flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Sound selections: 12 great choices for ceilings and acoustical walls

Sound selections: 12 great choices for ceilings and acoustical walls

From metal mesh panels to concealed-suspension ceilings, here's our roundup of the latest acoustical ceiling and wall products. 


By Julie Higginbotham, Senior Editor | September 22, 2014

From metal mesh panels to concealed-suspension ceilings, here's our roundup of the latest acoustical ceiling and wall products. 

 

1. EXPOSED STRUCTURE ACCOMMODATED BY CONCEALED-SUSPENSION CEILINGS

To improve design flexibility, Armstrong now offers its largest metal ceiling panels in a concealed-suspension system for a cleaner, more monolithic look. New MetalWorks Concealed ceilings feature a narrow quarter-inch reveal and can be installed in standard 15/16-inch suspension systems. The panels can be used to create a continuous ceiling look or a “floating” aesthetic when installed in a ceiling cloud with matching trim. Panels come in five sizes and three factory-applied powder-coated finishes, and in perforated or nonperforated styles. The already high noise-reduction coefficient (0.80) can be increased to 0.95 by backing the perforated panels with BioAcoustic infill.
Armstrong World Industries

 

 

2. CHURCH PROJECT BENEFITS FROM WOODEN ACOUSTICAL PANELS

WoodTrends Elite acoustical wood ceiling panels from SoundSeal

Aesthetic impact and excellent acoustics were high priorities for Trinity Lutheran Church, Owatonna, Minn., when the congregation decided to expand with a large addition. I&S Group and Twin City Acoustics collaborated on the design and installation of WoodTrends Elite acoustical wood ceiling panels in birdseye maple. The panels, consisting of wood over an MDF, chipboard, or plywood substrate, install into a standard 15/16-inch grid, leaving a 3/8-inch reveal. Two coats of clear UV-cured polyacrylate finish enhance the natural grain. In addition to the perforated acoustical product, the church ceiling includes matching unperforated, reflective panels. Depending on perforation pattern, Elite panels offer a noise-reduction coefficient value as high as 0.90.
Sound Seal

 

 

3. METAL MESH CEILING SYSTEM OFFERS SLEEK APPEARANCE, ACOUSTICAL PERFORMANCE

Silentmesh is a new multi-layer ceiling system from GKD

Silentmesh is a new multi-layer ceiling system composed of metal fabric and an underlayment of acoustic absorption material. The product is designed to offer a clean, modern aesthetic in a rigid suspension system that can be molded into custom shapes. Composite Mesh Plate technology combines metal fabric with an aluminum honeycomb plate, providing rigidity and long panel spans to minimize the number of seams required.
GKD

 

 

4. ACOUSTICAL CEILING PANELS CONTRIBUTE TO LEED RECYCLED-CONTENT CREDIT

Bria ClimaPlus acoustical ceiling panels from USG Corp.

Classrooms, lobbies, conference rooms, executive offices, retail stores, and transportation terminals are among the manufacturer-suggested applications for Bria ClimaPlus acoustical ceiling panels. With a noise-reduction coefficient of 0.70, the lightly textured panels have a 30-year system warranty against visible sagging, mold, and mildew. The surface may easily be cleaned with a brush or vacuum. Impact resistance is double that of similarly textured panels tested per ASTM C367. Zero VOC-emitting performance and high recycled content help maximize opportunities for LEED points.
USG Corp.

 

 

5. WOOD-LOOK METAL CEILING SYSTEM MEETS GOALS FOR MILITARY AUDITORIUM 

SpanAir Torsion Spring ceiling panels from Chicago Metallic

The Dannelly Composite Operations and Training Facility of the Alabama Army and Air National Guard, in Selma, has a new 1,800-sf auditorium featuring SpanAir Torsion Spring ceiling panels. The wood-look recycled aluminum product was well-suited to the space’s sporadic occupancy patterns, including times when the HVAC systems are shut down for energy savings. Given the humid climate, the metal panels were a more practical choice than a wood veneer/substrate combination. The custom WoodScenes walnut-painted finish matches trim colors in the client’s existing facilities. Acoustical performance was adjusted with a backer or acoustical blanket according to panel placement in the auditorium space, to maximize sound control. On the Building Team: Seay Seay & Litchfield Architects, Bear Brothers (contractor), and E&E Acoustical and Drywall (installer).
Chicago Metallic

 

 

