In addition to adding warmth, the wood veneer panels also improved acoustics in the lobby and reception area. The panels are perforated in an oval, straight-slotted pattern and backed with a fiberglass infill for acoustical control.
The design team was pleased with the result, noting the ceiling design complemented other linear elements in the building.
“We were trying to do something dynamic that drove people directionally to the upper lobby,” says Hu. “The ceiling design not only provides subtle wayfinding, but also a nice, rich look—almost like a tapestry.”
Accessibility
As building services equipment overhead becomes increasingly complex, ease of access to the plenum becomes more of a priority. Routine cleaning and servicing of ductwork, air diffusers, plumbing, fire protection, and the like require easy accessibility. The installation, maintenance, and updating of today’s generation of cable and lighting technology and wireless access points adds even more demand for access.
To achieve an accessible wood ceiling, tegular assemblies with ‘hook-on’ installation are the easiest to install and provide full downward accessibility for safe, efficient removal of panels. More complex wood ceilings, including custom flat, curved, and radial, can also be designed for access.
Case study
Owners of the Gulf Canada Square Food Court in Calgary, Alberta, decided it was time for an update and commissioned Stantec to refresh the space with a design that would work with the existing seating configuration.
To attain that goal, the existing drywall ceiling had to be replaced with a more dynamic one.
“We needed to find a solution that would be visually exciting and be easily removed to service the equipment in the plenum,” said Craig Ainsworth, lead architect.
The solution was a custom wood access ceiling system that radiates out in a sunburst design.
“The space lent itself to an oval shape so we just played off that shape and the placement of the existing structural columns to develop this large wood ceiling with lines radiating out from the center,” said Ainsworth.
The 316-m2 (3400-sf) ceiling consists of 234 wood panels in a dark cherry finish that gradually get smaller as they approach the center. With a consistent reveal between each of the panels, the design team was also able to take advantage of the acoustical properties of the new ceiling.
“Since sound could penetrate up into the plenum, we were able to take advantage of the acoustic treatment on the back of the panels,” Ainsworth explains.
The panels are suspended from a grid system that was painted black to obscure the equipment in the plenum.
“Everything behind the ceiling disappears so the wood panels become the dominant plane of the ceiling,” said Ainsworth.
Installation and humidity
The most important part of a wood ceiling installation is making sure the panels are acclimated to the space. All wood panels are hygroscopic, meaning they respond to changes in humidity levels. Consequently, the HVAC system must be in place and in operation before installation. For best results, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines for temperature and humidity levels. The temperature range with normal HVAC in operation is usually 10 to 30 C (50 to 86 F) with a relative humidity of 25 to 55 percent. The wood panels should also be stored in the conditioned space at least 72 hours before installation.
Wood ceiling panels are heavier than traditional acoustical ceiling tiles. As a result, they need to be installed in a heavy duty suspension system instead of a standard system. When creating a reflective ceiling plan, it is important to try to limit cut panels as the exposed edges have to be stained to match the panel.
In the past, installing light fixtures in wood ceiling systems was a challenge, especially in terms of integration. Today, as a result of ceiling manufacturers partnering with lighting manufacturers, pre-engineered lighting integration options are now offered. Specially designed low-profile, light-emitting diode (LED) linear luminaires are available that are the exact length of a ceiling manufacturer’s panels, resulting in a flush, sleek visual. The fixtures are attached to the suspension system using a special connection clip, eliminating the need to independently suspend them from the deck.
