Once an asphalt-heavy industrial area, the Sluppen district in Trondheim, Norway, has undergone transformation into a future-oriented hub and is set to become Trondheim's "new district". Efforts by the real estate developer Kjeldsberg and construction group Veidekke have rejuvenated the neighbourhood with housing, dining, and a range of facilities. Amongst the new office buildings are the glass-roofed Lysgården – characterised by 6000 acoustic baffles – as well as ALO, a seven-floor building housing tenants such as Siemens.
Like Lysgården, the 15 000-square-metre ALO office building was designed by the local architecture firm HUS Arkitekter. Alongside a range of open office areas, on-site amenities include two restaurants, indoor bicycle parking, a gym, and more. It is the first office building to be double-certified with the two green building certifications WELL Platinum and BREEAM "Outstanding". Across the building, Rockfon baffles and black ceiling tiles allow for optimal noise control while contributing points across various categories within both certification scores.
Acoustic Baffles Across the Office Building Design
Two types of baffle solutions were installed across the entrance lobby and atrium and the working areas to optimise the office acoustics: Rockfon Universal Baffle and Rockfon Contour. Both acoustic solutions provide frequent and unhindered access to services and allow for multiple suspension design possibilities. "We wanted to use acoustic baffles because of our positive experiences with using them from previous projects in the same district", says Kjell Bertelsen, Civil Architect and Partner at HUS Arkitekter.
According to the architects, Rockfon Universal Baffle and Rockfon Contour solve the acoustic conditions in the building while exposing the cast concrete covers that "give a materiality" to the building and the ceiling. "An advantage of having used exposed concrete surfaces in the building is greater thermal mass, which provides a more stable internal temperature, rendering the building less vulnerable to fluctuations".
"The baffles also give an airiness and give a greater perceived ceiling height inside compared to a suspended system ceiling", adds Kjell Bertelsen. "With all the technical services and lighting installed in an orderly manner, it gives the interior character and quality. The technical advisers have also pointed out that the visibility and accessibility give them greater technical flexibility for adjustments and future conversions. The baffles are suspended under the trusses in the glass roof in a defined direction, ensuring that direct sunlight does not escape through the glass roof but is instead better diffused and filtered down to the offices below".
Black Ceiling Tiles Throughout the Office Building
Various other areas across the office building are made comfortable and distinctive with black suspended ceilings using Rockfon Color-all acoustic ceiling tiles in Charcoal, one of the 34 colours available for the product range.
In the canteen, suspended lantern lights contrast against the sleek black of the ceiling to create a statement fifth wall. Concrete columns emerge from the ceiling, further adding dynamism and creating a rich material palette. The black tiles also improve meeting room acoustics, maximising speech intelligibility and confidentiality for employees.
Contrasting against painted walls and concrete, the tiles also optimise the acoustics of circulation areas, eliminating the disruptions caused by people walking and talking and minimising their leakage into working areas. All in all, the building design of the ALO offices in Trondheim ensures that the acoustic strategy is holistic on both aesthetic and aural levels.
