Over 200m2 of the StoSilent Direct acoustic system from Sto has been installed in the offices of a major architectural practice in London.
It was specified for a number of reasons, including its outstanding acoustic performance, ease of installation and attractive aesthetic appearance.
The Hesselbrand architectural practice is located in a refurbished warehouse building which it shares with a visual art installations gallery, and this prompted the need for reliable and effective acoustic design.
“The building features brick walls, polished concrete floors and large picture windows,” explains Hesselbrand’s Patrick Morris. “During the refurbishment project we wanted to create a modern, clean, minimalist, open-plan working area, and the products in their natural form complimented my thoughts for the final aesthetic.
"However, they have little or no acoustic value with regards to attenuation, reverberation and other considerations like foot traffic and speech clarity, so achieving the overall acoustic design and balance within our building was a major consideration.”
Having examined a number of different options and manufacturers, the Hesselbrand practice specified the StoSilent Direct system for use on its own premises, after discussions on a number of solutions and budget costs with Mike Wallace, Sto’s Technical Consultant for Acoustics. This system offers a particularly effective option for this type of project as it can be applied directly onto walls and ceilings.
“This was an especially important feature as it allowed the StoSilent Direct system to be applied without the need to drill the existing ceiling or install a mounting framework which would reduce the internal dimensions of the space,” adds Patrick.
The system features a porous texture and sandwich structure which provides excellent sound absorption characteristics, and it is finished in StoSilent Décor M. This classic fine-stipple finish is spray-applied and can be tinted to match a wide range of colours, a benefit to both the installer and main contractor as there is no mixing or tinting on site.
“Aesthetic considerations were also extremely important,” adds Patrick. “The original ceiling was in less than perfect condition and was visually unattractive, so being able to apply the StoSilent Direct system directly onto it allowed us to cover the original and create a fresh new appearance.
“The results were a huge success. The acoustic balance we achieved within the overall environment is very noticeable, making the space more comfortable to be in. Speech clarity is also improved, so communication between ourselves and clients is complemented, particularly with face-to-face and telephone discussions. Overall a much more relaxed atmosphere has been achieved.”
The StoSilent Direct system, which in this instance was installed by Sprayskim Ltd, uses composite mineral fibre boards with a pre-applied, textured surface. These are bonded directly to the substrate, and their pre-chamfered joints can be left as is or filled, prior to applying one of the StoSilent textured finishes. Seamless surfaces up to 700 m² can be created without the need for a break in the system, as well as raked ceilings down to a radius of 6m.