Client: The Stour Centre
Type of works: Rockfon Sonar tiles and RockLink grids installed throughout refurbished building.
The Stour Centre, in Ashford, which first opened its doors in 1975, has recently completed a major two-year refurbishment programme utilising over 1600m2 of Rockfon’s Sonar E (tegular) ceiling system. The remodelled facility offers the community a complete package of up-to-date services with particular emphasis on an entirely new water area and the Contours Health Club.
The centre has a wide range of facilities including a 25m main pool, circular teaching pool, leisure pool with flumes and raging river, a spa with steam room, sauna and hydro-massage pool. Rockfon ceilings were specified throughout because they are aesthetically pleasing, create a good acoustic environment, offer high fire safety as well as being totally moisture resistant and non-hygroscopic. Importantly, Rockfon is one of the main ceiling systems suppliers to provide enhanced corrosion resistant RockLink grids which ensure enhanced longevity in the harsh chemically laden environment of swimming and leisure pools.
Trevor Culmer, Integrated Interior Systems said; “There were a number of design and performance issues in the early stages of this contract which were all met using Rockfon Sonar tiles and RockLink grids. The lighting centres were not modular with the ceiling layout, this required the ceiling tiles and grid to be cut down to suit using specialist tools supplied by Rockfon. Purpose-made trims were also required at junctions between the ceilings and the curved perimeter bulkheads. This contract was successfully completed with the continual assistance of Rockfon”.
Sonar tiles are produced using a patented technology, ensuring razor-sharp looking edges that are not only elegant but strong and flexible for superior durability. The top lacquer used on the surface provides enhanced cleaning properties and resistance to scratches and marks. Its sound absorption properties also help to reduce noise build-up, ensuring good speech intelligibility, which is particular important in swimming pools and gyms. In addition, Rockfon ceilings are 100% dimensionally stable even when exposed to extremes of moisture, heat and cold and can withstand up to 100% relative humidity at 40ºC.