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Acoustics
The Benefits of Using Interior Glass in the Office of 2018
Incorporating glass into office interiors is a trend that has skyrocketed over the past 10 years. But this is more than just a trend; glass walls provide a number of practical benefits to offices and the people who work in them. They maximize space, minimize the need for interior light, and can even increase productivity and collaboration. These are some of the biggest benefits of outfitting your office with glass walls and doors.
A Contemporary Appearance
Interior glass walls look both modern and timeless. They are a great way to bring a slightly dated office interior into the modern era, but they also age well compared to other building materials. Unlike painted walls, the glass will look fresh and modern and can complement other interior remodeling changes because of its opacity.
Noise-Dampening Potential
Open office designs offer a number of benefits, but peace and quiet is not one of them. Glass walls give the appearance of a wide-open and modern floor plan, but they allow people privacy so sensitive conversations are not overheard. A well-designed office incorporating glass walls can also help dampen the noise from phone calls or other distracting sounds in the office.
Encouraging Collaboration
Collaboration is key in business. Offices that allow employees to communicate openly and collaborate on a variety of projects often lead to more creative solutions and valuable insights. Glass walls aid in collaboration because they send the message that other workers are open and available to talk. Simply being able to look through the glass and see a coworker at his or her desk is often enough to encourage someone to stop in to ask a question, hash out a problem, or just have a quick chat that can lead to more.
Natural Light
Glass walls can even have a positive effect on workers’ health. By allowing natural sunlight to penetrate even into the center of an office building, everyone gets a chance to soak up some rays. Exposure to natural light has a proven effect on mood, stress, and overall health. Employees who get sun exposure are often less tired, in a better mood, and healthier than those who are only exposed to fluorescent light day after day.
Energy Savings
In addition to making employees healthier, natural light has the potential to save money. Often, sunlight is bright enough that overhead lighting can be reduced or even switched off entirely. This has the potential to save a lot of power and energy costs, which means that glass walls pay for themselves in time.
Functionality and Customization
Glass walls are fairly inexpensive compared to other types of building materials, and since they come in panels, they are easy to customize. You can leave gaps and install doors easily in a glass wall, and it can be placed in whatever configuration you need. Though glass is quite durable, if a panel becomes damaged, it’s a simple procedure to replace it with a new one.
Glass walls are a great fit for offices of all types. They are a relatively inexpensive way to give your space a modern makeover that also benefits your employees.
Avanti Systems USA are the experts in manufacturing and distributing of interior glazed solutions. For more information, visit www.avantisystemsusa.com.
Company: Avanti Systems USA
Source: http://www.avantisystemsusa.com
Tags: Acoustics | Glass Walls | Interior Design
Greening A Building from Top to Bottom
Greening A Building from Top to Bottom
Advances in sustainable building have made it easier than ever to create green buildings and office spaces that take a minimal toll on the environment. From the highest point of your building to the lowest subterranean basement, there are steps you can take to make your building greener and more sustainable. Here are some of the ways buildings can become more environmentally friendly.
The Roof
A roof garden or green space on the roof of a building provides a number of benefits to the building itself as well as the workers inside it. Green roofs reflect heat so you can run interior cooling systems less. They can also collect rainwater that can be reused for landscaping.
In addition to the environmental benefits, green roofs also have health benefits. Workers can access roof gardens to soak up some natural light and relieve stress on their breaks or lunches.
The Exterior
Buildings that receive plenty of sun have lots of space for solar panels. While installing enough panels to power a full-sized office building is an expensive proposal, solar power is an investment that will pay for itself in the long run.
For new buildings, consider using recycled or sustainable materials for the exterior. Locally-sourced materials that don’t require a lot of fuel to transport to the building site also help reduce the carbon footprint of new construction projects.
The Interior
There are many changes that can be made to the interior of an office building to make it more environmentally friendly. Most of these are the same as the suggestions given to homeowners on how to make their residential properties greener. Install LED light bulbs for all fixtures, low-flow toilets in the restrooms, and make it easy for employees to recycle to greatly reduce a building’s impact on the environment. Incorporating glass into interior spaces can also help to reduce the building’s reliance on electricity for lighting, allowing natural light to enter interior spaces.
Outside
Greening your building can start before you even walk in the front door. Make the building easily accessible to public transportation, and provide plenty of bike racks for workers to use so they don’t have to drive.
