Metal and mineral Armstrong ceilings for Uni library

Armstrong‘s metal and mineral ceiling and wall systems were specified for a new library development at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The new library and student services centre, rated BREEAM ‘Excellent’, is situated in a new landscaped events square at the heart of the university’s campus in Egham, Surrey.

The state-of-the-art building, measuring 10,500 square metres, features approximately 1,000 square metres of Armstrong’s custom ceiling planks, tiles and wall panels, as well as Armstrong’s Cradle to Cradle® certified Perla OP mineral tiles.

All these products were specified by Associated Architects for the £57 million building, named after suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, one of the University’s most well known alumni.

Project architect Joe Belcher said: “We were looking for a product that, in conjunction with the perforated timber veneer panelling, would help provide absorption to soften the acoustic of the atrium.

“As well as providing a neat and crisp aesthetic, we chose a self-finished material to avoid an unnecessary maintenance burden, especially relevant for tall spaces where maintenance access requires special equipment.

“We were especially pleased with the way the Armstrong product has been coordinated to align with other features such as the large feature rooflights.

“The 300mm plank module and edge trims enabled us to ensure the crisp junctions envisaged were achieved. For all these reasons, and the fact that Armstrong is a known and trusted name for our clients, it made sense to specify Armstrong.”

Pivotal to the building’s aesthetic was a considerate and consistent approach to the internal character. Associated Architects created a mature and elegant interior layout, in keeping with the university’s campus.

This included visual concrete columns and soffits, extensive timber finishes and feature lighting.

Substantial areas of exposed visual quality light grey concrete to soffits, columns and stair core walls make up part of the passive thermal strategy for the building, meaning generous floor-to-ceiling heights which give a sense of stability.

Joe Belcher concluded: “As a practice we regularly specify Armstrong products. As well as the more common modular suspended ceiling format which regularly appears in education, higher education and commercial office projects, we have used Armstrong products in previous laboratory and library projects.”

Contact:

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

email: [email protected]  

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