Wood Specialty Ceilings and Walls
The sheer visual impact of wood means that it is often chosen as a focal point in dramatic “statement” spaces, such as corporate headquarters, research centers, performance spaces, and other signature buildings from university campuses to city halls. Wood, one of the oldest and most traditional of building materials, is now being used as the heart of some of the most inventive new designs, meeting exacting technical requirements.
Beautiful wood ceilings are certainly not new, but traditionally, they were made by hand, and until recently, piece-by-piece custom millwork was still the primary option for specialty wood interiors, even in commercial spaces.
Now new manufactured panels and systems make it possible to combine the design versatility and intrinsic appeal of wood with the performance, reliability, precision, durability, and cost advantage of manufactured components and systems. Almost unlimited choices in finish, form, and size are available, from various combinations of standard components to custom shapes and layouts to the creation of one-of-a-kind, entirely bespoke ceilings and walls.
However, aesthetic choices in today’s systems are closely related to performance. The essential characteristics of wood and the way it is manufactured determine not only visual effects but critical aspects of performance and long, durable service life: acoustics, fire, and seismic safety, efficient access to the plenum, moisture resistance, sustainable materials, and healthy interiors. Effectively integrating these features with other elements within the ceiling and in the rest of the space is the key to delivering these benefits along with a specialty ceiling’s good looks.
The earlier in the design process the architect can see the range of possibilities and understand the implications of each design and manufacturing decision, the lower the cost, the shorter the lead time, and the better the performance.