When architects TP Bennett needed a trusted supplier to deliver their vision for a central London office refurbishment they knew immediately where to look.
And it was Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, specifically 150m2 of the manufacturer’s configurable mesh metal K-H 400 MT tile and grid system featuring versatile hook-on planks, that they specified for areas of the ground floor of 65 Gresham Street.
Project director Pragna Shah said: “The product needed to suit an adaptive, flexible and creative design for our work with a client that is an industry disruptor and has a brand message of ‘out of the ordinary’.”
And that proved the case from the moment go as the Armstrong systems were originally specified for a dining hall and informal lounge with adjacent booths on one side but by the time it came to installation the dining hall had become open-plan office space.
Nevertheless, the jet black (RAL 9005 with 5% gloss) mesh metal tiles from Armstrong, customised with a larger-than-usual 70% open area mesh and installed using a standard crossing box and c-profile suspension system with 75mm trim strips and custom metal bulkheads around the complete perimeter of the space, deliver the industrial aesthetic the architect was looking for, complete with functionality as the exposed services above the ceiling needed to be accessible.
Pragna Shah said: “The Armstrong system suited the design intent. The mesh ceiling was complicated in that it needed to meet lots of criteria, such as access and fixed sizes, and we needed a trusted supplier to help us deliver our vision.
“It helps to create a more contemporary and industrial aesthetic with the addition of up lighting creating an inviting atmosphere. The client is an exciting organisation and our partnership has delivered a workspace that enables new ways of working and captures the vitality and essence of their brand.”
The Armstrong systems were installed over two months by a team of up to 10 from specialist sub-contractor OCP Contracts for fit-out and refurbishment specialists BW: Workplace Experts who required the installation to be defect free at completion. OCP are a member of Armstrong’s Omega network of approved ceiling installers.
OCP’s contracts manager Charles Corbyn said: “Due to the complex nature of the bespoke mesh metal ceiling, OCP liaised with Armstrong’s technical department and together ensured we could achieve procurement for the project.
‘With OCP’s team of specialist fixers, it allowed for a straightforward and perfect installation which is versatile and met what the client had specified. OCP were privileged to have been given the opportunity to install the bespoke ceiling system and are excited by the changes within the industry towards more specialist ceiling systems and unique designs.”