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| Superior acoustics and unique look of Texas university auditorium  When architectural firm Perkins + Will designed the 220,000 square-foot Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building at Texas A&M University — with the goal of LEED Silver certification — one area given special attention was the building's 285-seat auditorium — a space where high acoustical quality and innovative aesthetics were paramount. In response to these needs, the architects developed a unique suspended cloud-style ceiling design for the space. To achieve the desired acoustical and aesthetic qualities of the ceiling, Perkins + Will specified CertainTeed Ecophon Master Solo S, a ceiling panel used to create a suspended cloud-style design that offers high sound absorption."Our design features a pattern of ceiling panels in three different sizes," says Paul Chappell, a senior associate at Perkins + Will's Houston office. "We turned the panels at a 15-degree angle to match the angle of the north side of the building and create a textured look. The Ecophon Master Solo S ceiling panels fit well into this design, and provide the high sound absorption we need in the auditorium." Texas A&M hired general contractor J.E. Dunn Construction Inc. to build the structure. For the wall and ceiling portion of the project, J.E. Dunn Construction contracted Applied Finish Systems, Ltd., of Houston, to install 1,920 square feet of Ecophon Master Solo S ceiling panels. To meet the architect's design specs, the contractor fabricated two custom panel sizes from 4-foot x 4-foot ceiling panels. "Overall, the panels were very easy to install. Our crew set up in a warehouse, I gave them the dimensions, and they cut the 4 x 4 panels down on a table saw to meet our needs," says James Harvel, project manager for Applied Finish Systems. "We were able to neatly cut the panels because they didn't have any hardened, exposed edges. I was impressed with how the Ecophon Master Solo S panels allowed us to establish an anchoring point without any hardened edges, unlike most panels in suspended ceiling systems." In addition to installing Ecophon Master Solo S panels in the auditorium, the crew installed 26,000 square feet of CertainTeed Symphony f Performance ceiling panels in rooms and hallways throughout the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building. The ceilings installation began last October and finished this May. Perkins + Will was pleased with the work done by the ceilings contractor. "The ceiling looks great, and we've received good feedback on the auditorium's acoustical response," Chappell added. One of the largest facilities ever constructed on the Texas A&M University campus, located in College Station, Texas, the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building was designed to attract world-class scientists to the Texas A&M faculty with state-of-the art laboratory space. Opened in September, the building features more than 30 laboratories and a variety of other high-tech spaces. Ecophon Master Solo S ceiling panels feature painted edges that do not require a suspension system and can be poised at a variety of angles for a true floating ceiling effect. There are no profiles around the panels, which gives them a very clean, minimalist appearance. The visible surface has an Akutex FT coating, offering 85 percent light reflectivity. Manufactured from high-density fiberglass, they offer superior sound absorption. Symphony f is a fiberglass ceiling panel, with exceptional durability, a luxurious and smooth-textured surface, and superior noise reduction to maximize interzone attenuation. It offers outstanding acoustical and thermal value, high light reflectance, humidity resistance, and LEED recycled content of 39 to 42 percent. The acoustical performance of this product may contribute to points for a LEED project per that U.S. Green Building Council system. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |