CASE STUDIES

School Case Study: Sound Solutions, Colorful Creations

Project: North Bend Elementary School
Location: Humble, Texas
Architect: PBK Architects

Photos courtesy of Armstrong World Industries

Photos courtesy of Armstrong World Industries

The Project: This brand-new elementary school project had an overall goal to enhance the building’s architectural design by creating a playful and functional environment for students. The client had a clear vision of what they wanted, providing initial renderings that aligned closely with the final photos.

The Building Design: The design focused on creating a playful atmosphere for the children, seeking an acoustic solution for adults in a friendly visual environment, and attenuating sound for all. Collaborating with the design team, the ceiling manufacturer helped select the ideal colors and systems to achieve the desired aesthetic and functional goals. Multiple colorful finishes and acoustic ceiling systems were incorporated into various themed play and enrichment areas.

The Ceiling Design: The project includes an underwater-themed space where waving baffles provide the immersive experience of being underwater, complete with an interactive submersible and large sea life suspended from the ceiling. Another communal area features a desert-like environment complete with a camel that doubles as a bench while ceiling baffles above resemble an expansive skyscape.

Going beyond the sky, another area is themed after outer space exploration with a space shuttle, astronaut, and moon base underneath dark blue and black acoustic baffles. These immersive and interactive spaces create educational and nurturing spaces for these students.

The Acoustic Design: The design team chose acoustic ceiling baffles as the top choice due to their versatility and suitability for the specific design requirements. Four different baffle systems were utilized in seven distinct areas, each tailored to the space’s unique needs. The systems were strategically selected, such as using contoured and 3D systems. The integrated acoustic systems seamlessly complemented the sculptural elements, creating an overall atmosphere of joy for current and future students. The project met the aesthetic and acoustic requirements and delivered a playful and functional environment that positively impacted the school’s atmosphere.

The Results: The results speak for themselves as the final design created an enriching and playful experience for the students at this new elementary school in the Humble Independent School District.

Office Case Study: Creating a Quiet Space with Flowing Baffles

Project: Textron Systems
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Architect: HKS Architects

Photos courtesy of Arktura

The Project: Textron is a leading company in uncrewed air, surface, and land defense as well as commercial products, services, and support. They recently embarked on an innovative renovation of their Arlington, Virginia office space. As part of this groundbreaking project, Textron partnered with HKS Architects and a custom ceiling design and manufacturing firm renowned for its custom architectural solutions. Casey Construction Group, LLC installed this ambitious, custom-tailored project, and Rand Construction was the contractor.

The Design: This client’s showroom features a stunning tailored ceiling acoustic system based on a 3D ceiling baffle collection. These motion-appearing baffles stretch across the office’s ceiling, bringing Textron employees a quiet and productive environment. The undulating motion of the baffles creates a soothing visual effect when viewed from various angles throughout the project space. The design of these acoustic baffles is inspired by the natural flow and texture of desert sand dunes. Finished in a biophilic-centric wood print, this system pairs well with the stark grey of the custom wall panels.

These custom baffles aim to inspire creativity and motion with their wave-like gestures. The linear ceiling system extends from the reception area throughout the office space, providing acoustic attenuation to multiple breakout areas and hallways around the office.

The Design Process: The collaboration between all parties involved was not just productive, but also seamless, which was a crucial reason this project went so smoothly. A mockup was provided which played a vital role, allowing for a refinement of the design as needed, while the architect and client could approve a full-scale mockup before full-scope production began. The most challenging component was meeting the complex system’s schedule outlined by the client, but everyone rose to the occasion, ensuring a successful outcome. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all parties involved, the finished product was visually stunning and unique. The manufacturer demonstrated its expertise by creating custom architectural products for this project. The results fulfilled and exceeded the client’s expectations.

The Results: Since its completion, this distinct visual and functional project has not only garnered attention but also been awarded a prestigious CISCA (Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association) Manufacturer’s Award at the 2024 CISCA Construction Excellence Awards event. The Manufacturer’s Award, given to the project that received the highest scores from the judges for projects submitted by manufacturers, is a testament to the project’s excellence and innovation.

