Rockfon at the heart of First Center Parcs resort in Ireland

We are very excited and proud to have been specified in spaces throughout the first Center Parcs UK resort to open in Ireland.

The €233m, 21,200m² County Longford holiday village features 470 lodges, 30 apartments, a ‘Subtropical Swimming Paradise’, sports hall, bowling, restaurants, bars, shops and a wellness spa – all overlooking a 3.5 hectare lake set in the heart of the forest. Designed to fit within the woodland, creating sheltered landscaped spaces for guests, the aim is to create a mixture of innovative, warm environments which engage guests through the use of crisp, contemporary design.

International practice Holder Mathias architects designed the resort. Roadbridge civil engineering firm broke ground on the infrastructure contract in 2017. They were joined in early 2018 by international Ireland headquartered construction company John Sisk and Son who were responsible for the construction.

Superior acoustic performance

Holder Mathias Associate Director David Gallimore commented, “Rockfon was specified for use in several spaces throughout the resort as they have the breadth of ceiling systems required to meet the particular needs of each, which included food preparation areas, wet rooms, retail, offices and the bowling hall. Good sound absorbency, moisture resistance and appearance were all important factors in agreeing the specification.”

Up to 4000m² of Rockfon ceiling tiles from four ranges plus grid, trim and accessories were installed by leading Galway-based interior specialists Castle Group at the resort which were supplied by Tennants Building Products, Dublin.

Castle Group Contracts Manager Kevin Whiriskey explains, “We have worked with Rockfon on several occasions and have always found their products easy to install and of high quality. The Rockfon team are always on-hand to offer advice, ensure things run smoothly and schedules are adhered to”.

A total production solution In areas experiencing high humidity, such as changing rooms and food preparation areas, Rockfon^® Hygienic^TM more than fits the bill. Its specially treated non-hydroscopic surface can withstand pressure washing whilst coping with up to 100% humidity.

Rockfon Color-all^® was the perfect fit for the resort’s bowling hall. These high quality tiles are available in an exclusive standard range of 34 colours with almost any other colour available on request. The Charcoal colour installed above the bowling alleys offers low light reflectance with excellent sound control and fire resistance, and up to 100% RH.

Installed in the Forest Diner, Pancake House, Aqua Sauna and retail spaces, as well as the kitchens, changing rooms and toilets, Rockfon^® Koral^TM, with its white, wipeable surface, supplied the Class A sound absorption and Class A1 fire safety needed to help create clean and productive spaces.

Elsewhere within the main building Rockfon Blanka^® has been used to great effect. Its smooth, deep matt, super white, anti-static non-directional surface saves on installation time, withstands site dust, every day dirt and general wear and tear. The high reflectance Rockfon Blanka demonstrates also optimises the spread of natural ambient light, diminishing the need for artificial light, saving energy, whilst creating a healthier interior.

Kevin Clancy, Sales Manager for Rockfon Ireland saw the project as a great shop window for the versatility of the company’s product offering, “It was very gratifying to be part of this ground-breaking project. One reason for being specified here was the attraction of being able to supply the right tile and grid system for each requirement, within budget and on-time.”