Named after the street where it is primarily located in Brighton, England, Edward Street Quarter is a new mixed-use project developed through a partnership with McLaren Construction, First Base, and Patron Capital. Designed by Buckley Gray Yeoman Architects, the 140 MGBP development will offer 112 000 ft² of Grade A office space alongside 34 000 ft² of leisure and retail, featuring independent coffee shops and restaurants.
Comprising six buildings ranging from six to nine storeys in height, the project will also include 168 new homes with a mix of tenures, along with a diverse range of offices, co-working spaces, and maker workshops. It aims to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ green building certification.
“The development is located in the eastern part of the city, on the site of the now-demolished American Express House. A new pedestrianised street serves as the main axis through the new quarter, connecting to external landscaped green spaces”, explained Buckley Gray Yeoman Architects. “A public square provides the stage for creative and leisure activities, with adjacent cafes, retail spaces, and market stalls arranged to cross-pollinate and support one another”.
Excellent Acoustics for the Edward Street Quarter Development
Research shows that improved sound control can increase focus and reduce stress levels, so it’s no surprise that an office acoustics strategy was necessary for Edward Street Quarter.
Rockfon was approached to put forward an alternative to the original specification for a lay-in metal suspended ceiling which was considered too expensive as the project progressed. There were two additional major constraints. Firstly, the product needed to be physically delivered to the site in just six weeks. Secondly, they needed a solution that would fit around the lighting that had already been ordered.
Rockfon Specification Manager Steven Watters advised that the specification be switched to a series of around 2500 bespoke-sized Rockfon Eclipse islands which would:
- Provide estimated savings of around 50 percent in supply and install costs
- Introduce visual interest and provided Class A sound absorption
- Offer a relatively low carbon footprint of 6.13kg/m2 A1-A3
- Is Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Silver
- Fit the space, which also meant zero waste in the ceiling package
Installing Rockfon Eclipse Across Edward Street Quarter
The Rockfon Eclipse acoustic islands were installed throughout three blocks, which were fitted out to Category A prior to being personalised to each tenant’s needs and tastes. “Rockfon attended the pre-commencement site meeting to run through the guidelines of installation and were always on hand to liaise with our project and contract managers throughout the process”, said Billy Medlock, director at East Sussex-based Medlock Dry Construction, who installed the islands.
Rockfon Eclipse acoustic islands can be specified in an almost unlimited range of formats and can also be custom colour matched. Quick and easy to install, hung directly from the ceiling soffit or from a grid, they’re often used to subtly camouflage the services above or where installation of a traditional suspended ceiling is not appropriate. They are especially suitable for thermal mass installations as both surfaces provide excellent heat and light reflection. The high light reflectance characteristics of those used for the project optimise natural light which aids well-being while saving on energy costs.
“It’s gratifying to be playing our part in creating healthy, beautiful interiors at Edward Street Quarter. It’s a great example of the commercial, technical, and management teams working together and signifies a resounding show of belief and trust in our product offering and customer service”, concludes Watters.
