Calthorpe Park is a popular secondary school in Fleet. To accommodate increasing numbers, Hampshire Local Authority commissioned an ambitious building programme to expand the school’s capacity to 1450 pupils. This contemporary development includes a new 14 classroom block, library, reception area, technology and art rooms, dining area and a multi-use hall. Knauf AMF ceiling and wall solutions were chosen to provide outstanding acoustic control and enable the school to reduce its energy consumption.
The new buildings are designed to conserve energy and emit less CO2. Concrete soffits are fitted within the school to reduce the cooling and heating demands, making these spaces more energy efficient. Thermatex Alpha vertical baffles are fixed to the concrete surface to allow air to circulate freely and at the same time provide acoustic control.
Steve Jenner, Director at MTEC Walling installed the Knauf AMF baffles and ceilings and was very impressed. “All the products are quick to install, especially the hanging baffles which were fitted using adjustable wire fittings supplied by Knauf AMF. Should the ceiling surface be uneven, these fittings make it easy to adjust the rows of baffles to the same height and level. We would recommend Knauf AMF for future projects.”
Thermatex Alpha baffles are ideal for enhancing acoustics in thermal mass areas or where frequent and unhindered access to services is required.
The interior architecture comprises a number of hard materials, including glass and concrete, which can create poor acoustics. To counter this, Thermatex Alpha baffles were installed to provide the necessary sound absorption, helping reduce the level of reverberation and improving speech intelligibility. The baffles are a versatile solution for controlling sound. By varying the distance between the rows of baffles, or changing the size of each baffle, the correct acoustic performance can be achieved.
Thermatex Alpha baffles have a smooth, white, elegant appearance. They’re lightweight and offer Class A sound absorption. Suspended by discreet cable hangers, the individual panels appear as if they’re floating in air.
Acoustic Thermatex Alpha wall panels were installed to provide additional sound absorption: “The internal brick walls do not extend to the ceiling and we’ve used insulation to fill the gaps. To ensure the rooms are free from external intrusive noise, we’ve chosen Thermatex Alpha wall panels to act as sound barriers.”
Thermatex Alpha wall panels offer the highest class of sound absorption, Class A. Combined with the ceiling baffles, the wall panels provide excellent room to room sound insulation. This results in a quieter learning environment where teachers and pupils can hear one another clearly, enhancing work efficiency and wellbeing.
Knauf AMF has a strong track record when it comes to improving the sound quality in educational buildings. For expert help and advice on your project, contact an area manager at [email protected] or visit www.knaufamf.co.uk
