The Value of Stone Wool Acoustical Ceilings
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Photo courtesy of ROCKFON
The Project: When the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), home to events like Construct Canada, decided to renovate its South Building, it sought replacement ceiling panels that offered both a modern look and high performance. It was also important that the assembly would support its pursuit of certification under the LEED® Canada certification, a rigorous and internationally recognized certification from Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC). Located in downtown Toronto, the 1.2-million-square-foot South Building is the only facility in the world that has hosted both G20 and G7 Summits. It includes 34 meeting rooms and four exhibit halls with a barrier-free, fully accessible floor plan. This award winning facility was designed by B+H Architects and opened in 1997. After 16 years, the space was in need of an update since the ceiling panels had begun to show their age.
The Criteria:Numerous physical characteristics were considered when choosing ceiling panels for this project: Appealing size and edge options (including metric size availability); Positive indoor air quality (IA Q) impacts, such as low volatile organic compound (VOC) content; Clean aesthetics—a
smooth, white appearance was sought; Easy serviceability via a high-quality, easily cleaned surface; Environmentally friendly characteristics to work toward LEED certification, including recycled content and high light reflectance; Product durability which was translated to mean a lightweight, non-brittle, sag-resistant, high performance product backed with a minimum 10-year warranty and Strong acoustics validated with a high-performance rating. |
The Solution:Stone wool replacement ceiling panels were selected because they were found to provide the owner with the following characteristics: Acoustic comfort Articulation Class (AC) rating of 170 and Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), rating of 0.85. Fire protection Humidity Resistance Since the material is inorganic, it also does not promote the growth of mold or bacteria. Light reflectance |
Results:By combining energy efficient daylighting designs with stone wool’s natural composition, long durability, and high performance, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre met its overall project goals and the LEED criteria to become certified. |
Conclusion
Properly designed and installed, suspended ceiling systems using stone wool ceiling tiles can enhance the design of a variety of building types. As a product, it can provide the needed superior acoustical properties for indoor environments both in terms of sound absorption and sound insulation. Like all such systems, they provide ready access to plenum spaces above the ceiling while contributing to the visual and acoustical aspects of the spaces where they are used. Stone wool specifically can support sustainability initiatives and be long lasting by resisting moisture and corrosion. Further, it can improve fire performance, humidity resistance, energy efficiency, and aesthetics of the overall building.
Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, is a nationally known architect, sustainability consultant, technical writer, and continuing education presenter. www.linkedin.com/in/pjaarch
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ROCKFON® and Chicago Metallic have combined forces to offer complete ceiling system solutions. Their stone wool ceiling panels, featuring superior humidity resistance and acoustic control, easy-to-install ceiling suspension systems, and versatile metal ceilings, are among the highest-performing, most cost-effective, and time-efficient available in the market. www.rockfon.com |
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