Improving acoustic clarity in a specialist healthcare environment
To accommodate the scale of the auditorium, three Skyfold panels were combined to form a single partition. Exceptional attention to detail ensured the veneer finish aligned perfectly across all three panels and continued flawlessly into the surrounding fixed wall finishes, creating a truly seamless appearance.
HOK Architects
Laing O’Rourke
Working alongside HOK Architects, main contractor Laing O’Rourke and specialist contractor EE Smith, Style Group was specified to deliver a sophisticated space division solution for the main auditorium of this landmark building.
Due to the stepped nature of the auditorium, a conventional operable wall was not a viable option. Instead, the project required a bespoke installation of a Skyfold vertical rising wall, a fully automatic acoustic partition that retracts seamlessly into the ceiling cavity when not in use. This innovative solution is particularly suited to complex layouts within the education sector, where flexibility and efficient use of space are paramount.
To accommodate the scale of the auditorium, three Skyfold panels were combined to form a single partition. Exceptional attention to detail ensured the veneer finish aligned perfectly across all three panels and continued flawlessly into the surrounding fixed wall finishes, creating a truly seamless appearance.
Delivering an impressive 49dB acoustic rating on site, the installation allows the auditorium to be quickly divided into separate spaces while maintaining excellent speech privacy and acoustic separation. At the touch of a button, the wall descends into position, following the contours of the tiered floor before sealing acoustically to create two independent environments.
As one of the most technically demanding applications of a Skyfold system, the project showcases the benefits of advanced moveable wall solutions in large-scale venues where flexibility, aesthetics and acoustic performance are critical. The ability to transform a space quickly and efficiently makes these systems ideal for auditoriums, lecture theatres and other environments within the education sector.
“This is without doubt a showcase installation for Style,” said Julian Sargent, Style Group Managing Director.
“The fact that Skyfold occupies no floor space when not in use and is completely invisible, the ease with which it automatically glides into position despite the complexity of a stepped auditorium, the precision of the veneer detailing and the exceptional acoustic performance all combine to create one of the finest projects I have been involved with. My thanks go to everyone who contributed to making this remarkable installation a success.”
Talk to us about your acoustic goals — we’ll help you design a solution that sounds as good as it looks.
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HBN 00-09 sets out these surface characteristics because unsealed joints are a recognised place for moisture and micro-organisms to collect. A genuinely joint-free edge is designed to address that specific detail.
This is a surface and edge specification, not a clinical claim. Zero-joint technology has not been evaluated or certified by NHS England, and does not claim to reduce infection rates.
Food-service and guest-facing areas are typically inspected under hygiene and housekeeping standards that look closely at surfaces and joints. A seamless, moisture-resistant edge is designed with exactly that kind of scrutiny in mind.
Every one of these sectors shares the same underlying surface problem: a bonded-strip edge is a seam, and a seam is a place where dirt, moisture or wear can concentrate in a way a continuous surface can't. Zero-joint technology addresses that one structural detail across offices, schools, healthcare and hospitality settings alike — one construction detail, one shared weak point removed, four sectors that each care about it for their own reasons.
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