When landscaping, use native plants that don’t require a lot of additional watering. This reduces the need for irrigation and also creates a relaxing and inviting green space for employees. It is also a good idea to get educated regarding landscaping methods that can reduce water runoff. Allowing rainwater the chance to penetrate into the soil replenishes groundwater and keeps plants looking greener with less watering.
Underground
Greening doesn’t stop once you descend below street level. This is where cisterns that collect rainwater for reuse are located. These large tanks store water for use in building toilets, sinks, and other sources of water that are not used for drinking.
Geothermal pipes can also be installed underground. These provide a natural and green energy alternative to solar that makes use of the natural temperature of the earth to heat and cool buildings year-round.
Few buildings have taken advantage of all these sustainable building practices. However, instituting one or two is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to invest in the future of your building and the future of the planet.
Avanti Systems USA are the experts in manufacturing and distributing of interior glazed solutions. For more information, visit www.avantisystemsusa.com.
Company: Avanti Systems USA
Source: http://www.avantisystemsusa.com
Tags: Acoustics | Glass Walls | Interior Design
7 Things to Consider When Designing a Commercial Interior using Glass Walls
The debate still rages over whether closed or open office floor plans are better for productivity. Glass walls offer a compromise that makes the best of both worlds and provides a balance of collaboration and privacy that is ideal for many office set-ups. However, installing glass walls represents a significant investment, so before you commit to incorporating them into your workspace, check out these seven things to consider.
1. Workplace Aesthetics
Glass walls are typically associated with modern construction, but can be incorporated into older buildings to modernize an interior space and give it the feeling of openness. Glass complements other stylistic aspects of the office, allowing them to come to the forefront and works in both modern interiors as well as more traditional settings.
2. Sound and Acoustics
One of the most commonly heard complaints against open workspaces is how noisy they can be. This is especially apparent in businesses that rely heavily on phone calls. Glass walls offer a solution in that they can be outfitted with noise absorbing materials to help cut down on office noise, without blocking light or making interiors feel enclosed. It’s important to hire a contractor specialized in acoustic planning to adequately plan and address acoustic design before building or remodeling a commercial interior, to avoid issues such as echo.
3. Space Requirements
Glass walls can make small spaces look larger because they open up a floor plan. However, in a floor plan that is already open, they can restrict space and make a previously roomy office seem cramped. Make sure that you choose the right space and have adequate room for these types of walls before planning and installing them.
4. Natural Light
Perhaps the biggest benefit of glass walls is the natural light they let in. They allow sunlight to penetrate even into interior rooms. This saves money on energy bills, reducing the need for interior lighting. Exposure to natural light also has an effect on mood. It has been shown to make employees feel more alert and happier in general.
5. Privacy Concerns
One of the major concerns associated with glass walls is that they allow relatively little privacy. People passing by may catch a glimpse of private meetings or even sensitive information on a computer screen. These concerns can be mitigated by installing blinds or by having designated private areas. Companies such as Avanti Systems offer privacy smart glass that will transform from transparent to opaque almost instantly, offering instantaneous privacy when needed.
6. Communication
While glass walls do act as a partition, they are not necessarily an impediment to communication or collaboration. Often, simply being able to look through the wall and see that a colleague is available is enough to open up communication. While walls and doors often impede communication, glass walls take away these barriers and allow employees to collaborate more openly.
7. Frames vs. Frameless
Frameless glass walls are a popular option in today’s modern office, giving a clean and polished look to an interior space. Frameless walls look great, but unfortunately, they can also pose a safety hazard. Workers and visitors can easily walk into them, which can be embarrassing as well as dangerous. If you have a space that tends to echo, glass walls can also be framed with sound-dampening materials to cut down on noise.
Glass walls can offer many benefits when incorporated into a commercial space and companies like Avanti Systems USA are the experts in manufacturing and distributing of interior glazed solutions. For more information, visit www.avantisystemsusa.com.
Company: Avanti Systems USA
Source: http://www.avantisystemsusa.com
Tags: Acoustics | Glass Walls | Interior Design
A Gateway To A Translucent Space
The typical point of entry into an interior environment tends to be simple, boring, and often mediocre. The primary purpose is to allow access, paying no attention to any crucial design attributes Avanti Eclipse sliding glass doors are a collection of quality Sliding Glass Door Systems that provide a contemporary solution to applying design and seamless flexibility.
