The smartest ceiling in education

by sadia_badhon | May 25, 2020 12:30 pm

by Robert Marshall

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Contemporary institutional design is an increasingly diverse sector of the construction industry. From libraries to sprawling university athletic centers, facilities run the gambit in terms of size, budget, and complexity. These designs are becoming bolder, incorporating changing technologies as well as addressing new approaches like collaborative environments and ‘resimercial’ design. Despite major changes, one constant remains—the finished project must provide value to key stakeholders and serve a unique communal need.

As a result, institutional spaces are often site-specific in terms of architecture and design. They represent unique community values and have strong physical ties to the surrounding environment. With the continued rise of biophilic design, which connects occupants to the natural world through a combination of natural materials, views, and also access to the outdoors, daylighting, and biomimetic patterns, these buildings are transforming into multisensory spaces that are winning awards and influencing international design trends.

There are also more opportunities than ever before for specifiers working in institutional design. That sector’s construction activities are expected to experience above average growth over the next five years, making it one of the most promising sectors in the construction industry. According to the 2020 Fails Management Institute[2] (FMI) U.S. and Canada Construction Forecast, education is expected to grow by two percent for 2020 alone, rising to three percent for 2021, 2022, and 2023. This translates to an increase from $99 billion to $111 billion in 2023. One could posit this is a direct result of rising enrollments, the growth of university and private school endowments, higher tuition revenue, and the increased popularity of master’s programs.

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Additionally, there has been a major push by communities, teachers, and parents for modernization projects to create better learning environments. In fact, FMI cites more than half of U.S. K-12 public schools are currently in need of renovation or modernization investments at an estimated cost of nearly $200 billion.

As architects and interior designers continue to address these needs and push the envelope of institutional design, they are turning to sustainable materials and energy-efficient products and building practices. Depending on the project, they must also create several distinct built environments for academic, business, and operational functions, each with its own set of requirements. This includes acoustic management, design flexibility, opportunities for collaboration, and safety.

Solutions to these common challenges require a holistic approach to design. Specifiers need to think about every component of the built environment. Often it is the ceilings where innovative new materials are helping institutional designers manage acoustics while also creating beautiful, contemporary facilities.

Top of the class

Large-format ceiling solutions are truly in a class of their own, all thanks to a mix of performance, design, and acoustic management. Featuring high levels of sound absorption, these products are well-suited for a variety of open, social areas commonly found in institutional settings, including cafeterias, corridors, gyms, lobbies, and study rooms.

The visual advantage of the panels is its ability to minimize the appearance of a suspended ceiling, leading to a smooth, monolithic look. A wide range of finishes enable designers to maintain continuity of the product throughout the facility while meeting the unique design objectives of different spaces. From wood-look tiles in a library to bright whites and/or school colors in an aquatic center, large-format tiles are the valedictorian in versatility. Additionally, low maintenance levels and highly durable materials mean they will retain their appearance for years to come.

With a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.85, many large-format tiles exceed the minimum standards for acoustic performance in classrooms. This makes them suitable for loud common areas such as cafeterias, corridors, and student centers.

Designers can direct mount panels to walls as well as ceilings to boost design impact and acoustic performance. They can also design floating clouds to serve as visual focal points and add acoustic control in open spaces. If that is not enough, curves, waves, and other shapes add an unexpected sense of motion and can be layered to create a one-of-a-kind design statement.

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From a finish perspective, specifiers can match these products to virtually any school, university, or organization brand or color scheme. Custom printing options add logos and mascot designs to the roster for the ultimate show of school spirit. Classic wood looks add warmth and character while appealing to environmentally conscious students. Graphic patterns create unique installations and add dimension to the ceiling.

While colors and graphics provide a distinctive aesthetic, some buildings still require white acoustical ceiling panels for smoother, more sophisticated visuals. This is exactly the look designers working on the revamped Kitchener Library, Ontario, Canada, were aiming for.

Historic library with a unique ceiling design

LGA Architectural Partners was tasked with preserving the mid-century design of the Main Branch Public Library in Kitchener. One of the country’s fastest-growing communities, Kitchener is known for its universities and high-tech industry. Built in 1962, the library was showing the effects of everyday wear and tear, reaching an age at which its major systems and components were in need of a replacement.

The librarians tasked LGA Architectural Partners to preserve and expand the original structure while making it sustainable, accessible, and elegantly robust, a must for a building serving more than 100,000 cardholders. They also asked the building’s design support the transforming library experience.

“The way libraries have developed from quiet, solemn reading and research spaces to active, engaging public environments meant we needed to change the way the library would look, feel, and be used moving forward,” said José Castel-Branco, associate, LGA Architectural Partners.

