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
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 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
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
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
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 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’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, 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
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 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
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
AEC Tech | Aug 8, 2022
The technology balancing act
As our world reopens from COVID isolation, we are entering back into undefined territory – a form of hybrid existence.
Legislation | Aug 5, 2022
D.C. City Council moves to require net-zero construction by 2026
The Washington, D.C. City Council unanimously passed legislation that would require all new buildings and substantial renovations in D.C. to be net-zero construction by 2026.
Cultural Facilities | Aug 5, 2022
A time and a place: Telling American stories through architecture
As the United States enters the year 2026, it will commence celebrating a cycle of Sestercentennials, or 250th anniversaries, of historic and cultural events across the land.
Sponsored | | Aug 4, 2022
Brighter vistas: Next-gen tools drive sustainability toward net zero line
New technologies, innovations, and tools are opening doors for building teams interested in better and more socially responsible design.
| Aug 4, 2022
Newer materials for green, resilient building complicate insurance underwriting
Insurers can’t look to years of testing on emerging technology to assess risk.
Sustainability | Aug 4, 2022
To reduce disease and fight climate change, design buildings that breathe
Healthy air quality in buildings improves cognitive function and combats the spread of disease, but its implications for carbon reduction are perhaps the most important benefit.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 4, 2022
Faculty housing: A powerful recruitment tool for universities
Recruitment is a growing issue for employers located in areas with a diminishing inventory of affordable housing.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 3, 2022
7 tips for designing fitness studios in multifamily housing developments
Cortland’s Karl Smith, aka “Dr Fitness,” offers advice on how to design and operate new and renovated gyms in apartment communities.
Building Materials | Aug 3, 2022
Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe on coping with a shaky supply chain in construction
BD+C's John Caulfield interviews Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, about how his firm keeps projects on schedule and budget in the face of shortages, delays, and price volatility.
Codes and Standards | Aug 3, 2022
Some climate models underestimate risk of future floods
Commonly used climate models may be significantly underestimating the risk of floods this century, according to a new study by Yale researchers.
