Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 35

PROJECT

interiors

mately, we designed a series of curves, and the slatted wood ceiling was
able to execute the design intent."
The curves were created by installing 12- x 109-in. wood-grille panels in a custom-curved suspension system. Each curve in the
11,000-sq.-ft. ceiling consists of five rows of panels made up of 11
panels each, for a total of 1,210 panels. Backed with 2 in. of black
acoustical felt, the wood panels also help control noise in the busy
space below.
"The walls and floors are stone and glass, and they are very hard
and reflective," explained Meier. "The ceiling helps temper the space
physically and acoustically and provides an element of warmth across
the three bays of Boylston Hall."
The overlapping curves create a scalloped effect and conceal uplights that illuminate the Grille Maple finish on the panels and make
the ceiling visible from the street outside. "The wood ceiling creates a
visual cue, welcoming citizens to stop and enter," added Meier.
TWEAKING THE DESIGN

Key to the success of the installation was the 10- x 10-ft. mockup the
You Inspire Solutions Center created in advance to demonstrate how
the ceiling system would work prior to installation. With the mockup
in place, the design team was able to tweak the design to make sure
all the components worked together to achieve the desired visual.
After studying the ceiling from various angles, the team decided to
add custom black-metal fascia plates or blank-off panels along the pe-

cut," said Dahlberg. "We just pre-assembled the frames on the floor,

rimeter to conceal the void above the ceiling from view.

set them on a lift, raised them up in the air, and connected them to

"The blank-off panels prevent people standing in the balcony or
across the street from seeing all the conduits for the lights, the sprinkler runs, and other mechanical elements in the cavity above the ceiling," said Meier.

The wood-grille ceiling has become a
conversation piece at the library, where
it has created speculation as to what
inspired the curved design.

the deck with ceiling wires. It was like a big erector set. We just had to
bolt it all together and install the wood panels."
The most challenging part of the installation for the ceiling installer was establishing the layout and setting the first height. "Once we

The team from William Rawn also added wood trim to the bot-

had the first row of frames established, it was just repetitive down the

tom edge of each curve to provide a baffle for the uplights so they

whole run," he said. "It was actually a very smooth job for the com-

wouldn't be visible from the floor and would provide a finished look

plexity of it."

to the curved-wood grille panels.
With final approval in hand, Armstrong Ceilings began produc-

A CONVERSATION PIECE

tion on the custom-length WoodWorks Grille panels, the curved sus-

The wood-grille ceiling has become a conversation piece at the li-

pension system, the metal fascia plates, and all custom parts and piec-

brary where it has created speculation as to what inspired the curved

es needed for the ceiling installation at Boylston Hall.

design. "Some of the librarians think it looks like the pages of a book
and others say it mimics the design of the barrel vault ceiling in an-

CUSTOM SUSPENSION

other part of the library," added Meier. "So, it's really in the eye of

Made from extruded-aluminum tubes, the suspension system is

the beholder."

curved to meet the design of the ceiling. "Once the suspension sys-

The custom ceiling system at the Boston Public Library, Johnson

tem is in place, the flexible backers on the back of the wood panels

Building, was the winner of a 2018 Gold Construction Excellence

are fastened to the tubes, making the panels conform to the curve,"

Award from the Ceilings & Interiors Systems Construction Associa-

explained Dan Holdridge, design manager for the You Inspire Solu-

tion (CISCA, cisca.org), Oak Brook, IL. CA

tions Center at Armstrong Ceilings. Custom painted with a color
that mimics the maple finish on the panels, the framework visually
disappears into the ceiling.
To simplify the installation, project manager Chris Dahlberg, of
K&K Acoustical Ceilings, Tewksbury, MA (kkacousticalceilings.
com), worked with Armstrong Ceilings in advance to make sure the

Want more information? To download the information listed below,
visit commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1806armstrong.

bulk of the ceiling assembly was fabricated at the factory. "We exchanged ideas and worked together to make it as simple as possible for

Circle 2 on the Reader Service Card.

Get information on exposed-structure solutions.

the ceiling installers," he said.

Find more about WoodWorks Grille ceiling
systems.

Visit the You Inspire Solutions Center.

As a result, all of the ceiling materials arrived on the jobsite ready
for assembly. "The frames came all pre-curved, pre-drilled, and pre-

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

JUNE 2018

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

35


http://www.cisca.org http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1806armstrong http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture June 2018

Museums Evolve To Remain Relevant
Museum Blends Biblical History And Technology
The Architects
Showcase
Index
Portfolio
HVAC & Plumbing
Interiors
Lighting & Electrical
Exteriors
Windows & Doors
Building Technology
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Cover1
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Cover2
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 1
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 2
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 3
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 4
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 5
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - The Architects
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 7
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Museums Evolve To Remain Relevant
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 9
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 10
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 11
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 12
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 13
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 14
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 15
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 16
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 17
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Museum Blends Biblical History And Technology
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 19
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 20
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 21
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 22
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 23
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - HVAC & Plumbing
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 25
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 26
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 27
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 28
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 29
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 30
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 31
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Interiors
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 35
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 36
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 37
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 38
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 39
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 40
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Lighting & Electrical
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 42
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 43
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 44
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 45
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 46
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 47
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 48
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Exteriors
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 50
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 51
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 52
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 53
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 54
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 55
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 56
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Windows & Doors
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 58
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 59
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 60
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Building Technology
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 62
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - 63
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Showcase
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Index
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Portfolio
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Cover3
Commercial Architecture June 2018 - Cover4
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