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| Ecophon Ceiling Products for Massachusetts Firefighting Academy  When Boston architectural firm DiMella Shaffer designed the 35 million, three-phased expansion of the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (MDFS) in Stow, Mass., choosing ceiling products with excellent sound absorption, light reflectance, and a high recycled content, was imperative for the journey toward LEED Gold status. Fortunately, the design team was able to meet all of these needs in one place through CertainTeed Ceilings' renowned Ecophon product line. The project featured the creation of a more eco-conscious firefighting academy campus — designed to accommodate 175 personnel — which consists of a new administration building, fire station and storage facility, and a renovated and expanded academy building. DiMella Shaffer specified 55,500 square feet of Ecophon ceiling products, which are manufactured with 70 percent post-consumer recycled content — the highest post-consumer recycled content available on the ceiling products market today. The project also benefitted from key performance attributes of the ceiling panels, which include the durability and cleanability of Ecophon Hygiene Performance A, the impact resistance of Ecophon Super G, the unique visual appeal of Ecophon Gedina E, and the superior acoustic control and light reflectance of Ecophon Dg. "With our Ecophon Focus ceiling panels, building and design professionals can have the perfect mix of sustainable performance attributes and aesthetic appeal," says Jill Robles, architectural sales manager for CertainTeed Ceilings. "Add in the high recycled content of these ceiling panels, and you have an all-around ideal product for today's sustainable building projects." One area of the project where the versatility of Ecophon ceilings panels is best demonstrated is in the "hearings room" of the administrative building, which is used for large group meetings, public hearings related to adoption of statewide regulations and appellate hearings concerning the enforcement of laws and regulations overseen by various state boards and commissions. The architects used Ecophon Focus Dg ceiling panels in a barrel-vault ceiling pattern to provide acoustic control and light reflectivity. The building has several hard, sound-reflective surfaces, so having ceiling panels that absorb sound was paramount in creating an acoustically pleasing interior. And, using ceiling panels that distribute natural daylight helps create a more pleasant interior environment and increases energy efficiency, as fewer light fixtures are needed to illuminate the space because the panels have almost perfect light reflectance. With the high light reflectance (85 percent) and superior sound absorption (.80 NRC), Ecophon Focus Dg ceiling panels proved an excellent choice. "Our use of Ecophon Focus Dg and Focus Wing Edge gave the ceiling a uniform, crisp, modern appearance and provided the light reflectivity and acoustic control we needed," says Doug Rand, project architect for DiMella Shaffer. "With technical assistance from CertainTeed, the performance of their ceiling products and the cooperation of our contractors, we were able to achieve the look we wanted." DiMella Shaffer also incorporated several water conservation and solar power features into the MDFS academy design. The new campus is anticipated to use less energy than its predecessor, despite it being 150 percent larger. Additionally, seven percent of the buildings' energy will be generated through solar power. The project broke ground in 2008, with Consigli Construction, of Milford, Mass., as construction manager and The Cheviot Corporation, of Needham, Mass., as ceilings contractor and is now in its final phase. It is expected to be complete this fall. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Construction News :: home page |