Integrated Sliding Glass System
The Eclipse Sliding Glass Door incorporates a series of functional components, creating a unique system that fuses stainless steel hardware and single pane glass. This creates a simple sliding system that may be integrated with corresponding glass wall systems such as Elite or Solare Single Glazed. We also now carry the Eclipse Plus Sliding Glass Doors that functions with our Double Glazed Wall Systems. Eclipse utilizes a series of module and glass panel mounted stainless steel hardware components.
The Eclipse Sliding Glass Door system can be fixed on glass partitions and even solid walls. This provides a high degree of flexibility, creating practical solutions which satisfy specific requirements. This system provides a unique “floating” look, as the rollers glide on a track. Each Eclipse Sliding Glass Door System comes standard with a 4 Foot Stainless Steel Handle and includes other locking and pull options.
Single Elevation – Integrated with Solare Single Glazed
Pair Elevation (Barn Doors) – Integrated with Solare Single Glazed
Assisted Close Glass Systems
Glide the Eclipse Sliding Glass Door System to the closed position and you will see a halo right before your eyes. This halo consists of a 1 1/2’’ overlap at the top, left, and right of the system. The Eclipse Sliding Glass Door is a gateway to a translucent space, and is also a gateway to promoting a sustainable environment. Eclipse is compliant with LEED sections including recycled content, daylight and views, acoustic performance, and regional material.
Company: Avanti Systems USA
Product: Eclipse Standard Doors
Source: https://www.avantisystemsusa.com/sliding-glass-doors/
Tags: Acoustics | Doors | Glass | Interior Design | LEED Certification | Office
Now from Armstrong ceilings: Tectum wall & ceiling panels
TECTUM WALL & CEILING PANELS: A PERFECT FIT OF DURABILITY, ACOUSTICS, AND UNIQUE VISUALS
From a natural factory finish or white, to integration with COLORATIONS colors (that’s 13 standard colors) or made-to-order Sherwin-Williams® colors, TECTUM panels can coordinate or complement your color palette with the sizes, shapes, and forms that make your designs happen.
Toughness and acoustics are at the heart of TECTUM interior products, ideally suited to open spaces and high traffic, high impact areas. Panels can be attached directly to walls and ceilings in forms of panels, clouds, and square or curved. TECTUM linear hanging baffles give you even more design options.
Create a signature element in a space to complement your interior design. The possibilities are endless, the look is one-of-a-kind, and the acoustic properties of TECTUM panels can help quiet the space.
KEY FEATURES
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SPECIAL APPLICATIONS
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Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Product: TECTUM Ceiling & Wall Panels
Source: https://www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-us/articles/tectum-part-of-armstrong-portfolio.html
Tags: Acoustics | Ceiling | Color | Interior Design | LEED Certification | Wall Panels
Armstrong® Ceilings Taps Broad Range of Capabilities To Bring One-of-a-Kind Ceiling Ideas to Life
With the broadest portfolio in the industry and over a century of design and installation experience, Armstrong® Ceiling Solutions now offers more ways for architects and designers to make out-of-the-ordinary ceilings a reality.
Whether its modifying standard product shapes and sizes or creating custom sizes, shapes, colors, finishes, images, or perforations, no other ceiling manufacturer offers the broad range of options available from Armstrong Ceilings.
The You Inspire™ Solutions Center, a free service which provides collaborative design and pre-construction assistance, rounds out the full range of capabilities Armstrong taps to bring one-of-a-kind ceilings to life.
“Whatever your idea for a ceiling is — no matter how unique — bring it to us”, says Nick Taraborelli, vice-president, commercial marketing, for Armstrong Ceilings. “We will do whatever we can to make it happen and help you to create your next great space.”
New Capabilities
Some of the new capabilities Armstrong recently added to its portfolio include:
- New cloud, striated, and other custom profiles for SoundScapes® Blades™ panels
- Larger 4' x 4' sizes for MetalWorks™ Torsion Spring panels
- More options in panels with Total Acoustics™ performance, including more standard Ultima sizes, FastSize™ options, and wood and metal offerings.
- Colorations® Colors now for Lyra® Concealed PB (plant-based) ceiling panels.
