So when it came to the ceilings, they pioneered the use on a nationwide new-build commercial project of Armstrong Ceilings’ Tech Zone system.
Armstrong’s Tech Zone is a customised ceiling services solution, run in partnership with other industry leaders in lighting, air handling, loudspeakers and chilled beams, which guarantees the compatibility and integration of all the technical elements. And it has been so well received by Don Little Properties that they will be using it again.
Their Indigo Blu development in the heart of Leeds’ commercial centre, on Hunslet Lane, one of the gateway roads into the city centre, comprises two floors of offices under seven floors of prestigious apartments.
Built and finished to the highest specification on the site of an illustrious printing company (hence the name Indigo Blu – a popular print pigment and a colour that is prevalent throughout the building) the development’s styling is taken from the art-deco of the print industry’s hey day.
When it came to the 10,000ft² of office accommodation however, Don Little Properties wanted a contemporary, monolithic, linear look and an environment in which a city worker’s requirements for light and air quality did not compromise aesthetics that include aerofoil-shaped columns and cross-sectional braces.
Armstrong’s Tech Zone system at Indigo Blu comprises “field” panels of Optima white mineral tiles which at 1200mm x 1200mm are twice as large as standard ceiling tiles, and “technical” panels of Orcal 150mm x 1200mm metal tiles, suspended on Armstrong’s Interlude minimal 15mm grid system.
The “technical” panels contain the technical elements, in this case luminaire lighting systems from Zumtobel and four-pipe fan coil air conditioning from Trox, but both the Optima and Orcal tiles also perform well acoustically, the Optima tiles to Class A sound absorption levels.
The integrated system, which was designed by Architecture 2B architects, is basically made to measure, negating the usual requirement to cut out field panels to install services, resulting in an aesthetic solution that is also easy to install and maintain. It also negates the specifier, installer or customer having to check the compatibility of all the technical elements.
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