Airport Case Study: Acoustic Attenuation to Put Hurried Travelers at Ease

Project: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Architect: Corgan

Photos: Kurt Griesbach

The Project: Located in the newly completed eighth concourse of Terminal 4, the busiest terminal in the airport, this project took over three years to complete. The new concourse adds eight new gates serving Southwest Airlines passengers. “America’s Friendliest Airport” is also the eighth busiest airport in the U.S. U.S. and the 11th busiest in the world, which challenged the design team to create a dynamic design to fit the project’s needs functionally and aesthetically. This new concourse covers approximately 130,000 square feet in the newly renovated space.

The Design: Corgan Arizona went to a custom ceiling manufacturer with a formidable design proposition. Instead of selecting a standard module from a catalog, they challenged the company to bring their plan to life. Corgan already had the design concept in mind originally tagged as a Public Art Space. The intent was to display Arizona’s famous desert landscape as undulating acoustic baffles meant to represent the sandy landscape of the nearby Imperial Sand Dunes. The appearance of these large baffles, made of acoustic material, was created using fin depths up to 24 inches and dynamic changes in shape, giving the system the illusion of being up to 8-9 feet deep. The natural finish mimics the surrounding desert.

The Wellness Aspect: The terminal, including the custom acoustic modules, was part of a larger-scale project to help increase traveler wellness at one of the nation’s busiest airports. The result is a beautifully captivating architectural feature that promotes acoustics and wellness to the millions of passengers traveling through Phoenix Sky Harbor annually. The developers are currently seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the overall construction.

The Installation: Because of the scale and engineering involved, this project required custom manufacturing of the system into an easy-to-install kit of parts. The dune-like quality of the custom fins is even more apparent when looking through the floor-to-ceiling dynamic UV-adjusting glazing overlooking the runways and surrounding desert.

The installer could not connect to the deck with a threaded rod, so the team collaborated to find the best options to simplify things to meet the project’s needs.

The Results: Since completion, this project has been awarded a CISCA Manufacturer’s Award in the Civic─Above 50,000 square feet─West category in March of 2023. CISCA (Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association) presents these honors to the manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and independent reps that produced excellent projects for the built environment in their given year.

Retail Case Study: Creating an Inclusive and Nurturing Workplace

Project: Mychal’s Cafe
Location: Redondo Beach, California

Photos courtesy of Arktura

The Project: Mychal’s Café is a social enterprise operated by Mychal’s Learning Place, a local 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. They are dedicated to providing employment opportunities for youth with developmental disabilities while offering a delightful dining experience for the community. The project at Mychal’s Cafe was to install much-needed acoustic ceiling cloud systems to enhance their newest location in Redondo Beach, California.

The Challenge: As a place where individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities work, creating an environment conducive to clear communication and a warm dining atmosphere was crucial. The challenge was to improve acoustics without compromising the aesthetic appeal of the space.

The Design Solution: The design team, which included a custom ceiling manufacturer, leveraged their expertise in architectural acoustics to address the specific needs of this space. The team recommended a new acoustic module system in the shape of a rosette. This intricate acoustic cloud system is made of sound-absorbing material and shaped in a floral-like arrangement. These modules were finished in a bright, inviting two-color finish featuring white paired with a natural-looking wood texture. These two-toned acoustic clouds seamlessly integrate functionality with aesthetic appeal to meet the unique needs of the cafe.

The Process: Beyond simply shipping the modules and calling it a day, the manufacturer’s visualization team created digital mockups of the cloud systems laid out with the cafe’s architectural drawings. This ensured that the space received the proper amount of coverage and acoustic attenuation. The installation was swift, and the impact was immediate and significant. The cafe’s baristas experienced noticeable improvements in communication with customers, enhancing the overall experience for both employees and patrons.

The Results: Page Sacks is the Development Director of Mychal’s Learning Place. He observes “Before the modules were installed, our baristas couldn’t hear customers across the counter from them, but now it’s the perfect place to connect with friends and see how capable and able our staff truly is.” This transformation significantly improved the working environment for their staff, fostering a more supportive and inclusive atmosphere. It also enhanced the overall dining experience for customers, making the cafe a more inviting and enjoyable space.