Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/755184
DECEMBER 2016 | 25 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY VIBRA-SONIC CONTROL Walls & Ceilings and designers to have an "auralization experience" to hear how ceiling design, materi- als and product specifications can affect the acoustics of a space. But when it comes to creating an acoustically appealing space, it really has less to do with the walls themselves, and more to do with the environment, adds Park. "It might be where the wall meets the window mullion, the construction crew put a piece of foam in, and sound travels through the foam not through the wall," Park says. "Walls have issues because of other people's mistakes." It's a shame because beautiful modular systems from companies like DIRTT, Technicon Acoustics and Steelcase can get a bad rap for being acoustically unsound, but sound masking expert Park says it's really just the situations they're put in. "Even walls made of glass – like ones with two panels of differing thickness – can be acous- tically strong and great for privacy, if they're installed correctly," says Park. "It just has to be prepared properly around the edges where it joins the rest of the walls." The right ceiling material is critical to your environment's acoustic performance, too. "Absorptive ceiling treatments like pressed fibreglass are key to ensure your area isn't reverberative," says Park. And new products make it easy to retrofit soundproofing. For example, fibreglass circles ("Little clouds," as Park calls them) are easily installed after a project has been completed. As people become more knowledgeable about acoustics and architecture, they're searching for solutions that reflect their personal style. And thanks to an increasing selection of felt and rigid poly-core acoustic absorbers available on the market, it's easy for sound treatments to be a fashion statement. "They come in standard sizes and custom shapes, in a wide range of colours," explains Lyle Fuller, general man- ager at Wallworks Acoustic Architectural Products. Despite this, Fuller is seeing consumers play it fairly safe with their choice of hues: "As always, the majority of selections seem to be black, white, blue, green and brown." Another unique option that has been available in Europe and made a strong move into North America is the curved ceiling. Installing one in the past might have been time consuming or costly due to the custom fabrication process, but curved ceil- ings are far more adaptable in today's marketplace. One example is CertainTeed's Gyptone Big Curve (perforated acoustical gypsum panels with formaldehyde-scav- enging technology), which "seamlessly integrates with the company's other revolu- tionary Gyptone products to create dynamic, sweeping interior surfaces without any breaks or grid," says Marshall. L O O K U P The demand for modern, natural looks in interior design extends to the ceiling, of course, so a clean-lined look proves to be popular among designers. CGC's Logix Integrated Ceiling system is flexible and environmentally friendly, and provides a striking visual design. Also helpful for the smooth, modern look is the strategic relocation of duct work and mechanicals. "They're increasingly located in the attics of homes to avoid bulkheads for ductwork," says Andrew Cole, executive director for the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association (CUFCA). "It's not uncommon for custom homes to have HVAC systems in the basement and in the attics." But for those looking for options beyond slab ceilings, baffles and canopy sys- tems are popular alternatives, responding on both an esthetic and acoustic level. "These sort of designs allow architects and designers to create a custom look, pro- vide acoustical absorption, accentuate an area and at the same time make a unique design statement," says CGC Inc.'s Dutil. Another unique option that's now available in North America is the curved ceiling. While installing one in the past might have been time consuming or costly, because of the custom fabrication they would require, options common- place in Europe are now moving into our market. One example is CertainTeed's Environmentally-friendly modular wall systems from Vibra-Sonic Control.