6. RECREATION CENTER SCULPTURE INCORPORATES ACOUSTIC BAFFLES

SONEX Rondo cylinders for ceilings by pinta acoustic and BASF

A high level of background noise often annoys people using public indoor pools. The Betty T. Ferguson Recreation Center Aquatic Facility in Miami Gardens, Fla., addressed this problem by commissioning a sound-dampening sculpture. Artist Xavier Cortada created an overhead installation featuring pinta acoustic’s colorful SONEX Rondo cylinders, made with Basotect sound-dampening melamine foam from BASF. The sculpture, entitled “Splash!,” resembles “noodle” flotation devices often used by young swimmers. SONEX baffles reduce reverberation and echoes in the pool area by absorbing sound across all frequencies. The product resists fungal and microbial growth and can withstand the humid conditions characteristic of indoor natatoriums, according to the manufacturer.
pinta acoustic, BASF

 

 

7. WOOD CEILING SYSTEMS ARE FSC CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFIED

WoodTrac ceiling systems

WoodTrac ceiling systems are designed to offer the look and feel of custom-crafted wood ceilings at affordable prices. The panels install over a 15/16-inch suspended ceiling grid, allowing them to fit most new or existing systems. Moldings are available in three profiles and are compatible with 2 x 2-foot or 2 x 4-foot ceiling panels. Designers can choose from four stock finishes and more than 20 custom finishes. WoodTrac systems include a Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody certification, with all timber harvested from responsibly managed forests.
WoodTrac

 

 

8. EXPANDED METAL CEILINGS COMBINE FUNCTIONALITY AND VISUAL APPEAL

Lindner USA expanded metal ceilings

Lindner USA’s expanded metal ceilings offer a broad range of design options, including diamond-shaped or square mesh, solid or filigree, and see-through or opaque. The lightweight, sustainably manufactured material can be deployed in lay-in, hook-on, swing-down, or drop-slide configurations, and can easily be combined with light fixtures or other infrastructure, according to the manufacturer. Plafotherm integrated heating and cooling technology expands the range of choices. Custom manufacturing services are available.
Lindner USA

 

 

9. WHITE CEILINGS ENHANCE DAYLIGHTING FOR CALIFORNIA TEMPLE RENOVATION

Blanco Mat ceiling from Ceilings Plus

Blanco Mat, a new ceiling product with a brilliantly white finish, creates a dramatic effect in the recently remodeled Temple Israel in Long Beach. The finish optimizes the daylight entering through skylights and high clerestory windows, and its matte surface eliminates glare. Abramson Tieger Architects used linear elements of various depths and widths to create a design inspired by the tallit, a fringed prayer shawl, sheltering and embracing the congregation. Ceilings Plus assembled the elements at the factory, using its Barz panel system to simplify field installation and minimize weight on the existing building’s structure. Also on the Building Team: Elljay Acoustics (installation) and Design Insight (manufacturer’s representative).
Ceilings Plus

 

 

10. PERFORATED ACOUSTICAL PANELS ARE SCALED FOR LIGHT-FIXTURE INTEGRATION

Gyptone BIG line of large-format perforated acoustical panels from CertainTeed Ceilings

The Gyptone BIG line of large-format perforated acoustical panels has been expanded with the launch of Quattro 46, which has a smaller perforated area to make it easier to incorporate linear light fixtures. The perforated panels allow for monolithic ceiling and wall designs without visible breaks or joints, and provide superior acoustics (NRC 0.60) for open lobbies, classrooms, and offices, according to the manufacturer. Quattro 46 panels are made with 80% post-consumer and 5% pre-consumer recycled content, and are fully recyclable at the end of their useful life. The panels are suitable for direct or suspended screw mounting and may be painted with a short-nap roller.
CertainTeed Ceilings

 

 

11. DAPPLED LIGHT EFFECTS ACHIEVABLE WITH ARCHITECTURAL PERFORATED PANELS

Parasoleil architectural perforated panels

Parasoleil architectural perforated panels are available in copper, aluminum, steel, wood, and composite materials, and are designed to last at least 30 years. Typical uses include dropped ceilings, canopies, privacy screens, back-lit wall surfaces, railings, and lighting systems, as well as exterior applications such as shades, awnings, and shutters. Many styles of contemporary, traditional, nature-inspired, and culturally inspired patterns are available; the manufacturer also offers customization for design flexibility. Products are made with recycled materials and are recyclable.
Parasoleil

 

 

12. CUSTOM BAFFLE CEILING SYSTEM DELIVERS HIGH PERFORMANCE FOR AIRPORT

Hunter Douglas Architectural Products High Profile Series acoustic baffle ceiling

The new PHX Sky Train at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is an automated system that improves access to parking lots, off-site light rail, and airport terminals. Architect HOK collaborated with subcontractor T-P Acoustics and Hunter Douglas Architectural Products to create the High Profile Series, a new style of acoustic baffle ceiling, for a three-level transit station. Mockups and prototypes helped refine a sliding attachment device compatible with a standard 15/16-inch T-grid.

