Acoustics

Because wood naturally reflects sound, as noted in the discussion of the different wall and ceiling systems, the addition of acoustical fabric or acoustic infill or insulation behind or above the panel/tile may be needed.

“Wood ceilings and wall systems can significantly impact the acoustics of a space through the modulation and shape of surfaces, texture, and porosity of materials, and with the use of framing and backup systems that can be integrated into the system to incorporate acoustical properties,” states Lucas Rew.

Traditional-looking wood ceiling panel designs provide a comforting biophilic backdrop, while wood canopy installations can up the aesthetic value by offering an unconventional, sculptural look.

For example, by selecting perforated panels or reveals between wood panels, a certain percentage of the sound will pass through the panels. Similarly, wood lattice and grid systems will help reduce acoustic reverberation, though they often require a backup sound-absorption material. As an alternative, McNay recommends systems with asymmetrical geometries that work to help reduce reverberation.

For applications where acoustics are prioritized, including theaters, school auditoriums, salons, galleries, or restaurants, products such as a fiberglass infill can help achieve the required NRC ratings.

RESIMERCIAL DESIGNS EMBRACE WOOD

As more businesses realize the employee benefits of biophilic elements in the workplace, many are turning to resimercial design to make the office environment more desirable.

As corporations continue to offer amenities such as a variety of comfortable, relaxing spaces in their quest to recruit and retain employees, the “resimercial” blending of residential and commercial designs is becoming the norm.

Since wood is a common design element in the home, wood walls and ceilings are a popular way to create these desired residential interiors in the workplace.

“People have an affinity to natural materials and expect that the office be at least as comfortable and stylish as working from home,” confirms Taub.

Morris agrees that people want adaptability, comfortable seating options, agile environments, and residential-inspired accessories just as they have at home.

In particular, the warmth and comfort evoked by wood is a key design strategy for achieving the biophilic benefits that reduce stress and promote productivity.

“Resimerical design is the premise that there are human benefits to making work environments feel like home. These benefits are providing opportunities for people to relax and feel engaged in their environment, allowing them to collaborate, produce, and innovate,” explains Lucas Rew. “This strategy can be powerful when combined with biophilic design.”

Standard versus Custom-Engineered Solutions

Another issue that often comes up when specifying wood wall and ceiling systems is whether the design can be supported by standard products or an additional investment is required for a custom solution.

“Having a wide array of standard products to choose from is always ideal,” Paleczny says. “Standards provide a great baseline for decision making. They provide a modularity that can integrate other ceiling components with greater ease, they can reduce the lead times significantly, and they can be economical solutions for elevating spaces.”

Whereas custom-engineered systems frequently require a highly specialized installer, standard wall panel and ceiling systems are contractor friendly, which opens up bidding to a wider range of installers, as most manufacturers include very detailed installation drawings and instructions.

Hutchison agrees that a wide range of standard products—not only in terms of color and texture but also shape, installation method, panel size, and acoustical properties—provides flexibility to specify wood products for a variety of space types and in a variety of locations without the added expense of custom systems.

At the same time, there seems to be a misconception that standard products are limiting and impinge upon designers’ creativity. On the contrary, Lucas Rew asserts that these off-the-shelf solutions offer a wide range of possibilities. “A unique design solution can be customized and created by combining multiple standard products by varying patterns, shapes, and colors,” she says.

Bennett raises another point, which is the fact that more costly custom-engineered solutions run the risk of being value engineered out of the project. Consequently, if the design team is able to work within the framework of standard solutions, there is a much better chance of keeping the design aesthetic while staying within budget.

Ultimately, whether standard or custom engineered, wood wall and ceiling systems have a proven track record of creating inviting, warm interiors that capitalize on the wellness, productivity, and biophilic benefits that this natural material offers. As building owners, organizations, and society itself continues shifting toward a health and wellness mindset, biophilic design will continue to gain traction.

CHICAGO SUBURBAN SCHOOL EMBRACES BIOPHILIC DESIGN WITH WOOD CEILINGS

The designers of Chicago’s Lisle Elementary School used a combination of real wood and wood-look ceilings to support the learning process for K–5 students.

Showcasing both real wood ceiling panels and a wood-look ceiling system at Lisle Elementary School in the Chicago metropolitan area, Perkins and Will’s design embraces biophilic principles in celebrating the site’s natural environment.

“The tree-lined streets and neighboring arboretum enforced our vision to create a building that would bring in and enhance the surrounding nature,” explains Angelica Paleczny, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, interior designer at Perkins and Will, Chicago. “One of the ways we incorporated these natural elements into our design was using wood in two key ceiling moments.”

Inside the 100,000-square-foot building in Lisle, Illinois, lay-in wood ceilings circle a double-story learning resource center (LRC). To help create an acoustic buffer between the LRC’s large, open space and the adjacent classrooms, the wood tiles are perforated.

The other “key wood moment” can be found in the school’s main entrance and cafeteria, where a sprawling wood-look plank ceiling begins in the canopies at the school’s south and east entrances and extends through glass walls inside to cover the school’s large, open common area and cafeteria.

“The versatility of the interior/exterior wood-look product allowed us to perforate it on the interior for maximum sound absorption, while having a continuous ceiling that will never become warped or discolored the way true wood would,” Paleczny explains.

Although the ceiling system is actually metal with a wood-look finish, it presents as wood, thereby enabling students, teachers, and visitors to benefit from the warmth and biophilic value offered by the wood-looking material.

Barbara Horwitz-Bennett is a veteran architectural journalist who has written hundreds of CEUs and articles for various AEC publications. www.bhbennett.com

End Notes

¹Ohtsuka, Yoshinori. “Shinrin-Yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.” International Journal of Biometeorology. February 1998. Web. 10 February 2020.

²Browning, William. “The Economics of Biophilia: Why designing with nature in mind makes financial sense.” Terrapin Report. Terrapin Bright Green. September 2015. Web. 10 February 2020.

³Augustin, Sally and Fell, David. Wood as a Restorative Material in HealthCare Environments. FPInnovations. February 2015. Web. 10 February 2020.

⁴Ohta, H. et all. “Effects of redecoration of a hospital isolation room with natural materials on stress levels of denizens in cold season.” Shimane University. 24 October 2007. Web. 10 February 2020.

⁵Kelz, Christina. “Interior wood use in classrooms reduces pupils’ stress levels.” Ninth Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology. September 2011. Web. 10 February 2020.

⁶Fell, David. “Wood in the human environment: restorative properties of wood in the built indoor environment.” November 2010. Web. 10 February 2020.

⁷Ridoutt, Bradley G. “First Impressions of Organizations and the Qualities Connoted by Wood in Interior Design.” Forest Products Journal. October 2002. Web. 10 February 2020.

⁸Tsunetsugu, Y. “Physiological Effects in Humans Induced by the Visual Stimulation of Room Interiors with Different Wood Quantities.” Journal of Wood Science. The Japan Wood Research Society. 1 February 2007. Web. 10 February 2020.

⁹Sakuragawa, S. “Influence of Wood Wall Panels on Physiological and Psychological Responses.” Journal of Wood Science. The Japan Wood Research Society. April 2005. Web. 10 February 2020.

¹⁰Browning, William. “14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health & Well-Being in the Built Environment.” Terrapin Report. Terrapin Bright Green. 2014. Web. 10 February 2020.