- Drywall linear lighting and intersection down lighting
To be inspired by the broad range of capabilities Armstrong offers, visit https://www.armstrongceilings.com/capabilities. There you can view “Unleash Your Imagination,” a colorful, 18-page brochure that illustrates the many unique ceiling designs that have been brought to life utilizing the capabilities of Armstrong Ceilings.
Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Source: https://www.armstrongceilings.com/capabilities
Tags: Acoustics | Architecture | Ceiling | Design
Tectum III & Tectum IIIP Acoustical Roof Deck
Have a sloped roof and need insulation you can nail?
Tectum III Roof Deck is the acoustical solution for you.
The Tectum III roof deck panel is a composite of a 1½" or thicker Tectum substrate, Dow Styrofoam® brand XPS (extruded polystyrene) insulation 1½" to 8" thick and 7/16" OSB (oriented strand board) sheathing with a slip-resistant surface. Tectum III panels are typically used in sloped applications where insulation and a nailable surface are required.
Tectum IIIP roof deck is made of the same components as Tectum III, but with an edge detail specifically designed for use over high-humidity applications such as swimming pools and ice arenas. The detail, when properly sealed with urethane adhesive, provides for a continuous vapor retarder from panel to panel in all directions.
All Tectum roof deck composite panels are bonded with code-listed structural adhesives.
Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Product: Tectum III & Tectum IIIP Acoustical Roof Deck
Source: http://tectum.com/roof-deck-acoustical-panels-tectum-iii-photos.html
Tags: Acoustics | Interior Design | Roof
Ruskin's acoustical louvers are AMCA licensed for water penetration and air performance
Acoustical louvers
Ruskin Sound Control offers the most complete line of acoustical louvers on the market. All products are AMCA licensed for water penetration and air performance. The product is offered in standard galvanized steel or alternative aluminum construction, and can be offered in a wide variety of finishes. The LAS louver family includes standard or airfoil blade design and depths between 4" and 12".
Primary Applications
Cooling towers, mechanical rooms, tunnel ventilation, parking garage ventilation, general ventilation
Characteristics
- Acoustical attenuation across all eight octave bands
- Good water penetration performance
- May be provided with a number of variations such as filter racks, security bars, and insect and bird screens
Key Design Features
- Architecturally appealing appearance
- AMCA licensed water penetration performance
- AMCA licensed air performance
- Acoustically transparent perforated liner
- Acoustical grade fibrous media
Company: Ruskin
Product: Louvers
Source: http://www.ruskin.com/category/336~Acoustical-Louvers
Tags: Acoustics | Design | Louvers
Tectum Panel Art
Tectum Panel Art has become wildly popular in the past year. Interested in seeing a sample? We'd be happy to send you one.
Tectum wall & ceiling panels: a perfect fit of durability, acoustics, and unique visuals
From a natural factory finish or white, to integration with Colorations colors (that’s 13 standard colors) or made-to-order Sherwin-Williams® colors, TECTUM panels can coordinate or complement your color palette with the sizes, shapes, and forms that make your designs happen.
Toughness and acoustics are at the heart of TECTUM interior products, ideally suited to open spaces and high traffic, high impact areas. Panels can be attached directly to walls and ceilings in forms of panels, clouds, and square or curved. TECTUM linear hanging baffles give you even more design options.
Create a signature element in a space to complement your interior design. The possibilities are endless, the look is one-of-a-kind, and the acoustic properties of TECTUM panels can help quiet the space.
Key features
- Durable for heavy-use interiors
- Sound absorption (NRC) values up to 1.0
- Great acoustical retrofit solution
- Color options include standard, Colorations colors, and custom Sherwin-Williams colors
- Contributes to LEED credit areas including FSC certified wood
- Attach to a variety of ceiling substrates
- Easy to install
Special applications
- Gymnasiums
- Auditoriums
- Multi-purpose Spaces
- Acoustical Retrofits
- Exposed Structures
- Education Spaces
Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Product: TECTUM Ceiling & Wall Panels
Source: https://www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-us/articles/tectum-part-of-armstrong-portfolio.html
Tags: Acoustics | Color | Interior Design | Wall Panels
Draper Launches Acoustical Shading Solution
Draper has announced EchoControl, an innovative acoustical treatment that improves the acoustics within rooms by utilizing sound-absorptive materials. Draper’s EchoControl will “officially” debut at InfoComm 2017, June 14 – 16 in Orlando.
