecture LtdInstaller: Pennine ContractsProduct: Durlum Polylam BafflesLSA Projects supplied over 300 linear metres of Durlum Polylam baffles to the new facility The Sands on Durham Waterfront in the city centre. The new riverside development was intended to move the County Council headquarters into the city centre for improved public transport connections for staff and other visitors.In 2022 the building applied for change of use planning to convert the landmark building into additional learning spaces for Durham University Business School. The change of use allows the department of the Russell Group university to move straight into the ready-made facility after delays with their original plans for a different site.The £50m facility has space for the 2,300 students and members of staff at the business school across the 1.4 hectare site. In addition to traditional learning spaces the building has modern working space for staff and academics and hopes to attract leading businesses to work with the university and graduates.Durlum Polylam baffles were used for the feature ceiling in the main event space. The ceiling is made up of 320mm deep 100mm wide baffles in concentric squares with the outer square measuring an impressive 20 metres across. Polylam pieces were finished in a Dur-Graphic faux Cherry veneer print and mounted in 9 double-row rings with alternating strip lighting and integrated ventilation systems.Polylam from Durlum is a versatile ceiling system made up of vertical baffles available in a range of sizes up to 100mm wide by 800mm deep. Pieces can be installed using suspension grid systems available from Durlum in a variety of ways including independent mounting and group mounting with regular spacing and options for demount-ability.Baffles are made from either galvanised sheet steel or aluminium and finished in a choice of RAL colour powdercoating as a standard with options for gloss and metallic finishes as well as Dur-Graphic and Duroplan printed designs. Acoustic perforations can also be applied to the baffles as well as incorporating Dur-Sonic acoustic mineral wool filling to the inside of the hollow baffle lengths.

Premium acoustics are a quintessential part of any modern-day theater or performance space. Noise coming in from other rooms or even from outside can disturb live performances.In ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, construction of the new performing arts theater is well underway. Planned to open in the second half of 2023, ‘Theater aan de Parade’ will house 2 multifunctional halls, each with its own atmosphere and programming. The different spaces are all connected by spacious foyers, with plenty of natural light and views of the Parade, the main town square.The new theater is designed to invite passersby to come in, enjoy one of the many performances or simply hang out and relax.The solution selected to acoustically decouple the multifunctional hall, one of the 2 main halls of the building, from the rest of the theater, was a complete box-in-box construction, using a Stravifloor Jackup-R floating floor system.The total hall surface area is about 543 m², divided over three zones. An impressive 272 boxes were installed. Boxes were installed with 2 different types of springs combined in three different configurations. The overall span between the boxes in this project is around 1,4 to 2 m.The added value of a jack-up system in this specific project was that despite the loads not being homogeneously distributed across the entire surface, it is possible to create a stiff concrete slab with a homogeneous thickness before to place it on springs.A jack-up system allows for better control of the slab level across all construction phases, concrete slab thickness, and the final deflection of each bearing, different in number, type and tributary area.The entire installation process was spread across two phases, the installation of the boxes together with the insulation material and PE-foil which took less than one week, and the second phase in which we were jacking up the boxes until the entire floor was raised to the desired level. This last step took 4 days, including cleaning and preparing the area for the next intervening parties.

Covestro AG moved into its new headquarters in the "chemical capital" of Leverkusen at the end of 2020 (with a reduced team due to the pandemic situation). The new administration building of the world's leading supplier of polymer materials, with six floors and modern office space, offers a lot of space and optimal working opportunities for up to 750 employees.As the general contractor for the interior work, Lindner SE handled various trades from drywall construction to subcontractor services. The system walls, built-in furniture as well as counters, doors, ceiling and floor systems were produced in-house. In addition, Lindner Leuchtenfabrik (on behalf of the companies Kinzo and Signify) supplied design luminaires for work islands.Room-high, frameless full-glass walls allow natural light from the atrium into the inner areas. Lindner Life Freeze 137 glass partition wall systems create meeting rooms or "meeting boxes" as places of retreat in the otherwise open campus. Partly designed as curved glass wall elements, they underline the individual design claim and still meet the high static requirements.On an area of more than 12,000 m², you will find above all the Lindner raised access floor NORTEC with sufficient installation space in the floor structure, a high level of walking comfort and for acoustic regulation.For heavy-duty areas, the FLOOR and more® power access floor was chosen, mostly covered with textile flooring. Among other things, 5,400 m² of the Plafotherm® GK HEKDA® heating/ cooling ceiling system ensure optimised acoustics and a good indoor climate in the open spaces. In cooperation with the architects HENN, a modern, light-open work campus was created within 20 months, in which employees can meet and cooperate more easily and efficiently.Completed WorksPartitionsPartition Systems GlassLindner Life Freeze 137Lindner Life Pure 620FloorsCalcium sulphate panelsFLOOR and more powerNORTECCeilingsHeated and Chilled Plasterboard CeilingsPlafotherm GK HEKDA 

Glassfields is a new high-spec office development which forms the gateway to Bristol’s Temple Quarter. The completed building offers the perfect environment for how businesses work today.With 93,000 square feet of high-quality office space, it has been designed with the tenants’ well-being in mind and provides a flexible, adaptive, and creative space. The design of the interior called for an industrial look which made Lusso 25 Geometric glazed partitioning system, with its black powder coated frames and banded look, the ideal choice. High acoustic Silenzio doors and Lusso 25 frameless single glazed system, also powder coated in black, were used to complement the design. The overall look provides a stunning, dramatic, and classy environment in which to attract and retain talent.The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent accreditation and an EPC rating A, embracing industry best practice, energy efficiency measures and sustainable technology.

