New Heradesign Creative is designed to inspire

Knauf AMF’s new range of Heradesign Creative acoustic wall absorbers are installed in the Lister Learning and Teaching Centre at the University of Edinburgh to help create a stylish environment that reflects the vibrant and dynamic nature of the city and its educational institution.

The £10 million project comprises two redeveloped buildings linked together by a new five-storey steel frame and aluminium curtain wall structure to produce a modern, fully accessible facility. Heradesign ceiling rafts are fitted throughout to enhance the centre’s industrial aesthetic.

Heradesign Creative is an innovative range of decorative and functional acoustic wall absorbers available in eight shapes that can be combined to produce truly unique designs.

Architects Reiach and Hall Director Angus Wilson specified these innovative wall absorbers in triangular shapes for the centre’s reception and breakout spaces.

“The triangular pattern was initially developed to reflect a 1970’s motif that is repeated through various signage and graphics around the building. We chose a neutral colour, RAL9010, for the wall absorbers to enable signage elements to be mounted on to their surface. We also wanted to introduce a textured finish, in keeping with the original building, that is tough enough to withstand these heavily trafficked areas.”

Manufactured from sustainable wood-wool from PEFC and FSC certified sources, Heradesign Creative has a distinctive, woven surface that lends warmth and visual appeal to interiors. Available in any colour, these innovative wall absorbers offer architects and interior designers the opportunity for unrivalled creative expression. Heradesign Creative provides the very best in class for impact resistance (A1), fire safety (A2), and outstanding Class A sound absorption, making it ideal for education buildings, offices, retail outlets, hotels, restaurants and other public spaces.

The outstanding sound absorbency of the wall absorbers is put to good use in the main entrance as Angus Wilson explains, “Heradesign Creative provides sound attenuation in a busy area of the building that is likely to have large numbers of lively students passing through. It is concentrated on the walls immediately adjacent to and opposite the reception for maximum sound control.”

Kevin Cogan and John Forrest at KCC Contracts Ltd fitted the Heradesign Creative wall absorbers and ceiling rafts and was impressed by the service offered by Knauf AMF. “Knauf AMF offered helpful advice on which fixing and suspension methods were required to meet the brief. The Specification Manager ensured all materials were delivered on time, so we could meet the tight timeframe.”

A group of street graffiti artists have created a mural in the open-plan break-out area designed to appeal to students. Heradesign ceiling rafts are installed here to help reduce reverberation and prevent noise from disturbing neighbouring areas.

Heradesign ceiling rafts improve speech intelligibility in the centre’s teaching studios, 10 seminar rooms, a lecture theatre, breakout areas and 15 tutorial rooms, creating effective learning environments. Angus Wilson gives positive feedback, “The teaching spaces have proved to be extremely popular with both staff and students. Much of this is down to the effective level of sound absorption achieved by the Heradesign ceiling rafts fitted within the structural beam lines and coordinated within the existing structure, which seem to be doing the trick nicely.”

Heradesign offers flexibility as it can be fitted in a number of ways: directly to the original ceiling; as a suspended ceiling with exposed or concealed grid options; or hung as either rafts or baffles.