Draper is proud to introduce a new line of acoustical shading products
Draper’s new line of acoustical shading, EchoControl, is designed to address one of the most pervasive pollutants we battle today – noise.
According to the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, a national non-profit organization with extensive online noise-related resources, (www.nonoise.org), “Noise is among the most pervasive pollutants today…Noise negatively affects human health and well-being. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction and lost productivity, and a general reduction in the quality of life and opportunities for tranquility.”
As commercial design trends continue to lean toward the contemporary – open spaces and sleek surfaces with the use of more glass and exposed ceilings – and with LEED objectives in mind, architects have been met with new acoustical challenges. Draper’s EchoControl addresses acoustical needs within the commercial and office environment. It has been shown to display increased absorption among human speech frequencies, making it even more effective at controlling sound in environments, such as office settings, in which privacy and noise reduction are key.
Why should we use sound absorbents?
- To reduce reverberation inside a room (echo)
- To reduce the overall level of sound
- Acoustic treatments are used to improve the acoustics within a room by using sound-absorptive materials, like our EchoControl, to reduce echoing caused by sound reflecting off hard surfaces (like windows).
Walls, especially those with windows, offer good surfaces to install acoustic absorbers. This fabric offers a unique combination of acoustic and lighting control and comfort! Available on both motorized and manual shades.
Echocontrol fabric features:
- Light-filtering – diffuses light, reduces glare
- Controls solar heat gain
- Reduces fading of interior furnishings
- Certified to GREENGUARD GOLD standards
- Infused with Micorban® antimicrobial product protection
- NRC*: 0.60
*The noise reduction coefficient astm c423-90a (NRC) rates the effectiveness of a material to absorb sound. The NRC scale ranges between 0 and 1 (0 being completely reflective and 1 being completely absorptive). This is calculated by averaging the frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 hz (rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.05).
Source: http://residentialtechnology.draperinc.com/acoustical-shading/
Tags: Acoustics | Interior Design | Window Shades
Designed for resiliency and acoustic performance
The University of Iowa (UI) School of Music in Iowa City celebrated its 110th anniversary with a new home – Voxman Music Building. Designed for durability, sustainability and the highest acoustic performance, the 190,000-square-foot project features energy-efficient window and curtainwall systems, finished and thermally improved by Linetec.
The $152 million project is targeting LEED® for New Construction Gold certification. Wausau Window and Wall Systems worked closely with glazing contractor Architectural Wall Systems (AWS) to achieve the design intent set by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects. Mortenson Construction served as the construction manager agent for UI.
“We conceived the project as a means of extending the public space inside the building, and we do that with glass,” says LMN partner and project designer, Stephen Van Dyck, AIA, LEED AP. “The window systems play a huge part in creating the visual transparency between the public and the performers, and the connection from within and without of this educational and cultural building.”
A Highly Anticipated New Home for the UI Music Department
Linetec Products Support Project Sustainability Goals
Linetec’s thermal improvement services and anodize finishing are key contributors to the window systems’ energy-efficiency, visual appeal and durability. The anodizing process produces a uniform, hard and protective finish. Linetec’s anodize finishes meet the requirements of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s stringent Class I specification standard, AAMA 611-14. The anodized aluminum resists the ravages of time, temperature, corrosion, humidity and warping, for a long product life cycle. Anodized aluminum may be specified with recycled content and is 100 percent recyclable.
In addition to durable finishes and recyclable materials, Linetec helped support the project’s sustainable and LEED goals for thermal comfort and energy performance by providing thermal barriers for Wausau’s window and curtainwall systems. Both Linetec and Wausau also are considered local suppliers, as they are located within a 500-mile radius of the UI campus.
Unique Window Systems Supply Natural Light and Visual Appeal
Wausau’s systems also contribute to recognized benefits of daylight and views, and are a main visual feature of the building. The glass exterior begins beneath the concert hall, wraps around and up to the main entrance and continues over the recital hall, reaching heights of 50 feet.
One of the building’s most unique features is the shingled curtainwall – called the “warped wall” – overlaying the recital hall, in which construction of glass and metal units are layered to create an undulating slope that appears to gently pour from the building’s roof to its base. On the interior, a central atrium funnels natural light into the building.
Large-scale window systems are rare in musical spaces due to the acoustic challenges they can present. By choosing a low-iron glass with a low roller wave and horizontal orientation, acoustic and visual distortion was minimized. Large panes of glass diffuse sound at different rates on the shingled wall, and tall and narrow windows minimize vibration throughout.
