The Challenge:
When designing its new offices in West Palm Beach, Spina O’Rourke + Partners knew that controlling sound would play a critical role in how well the exposed structure space would function.
“The aesthetic for the open offices was for the structure to be exposed in some areas and to have clean, smooth drywall ceiling in others, but we were worried about the acoustics,” says Interior Design Principal and Director Tammy O’Rourke.
Acoustics had been a problem in the architecture and design firm’s previous offices which had a similar aesthetic. “This is a highly-active space,” says O’Rourke. “We entertain a lot of people, including a lot of high-end clients. We knew that the same scenario of exposed structure and drywall ceiling would not provide us with the functionality we needed.”
The Solution:
Unwilling to compromise the aesthetics, O’Rourke reached out to her Armstrong representative who told her about ACOUSTIBUILT seamless acoustical ceilings, a new ceiling system that provides the monolithic look of drywall in a high-performing acoustical ceiling.
The new ceiling is part of the Armstrong TOTAL ACOUSTICS portfolio, offering an ideal combination of sound absorption and sound blocking. ACOUSTIBUILT ceilings are also part of the Sustain portfolio, meeting the most stringent industry sustainability standards.
With the ACOUSTIBUILT ceiling system, O’Rourke was able to achieve both the aesthetics and acoustics she desired for the new space. “It’s a perfect fit,” says O’Rourke. “We are able to control the sound in this highly-active area and still have the refinement of a drywall ceiling.”
About 2,000 square feet of ACOUSTIBUILT ceilings are installed throughout the 9,300 square-foot interior, enhancing its beauty and making a noticeable difference in the acoustics of the exposed structure space.
The ACOUSTIBUILT ceiling cloud installed above the Business Lounge brings down the noise in this busy space. “That’s a perfect example of how we used this product to create a space that would be more conducive to having a large group of people at one time -- either having lunch, a conversation, or giving a presentation -- and not have an issue of an echo,” says O’Rourke.
In the Living Room, the large executive office space O’Rourke shares with her business partner and CEO Keith Spina, the ACOUSTIBUILT ceiling makes it possible for the two busy executives to work in the same space without disturbing each other. “We would not have been able to do that with a drywall ceiling,” she explains.
Even though the space is open on one side, the ACOUSTIBUILT ceiling helps ensure speech privacy by preventing sound from entering the adjacent space occupied by the design team. “We’re right next to the open studio,” says O’Rourke, “yet we can have conversations that stay contained in our office area.
“The crisp, finished look is exactly what we wanted,” she adds, “and definitely rivals conventional drywall with its acoustic control and true drywall appearance.