Armstrong ceiling systems specified for ground-breaking medical facility

A variety of ceiling systems by Armstrong Ceilings have been specified by architects NORR for the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington.

The £38 million facility, developed as part of the Strategy for UK Life Sciences programme, is designed for for conducting research on biologic products by promoting collaboration between academia, the NHS and industry.

The 5,000m2 medical research centre features laboratory and pilot plant areas, dedicated spaces for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) process, analytical and technological development, clean rooms for research, in addition to offices and spaces for meetings, training and conferencing.

A series of ceiling systems developed by Armstrong were installed in white, to ensure maximum light reflectance. This included Armstrong’s metal systems, which comprised:

• Tegular 2 micro perforated tiles with acoustic fleece in the labs
• B-H 300 micro perforated planks (measured 1800mm x 300mm) with acoustic fleece between plasterboard margins in corridors
• V-P 500 perforated metal baffles (1534mm x 150mm x 30mm) at 125mm centres in break-out areas and the double-height reception area.
• D-H 700 floating raft ceiling, comprising 2140mm x 500mm x 30mm microperforated panels with acoustic fleece hung from a U-profile grid system, also used in the reception area.

The medical centre also utilised a variety of mineral ceiling systems, including:

• Hydroboard 600mm x 600mm tiles with corrosion-resistant grid and perimeter trim in the changing rooms
  Optima Vector tiles (600mm x 600mm) on a 24mm grid with shadow perimeter trim in meeting rooms
• Ultima+ Vector tiles (600mm x 600mm) on a 24mm grid in offices, corridors and stairwells (Cradle to Cradle certified).

The products were specified by NORR, who commented that Armstrong systems were chosen for their aesthetics and ‘excellent’ pre-specifications service.

A spokesperson from the company elaborated: “The client is very happy with the Armstrong systems. Quite often ceilings are missed out but the Armstrong systems enhance the space while providing access, ventilation and acoustic performance. The details were very straightforward to create.

“They play multiple parts in the project, from adding interest to a 7m high ceiling, providing easy access and maintenance, acoustics and reducing air intake as the baffles are used to assist the M&E strategy.”

The ceiling systems were installed in the steel-framed building for contractor Interserve, over a three month period by a team of 16 specialists at Interceil.

Managing director Steve Jones said: “The biologics centre development was an extremely exciting project to be involved in. The Armstrong products afforded the installation of high-quality specifications providing excellent performance and stunning visual enhancement to the suspended ceilings.”

Contact:

Armstrong World Industries Limited
Harman House,
2nd Floor,
1 George Street,
Uxbridge UB8 1QQ
0800 371849

email: Sales-support@armstrong.com  

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