Prioritizing Acoustic Isolation and Performance
“The acoustic requirements for this project are of utmost relevance,” emphasizes Chucho Loria, AIA, with Neumann Monson Architects. “Wausau’s team looked at the various conditions in the project. They developed details, during the shop drawing review process, to ensure that their system would meet the design intent of the project. It was apparent in those details that Wausau was taking efforts to make their system interact with the rest of the building.”
“We prefer an integrated, whole building approach – especially with complicated engineered projects,” says Doug Laffin, Wausau’s architectural sales representative serving Iowa. “Our systems may be just one part of that whole, but everything must work together to successfully deliver the architectural vision and critical functionality.”
“Almost all of the job was acoustically sensitive,” says Lee Ebel, AWS project manager. “Wausau produced and had tested units that verified the system would meet the necessary STC ratings at the corresponding frequency.”
Sound Transmission Class (STC) is a single-number rating system for acoustical performance, where a higher number indicates better performance. The Voxman Music Building’s design specified an STC 55, which is suitable for blocking loud noises including musical instruments.
“Almost every room is acoustically isolated,” explains Van Dyck. “This means that instead of the usual one wall, one floor between each room, there are two or three walls and two floors to separate most of the rooms and keep sound from transferring between them. We’re also trying to keep the sound from passing from the outside into the building’s interior. The windows are a big part of that equation.”
Adding glazing mass, increasing air space and improving damping by the addition of a laminated interlayer achieve improvement in acoustical performance. Of course, maintaining an airtight assembly to reduce “flanking” noise is critical, especially at high frequency. All three approaches were used to meet the acoustic requirements of the Voxman Music Building.
“The goal was to have virtually no outside noise in the recital hall,” says Randy Arneson, Wausau’s senior estimator on the project. “There’s 5-inch airspace between the inside and outside glass lites of our curtainwall to decrease sound transmittance. For the majority, we used Viracon’s 1-5/16-inch OptiWhite laminated, insulating, specialty glass.”
In the concert hall, the glass was glazed into the window system’s interior-facing plane with a 3-inch airspace. On the exterior-facing plane, electrochromic SageGlass was installed. Electrochromic (EC) glass darkens or clears when a low-voltage DC current is applied. Wausau incorporated the necessary wiring paths to connect the windows’ EC glass with a user-controlled switch. This enhanced functionality allows the faculty and students to reversibly control the sunlight entering their space and to maintain their outside view without shades or blinds.
“Wausau provided these elegant, tall, thin windows with EC glass. They’re really cool. When the windows are turned ‘on’ and tinted, they produce this really nice, diffused light,” says Van Dyck.
“They’re very narrow – some are only 1 foot wide, but 40 feet tall. The smaller span actually helps with the acoustics. The stiffer it is, the less it wants to vibrate.”
Ensuring Quality, Durability and Sustainability
Beyond acoustic performance, Ebel says, “The curtainwall system went through a rigorous performance mock-up test at a certified laboratory in Miami, Florida. The testing included air, water, dynamic, structural, seismic racking and thermal cycling.”
Ebel adds, “The typical LEED requirements applied to this project.” The window systems’ high performance features contribute to quiet, comfortable spaces that promote concentration and creativity, as well as a whole building approach to energy-efficiency, daylighting and outside views.
AWS installed Wausau’s SuperWall™ curtainwall, custom-engineered fixed and operable windows, and nearly 23,000 square feet of INvision™ 1050i-UW Series unitized curtainwall. Glazing and sealing in a factory-controlled environmental ensures that conditions are maintained to achieve the intended performance required for the project. Shipped one lite wide by one floor tall, the interlocking, pre-assembled units make the system easy to install on the job site. This saves labor, time and associated costs.
The curtainwall and window systems’ installation was finished on time and on budget. “It took a lot of coordination between all parties, and modeling of the curtainwall and structure to ensure that everything would fit correctly in the field once installation started,” Ebel says.
“Aesthetically, the project looks great,” concluded Van Dyck. “But, let’s face it, for this project, it wouldn’t matter how great it looks if doesn’t sound great, too. The window systems are a critical part of that success.”