Knauf integral in Warwick Hall development.The Knauf team has played a significant role in the  specification and design process during recent  construction at one of the oldest schools in England, working alongside award winning Associated Architects to produce a masterclass in acoustic  performance.The site consisted of an existing hall, which was used for assemblies, performances and functions. This hall was built in the 1960s and suffered from a series of failings which impacted its flexibility and usefulness.The proposal for the Warwick Hall was an opportunity to build a physical embodiment of Warwick School’s  academic excellence, prosperity and ambition, which saw the existing school hall stripped back to its structural frame and heavily modified to provide a state-of-the-art, revitalised and flexible school hall with  a large double height entrance foyer, two performance  studios and other ancillary spaces. The brief was given to the team at Associated Architects and they quickly relied on the quality of materials and service provided by Knauf.

Architect: JM ArchitectsInstaller: Profile Projects LtdProduct: ‘Shiluvit’ by Oranit500m2 of Shuluvit panels in 7-601 format in A-9-1 (Oak) stained Yellow Pine were installed to the ceiling of the swimming pool area at Orchard Brae Complex Needs School near Aberdeen.The Shiluvit panels are a stunning feature of the swimming pool area in addition to providing acoustic dampening to the bright and open space; the panels were also finished with a humidity resistant lacquer to protect the ceiling against the damp environment and ensure quality and stability for the life cycle of the product.In addition to education facilities for up to 150 pupils the brand new £18.5m Centre of Excellence, the campus is a community hub for families, groups, and charities working with children and adults with additional support needs; the facility houses sensory rooms, working gardens, specialist home economics teaching spaces, and play facilities as well as being a base for local outreach speech and language services.

Architect: Faulkner Browns ArchitectsInstaller: Topfix InteriorsProduct: ‘Shiluvit’ by Oranit1000m2 of PEFC Certified Shiluvit panels from Oranit were installed to the ceilings of the swimming pool and gym areas at the new sports facility St John’s School in Leatherhead.Faulkner Brown Architects specified Yellow Pine panels with a white stain for the space, choosing 7-502 modules with 22mm wide by 45mm deep blades with 40mm gaps for impressive acoustic control.Oranit is a specialist ceiling solutions suitable for most installation areas. As standard it is impregnated for Euroclass B,s2-d0 for resistance to fire, achieving top results against surface spread of flames, smoke production, and flaming droplets or structural integrity in case of fire.Additionally for this installation the panels were lacquered for humidity resistance, this treatment provides additional protection to the wood against water damage and can also be used for panels being installed outside.

9 Marylebone Lane is a new-build high quality residential building comprising 2 basement levels, lower ground, ground and seven upper floors. The site is located in between Oxford Street and Wigmore Street.The Jubilee Line runs directly beneath the site and the acoustic consultant, Hoare Lea, specified that the building needed to be supported on Stravibase VHS elastomer bearings with a maximum natural frequency of 15Hz.The building is isolated at the base of columns and walls on top of the ground floor slab. Sensitive areas on the ground and lower ground floors are isolated using box-in-box constructions.The bearing stiffnesses were used in the structural analysis to ensure that the correct bearings were used at each support location.The three apartments and the gymnasium that were below the level of the main building isolation were built of Stravifloor Jackup concrete jack-up floating floors to create box-in-box constructions.

The "White Marmot" restaurant in the Corviglia ski area near St. Moritz combines top-class gastronomy with lifestyle. The traditional Swiss mountain restaurant, which emerged from the "La Marmite" founded in 1967, was renovated in accordance with the visionary ideas of its owner Hartly Mathis in collaboration with Ateiler Zürich and Testa Bodenbeläge.The White Marmot is divided into a lounge, bar and restaurant area. The existing natural stone floor was not satisfactory because of the poor room acoustics, the sensitivity to moisture caused by the guests' ski boots and the associated risk of slipping. The architects found in Flotex flocked flooring the better alternative. Comfort, anti-slip, easy care and durability could be guaranteed with just one floor covering. Moreover, the client and the planner were impressed by the endless design possibilities of the Flotex digital print technique. The digital printed Flotex Vision design was able to fulfil the requirments of a modern style in ambience of the 1960s and 1970s.