The sliding feature allows point access for maintenance without requiring baffle lowering or removal. Extruded aluminum baffle profiles were created to span 24-foot widths; the six-inch baffle profile at eight-inch spacing helps mask the plenum for ceilings as high as 40 feet. The project also features the manufacturer’s linear plank ceiling products in an airplane-wing design for the exterior-to-interior transition, and a torsion-spring ceiling to maintain the station’s tubular shape on the second floor. Also on the Building Team: Gannett Fleming (design lead/engineer) and Hensel Phelps (GC).
Hunter Douglas Contract

Related Stories

MFPRO+ News | Nov 15, 2023

Average U.S multifamily rents drop $3 to $1,718 in October 2023: Yardi Matrix

Multifamily fundamentals continued to soften and impact rents last month, according to the latest Yardi Matrix National Multifamily Report. The average U.S. asking rent dropped $3 to $1,718 in October, with year-over-year growth moderating to 0.4%, down 40 basis points from September. Occupancy slid to 94.9%, marking the first decline in four months.

MFPRO+ Special Reports | Nov 14, 2023

Register today! Key trends in the multifamily housing market for 2024 - BD+C Live Webinar

Join the BD+C and Multifamily Pro+ editorial team for this live webinar on key trends and innovations in the $110 billion U.S. multifamily housing market. A trio of multifamily design and construction experts will present their latest projects, trends, innovations, and data/research on the three primary multifamily sub-sectors: rental housing, senior living, and student housing. 

Data Centers | Nov 13, 2023

Data center sector trends for 2023-2024

Demand for more data centers is soaring, but delivery can be stymied by supply delays, manpower shortages, and NIMBYism.

Education Facilities | Nov 9, 2023

Oakland schools’ central kitchen cooks up lessons along with 30,000 meals daily

CAW Architects recently completed a facility for the Oakland, Calif., school district that feeds students and teaches them how to grow, harvest, and cook produce grown onsite. The production kitchen at the Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center, (“The Center”) prepares and distributes about 30,000 meals a day for district schools lacking their own kitchens.

Laboratories | Nov 8, 2023

Boston’s FORUM building to support cutting-edge life sciences research and development

Global real estate companies Lendlease and Ivanhoé Cambridge recently announced the topping-out of FORUM, a nine-story, 350,000-sf life science building in Boston. Located in Boston Landing, a 15-acre mixed-use community, the $545 million project will achieve operational net zero carbon upon completion in 2024.

Retail Centers | Nov 7, 2023

Omnichannel experiences, mixed-use development among top retail design trends for 2023-2024

Retailer survival continues to hinge on retail design trends like blending online and in-person shopping and mixing retail with other building types, such as offices and residential. 

Healthcare Facilities | Nov 3, 2023

The University of Chicago Medicine is building its city’s first freestanding cancer center with inpatient and outpatient services

The University of Chicago Medicine (UChicago Medicine) is building Chicago’s first freestanding cancer center with inpatient and outpatient services. Aiming to bridge longstanding health disparities on Chicago’s South Side, the $815 million project will consolidate care and about 200 team members currently spread across at least five buildings. The new facility, which broke ground in September, is expected to open to patients in spring 2027.

Office Buildings | Nov 2, 2023

Amazon’s second headquarters completes its first buildings: a pair of 22-story towers

Amazon has completed construction of the first two buildings of its second headquarters, located in Arlington, Va. The all-electric structures, featuring low carbon concrete and mass timber, help further the company’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and 100% renewable energy consumption by 2030. Designed by ZGF Architects, the two 22-story buildings are on track to become the largest LEED v4 Platinum buildings in the U.S.

Sustainability | Nov 1, 2023

Researchers create building air leakage detection system using a camera in real time

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a system that uses a camera to detect air leakage from buildings in real time.

Adaptive Reuse | Nov 1, 2023

Biden Administration reveals plan to spur more office-to-residential conversions

The Biden Administration recently announced plans to encourage more office buildings to be converted to residential use. The plan includes using federal money to lend to developers for conversion projects and selling government property that is suitable for conversions. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021