UI’s new music facility replaces its former location, which was damaged by the 2008 flood. Programming and schematic design began in 2011. In 2014, the new building’s essential structure was completed and the building envelope could begin taking shape.
The Voxman Music Building was substantially completed in July 2016 and welcomed its 450 music students and 60 full-time faculty on Aug. 22, 2016. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting event was held on Oct. 21, 2016. The 324-room space includes classrooms, teaching studios, a library, offices, recital spaces, a rooftop terrace, a 700-seat concert hall and a 200-seat recital hall.
David Gier is the first to serve as the UI School of Music’s director in the Voxman Music Building. The facility’s name honors one of his predecessors, the late clarinetist Himie Voxman who served as the school’s director from 1954-1980. Gier and the School of Music have eagerly awaited their new home.
Company: Linetec
Tags: Acoustics | Aluminum | Energy | Glass | Sustainability | Wall Panels | Windows
Make rooms quieter with a little help from EchoControl acoustical shading
Draper’s 3% openness solution provides both echo and solar control
In a recent CEPro article entitled “6 Steps to Isolate Rooms for Sound,” Home Theatre Designer Scott Bourquin discusses how to make a room quieter. Bourquin points out that “the quieter you make a room, the greater impression it gives of quality workmanship.” So making rooms quieter can have benefits beyond the technical aspects. You can read the full article here.
While in his piece Bourquin offers ways to make a room “super quiet,” it did get us thinking about how our EchoControl Acoustical Shading can contribute to an overall plan to reduce noise.
The first and most obvious way to use EchoControl is on the windows—including skylights. Acoustical shading addresses the reverberation of sound off of the glass, and also helps with sound from the outside. EchoControl has a Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.60. The Noise Reduction Coefficient (ASTM C423-90a) rates the ability of a material to absorb sound. Zero is completely reflective, and one is completely absorptive. The NRC is calculated by averaging the frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.05).
By the way, don’t forget—in addition to its sound absorption properties, Draper EchoControl brings with it the advantages inherent in light filtering window shades. It diffuses light, reduces glare, controls solar heat gain, and reduces fading of interior furnishings.
Another way EchoControl can help is in reducing echo off of the headbox or fascia behind which the motor and roller mechanism is hidden. That’s because one of our hardware finish options is to wrap the headbox/fascia with the EchoControl fabric.
Of course, there’s nothing that says a shade fabric is useful only on a window. Draper EchoControl with custom printed graphics can also be used in other areas in the space—especially in a commercial space where they can be used as signage or to add to the décor. When used in this way, the fabric panels can help provide added reverb dampening.
In Bourquin’s article, he discusses placing a felt curtain over a door. Instead of the felt curtains, why not an EchoControl roller shade. It can easily be retracted to allow easy ingress and egress through the door, then lowered to provide echo reduction assistance.
For more information on Draper’s EchoControl Acoustical Shading, click here. Or, if you have a project where you think EchoControl might be able to help, contact your Draper sales rep to discuss the details of making rooms quieter.
Of: Terry Coffey
Source: http://blog.draperinc.com/2016/11/making-rooms-quieter/
Tags: Acoustics | Interior Design | Window Shades
Acoustical Walls, Ceilings and Special Applications
Tectum ™ Acoustical Wall and Ceiling Panels Easy to work with and install, Tectum Interior Panels are commonly used in new construction, retrofits and anywhere acoustic absorption, style and toughness are needed. They absorb sound and are tough enough to stand up to daily abuse in high-traffic, heavy-use areas. Natural, painted, printed with your gr aphics or covered in fabric, they provide an attractive, durable finish in any interior application. Manufactured at the Tectum Inc. plant in Newark, Ohio, for over 65 years, Tectum Products stand the test of time.
Tectum Acoustical Panels are composed of aspen wood fibers, bonded with an exclusive inorganic hydraulic cement binder and formed in a continuous process under heat and pressure. As a result, physical characteristics usually obtained only with a combination of several separate building materials are found in Tectum Products: excellent sound absorption, abuse resistance, a decorative textured interior finish — all in a single, structurally strong yet lightweight product. All Tectum Products are Class A/Class I, with a flame spread of 0 , in accordance with ASTM E- 84 .
Hard, reflective surfaces, multiple noise sources and the need to hear and be understood are the primary reasons that good acoustics are a critical part of any good design. All Tectum Products can be factory or field painted without impacting acoustical performance.