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The design wrapped the original library with a high-efficiency curtain wall featuring operable windows, thereby preserving the building’s iconic image while upgrading its performance. The glass opens the interior to natural sunlight and air and converts the main reading room into a ‘front porch’ that encourages community engagement at the street level.

This front porch is also the new design star of the building, featuring a geometric ceiling that looks like folded origami. The installation harkens back to the building’s original ceiling that was removed in previous renovations.

“We felt so strongly about bringing this iconic design element back to life that we quoted it in the redesign of the reading room,” explained Castel-Branco. “We were going to add new lighting and acoustical elements to the plenum regardless, but this grand space deserved justice.”

Castel-Branco directly worked with a ceiling manufacturer to specify ultra-smooth fiberglass acoustical panels for the reading room. The look mimics the original ceiling and incorporates twinkling fiber-optic lights in the shape of the Andromeda constellation. Additionally, the panels help manage acoustics while providing a quiet and relaxing, yet visually stunning space.

The same panel type was specified for the stacks. However, these were installed in a traditional flat pattern. Groupings of panels were interspersed with drywall and applied to areas requiring acoustic management.

“I tend to believe in one-stop-shopping,” said Castel-Branco. “If you can specify one material or product across a space, it provides design continuity and cuts down on confusion. It is also easier for the installation team and the facility manager who needs to maintain the space.”

Throughout the rest of the library, the design team used elegant but durable materials such as stone, walnut, concrete, and glass—matching the previous palette while giving the library a fresh face. The result is an authentic, comfortable, and flexible place ready to offer enriching experiences for a community operating on the forefront of the digital age.

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Wood-look ceilings cap off an amenity-rich football complex

In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies another example of contemporary institutional design done right. Clemson University’s Allen N. Reeves Football Operations Complex, South Carolina, is a sprawling 13,239-m² (142,500-sf) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver facility that sets a new standard for the student-athlete experience.

Designed to support the day-to-day activities of players, coaches, and staff, the complex elevates Clemson’s football program and promotes the recruitment, training, and development of student-athletes. The university spared no expense to create a space that can cater to its student athletes and help with recruitment of the nation’s top football talent.

Amenities include a locker facility with a 2323-m² (25,000-sf) weight room, 50-person plunge pool, and hydrotherapy pools. A large dining facility, recovery and nap rooms, and an x-ray suite are also centrally located for easy access. An outdoor village, complete with sand volleyball, basketball, and wiffle ball courts, miniature golf, an outdoor kitchen, and a fireplace ensure athletes are entertained year-round.

One of the most iconic features of the building is a replica of Clemson’s famous Death Valley hill. It is a 4.5-m (15-ft) high, 6-m (20-ft) long slide that takes a person from the second to the first floor. The slide is visible from the outside, and adds a sense of fun and playfulness to the complex.

Compelling graphics and interactive displays can be found throughout the space. Each is celebrating the football program’s brand as well as its storied history while communicating its vision for the future.

In order to tie all of these spaces together and convey a sense of importance and strength, HOK Architects and Goodwin, Mills and Cawood, Inc. originally envisioned a wood ceiling. However, based on cost, weight, and maintenance, general contractor DPR Construction decided a wood-look system would be a reasonable compromise, as natural wood is heavy, reacts negatively to the humid environments found in the South, and can sag over time. Therefore, DPR opted for a large-format, lightweight solution with acoustic qualities.

Material price was another challenge because the budget was limited for the Allen N. Reeves Football Operations Complex, as is the case in many institutional projects.

Ultimately, an ultra-smooth, non-woven polyester fabric with a wood look was specified in several areas of the project including the grand entrance, lounge, and dining areas.

Each panel weighed less than 0.11 kg (¼ lb) per square foot, meaning it could be installed without fear of sagging. Since the architect also selected diffusers and lights from the same manufacturer for compatibility reasons, the installation process was smooth.

The result is a facilities-friendly ceiling installation fitting the unique aesthetic of the Allen N. Reeves Football Operations Complex. It blends high-end design with acoustic control and provides easy access to the plenum.

Future looks bright for institutional design

As institutional design continues to evolve, specifiers have more choices than ever when it comes to creating unique spaces that solve educational design challenges. Large-format ceiling products are just one concept helping designers manage acoustics, achieve custom looks, and create beautiful, contemporary facilities.

[7]Robert Marshall is the senior technical manager for CertainTeed Ceilings and a lifelong participant in the commercial ceiling industry. Marshall is the product of one of the world’s first acoustic ceiling contracting businesses, a company founded by his family in 1927. He can be reached via e-mail at robert.l.marshall@saint-gobain.com[8].

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/the-smartest-ceiling-in-education/

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