Rockfon ceiling islands completes cutting-edge Dyson Institute

A 517-acre site in Wiltshire, the location of Dyson’s multimillion-pound research and development centre, is now also the home of Sir James Dyson’s Institute of Engineering and Technology. Optimal spaces for work and study as well as rest and relaxation were critical factors at the new communal Roundhouse building, which is why we at Rockfon are delighted that our acoustic ceiling systems were specified for the project.

The Dyson Institute has been established with the ambition of being the best higher education engineering institution in the world. Attracting high calibre students is imperative so, in addition to offering education excellence, world-class campus facilities are vital.

Student life

All first-year undergraduate engineers live in the Dyson Student Village. The campus masterplan radiates around the Roundhouse, a two-storey communal clubhouse where 220 panels of bespoke Rockfon Eclipse® ceiling islands are installed, containing a library, café, bar and screening room. This provides the undergraduate engineers – along with other Dyson employees – plenty of space for quality work and leisure time.

Acoustic requirements

As its name suggests, the Roundhouse is circular in shape, which presents challenges for traditional ceiling installation. We pride ourselves on our bespoke design capabilities and were delighted to be asked to collaborate on the specification of the acoustic ceiling systems. Rockfon Eclipse ceiling islands are perfect for spaces where a traditional suspended ceiling is not technically suitable, or in this case didn’t meet the aesthetic vision of the architects.

Wilkinson Eyre, one of the world's leading architectural practices, designed and oversaw the project. Commenting on the use of Rockfon in the project, Architectural Assistant Hannah Richmond said, “We chose Rockfon because we were looking to construct a floating, acoustic ceiling and found the Eclipse system to be the best product to realise this intent”.

Rockfon Eclipse is very versatile and can be hung from several kinds of structures including wood, steel and concrete soffits where traditional suspended ceilings cannot usually be installed. The islands are quick and easy to install and absorb sound on both sides, helping to reduce reverberation time and improve ambient sound levels. They are available in a wide range of shape formats and an unlimited custom colour range using NCS.

Bespoke installation

The Rockfon materials were expertly supplied by SIG Distribution Bristol, with leading drylining and plastering contractors D Interiors Ltd carrying out the site works. Our team worked closely with trusted Rockfon Active Installers D Interiors, main contractor Beard Construction and WilkinsonEyre to devise the best ceiling solution. Each trapezoid island contours exactly to the circumference of the building, resulting in unique visual impact whilst delivering outstanding acoustic performance.

D Interiors Company Director Dean Newman commented, “Each of the Rockfon Eclipse islands installed was bespoke, designed to meet the architect’s design brief to create a floating circular ceiling throughout the open spaces of the Roundhouse interior. This has been an interesting project to work on. Templates for each panel were set out on the floor space to ensure accuracy then, using laser technology, the panels were precisely installed with no room for error, given the critical positioning of the mechanical and electrical (M&E) services.”

Rockfon is part of the ROCKWOOL Group and provides customers with a complete acoustic ceiling system offer, combining stone wool ceiling panels with suspension grid systems and accessories. Our ceiling systems are a fast and simple way to create beautiful, comfortable spaces. Easy to install and durable, they protect people from noise and the spread of fire while making a constructive contribution toward a sustainable future.

If you’re working on a large-scale project and would like information on how to achieve a ceiling that can meet and exceed required criteria, contact us by email info@rockfon.co.uk or visit www.rockfon.co.uk