New Products in the Tectum Interior Line
Panel Art
A variety of pre-fabricated shapes encourage custom artistic expression. Create a unique statement wall that absorbs noise and is tough enough for schools.
Line Design
Combine all of the acoustic performance and toughness you expect from Tectum Products with the added interest of textural design options created by straight line v-cut grooves.
Tectum Acoustical Roof Deck
For an economical, environmentally responsible structural acoustical roof deck, Tectum Inc. offers a full line of Roof Deck options. To explore the design options for the building envelope, see our Roof Deck Catalog online.
Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Source: http://www.tectum.com
Tags: Acoustics | Ceiling | Wall Panels
Interior Acoustical Finalé Wall Panels
Tectum Finalé Interior Panels add extra noise absorption and contribute positively to the LEED certification program. With abuse resistance and the highest possible sound absorption, Tectum Finalé is the ideal design solution.
Tectum Finalé panels are a high NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) solution for spaces that require acoustic dampening. A composite of Tectum Panels, Tectum spacer strips and MinWool-1200®, Finalé panels have an NRC of .85 to 1.00 and a Class A interior finish.
Whenever a space calls for the highest possible sound absorption, and anywhere activities demand abuse-resistant panels, Tectum Finalé panels are an unmatchable design solution.
MinWool-1200®
MinWool is high-density, noncombustible insulation made of organic Basalt (Volcanic Rock) fibers. MinWool absorbs noise while resisting moisture, mold, mildew and fungi growth.
MinWool-1200® is a registered trademark of Johns Manville.
Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Source: http://www.tectum.com/iw-acoustical-panels-finale-photos.html
Tags: Acoustics | Interior Design | Wall Panels
Architects Inspiration Handbook for Glass applications in commercial interiors
AvantiSystemsUSA supplies and installs a family of architectural glass wall and glass door systems. Inspired by European interior design, Avanti glass systems profile a slim line appearance with frame-less panels and sleek metallic hardware.
Download the Avanti Systems Inspiration eBook for more design ideas.
Company: Avanti Systems USA
Source: http://files.avantisystemsusa.com/architects_inspiration_handbook_avanti.pdf
Tags: Acoustics | Interior Design | Railing System | Wall Panels | Window Shades
Isabel Bader Center
Recently, AMBICO has designed and supplied nearly 100 acoustic (both wood and steel) doors and frames for the new Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, Canada. AMBICO has been involved from the very beginning (the early design stages of the project) right through to the installation.
Due to the nature of the building (a performance hall), the architects had to rely on AMBICO’s acoustic material to block the sound from room to room. AMBICO produced STC 40 (steel and wood) doors and STC 51 (steel) doors for the project, plus some unequal pairs of STC 59 (steel). There won’t be any sound travel in this building!
Although still undergoing construction, the Centre promises to be impressive. A $63 million project; $22 million was generously donated by Drs. Alfred and Isabel Bader. The Centre is named in honor of Isabel Bader, for her love of music and theater.
Concealed behind this incredible building and its benefactors is a truly romantic love story: Isabel met Alfred aboard a ship, the two courted and more than 400 love letters were exchanged. After their relationship ended prematurely, Alfred went on to marry someone else and have a family. Years later, when Alfred was divorced, he and Isabel rekindled their romance and the two got married and remain happily married today.
Company: Ambico
Of: Alison Capuano
Source: https://www.ambico.com/isabel-bader-center/
Tags: Acoustics | Doors | Windows
The Noise Control Solution - When Acoustics, Style & Toughness Are Required
Acoustics are a key element of good building design and have been proven to affect an occupant’s perception of the quality of a space. No matter what kind of space, good acoustics make the sounds cleaner, clearer and more easily understood.
Style is a critical element for most spaces, and today Tectum Products provide a tremendous range of options. From the full spectrum of color in the Sherwin Williams pallet to custom-printed images of your design to fabric-wrapped panels, Tectum Products are surprising architects and designers with new possibilities for realizing a design vision.
Toughness is at the heart of all Tectum Products. Starting in 1949 Tectum Products have proven their durability and abuse-resistance in high-traffic, high-impact areas.
After more than half a century in widespread use, Tectum Acoustical Products have won the trust of commercial, industrial and institutional designers.
Company: Armstrong Building Solutions
Source: http://www.tectum.com/
Tags: Acoustics | Interior Design | Wall Panels