The Challenge:
Large indoor swimming pool environments are tough on building elements due to humidity, water treatment chemicals and dew points issues leading to condensation risks, especially in concealed spaces. They are also known to be noisy with poor acoustics due to hard reflective surfaces, making it hard to hear for learners and coaches and uncomfortable for patrons.
Working closely with architects Architecture HDT and Apollo Construction the project team needed to manage construction costs, achieve a sound reverberation time of less than 2.0 seconds and create a clean aesthetic. This meant they required a special sound-absorbing solution that could perform well in the pool’s very humid environment and be fixed to underside of roof purlins on custom sized Z brackets to create an open ventilated roof/ ceiling assembly.
- Manage the risk of condensation and corrosion.
- Address excessive reverberation and echo. RT > 2.0 seconds.
- Create an uncluttered and clean aesthetic.
- Build to budget.
- Choose a sustainable option to meet the architect's vision.
The Solution:
Asona’s Triton Pool Panels were chosen for the ceilings because they provided a high sound absorbing surface (NRC 1.0) to control reverberation time and the panels could be ‘stood off’ from purlins to create an open ventilated ceiling form that allowed conditioned air to move between and behind the ceiling to reduce the risk of condensation in the plenum cavity. Rated Global GreenTag Level A also helped meet the project’s environmental goals.
This successfully created an environment where coaches and patrons alike could hear each other clearly, a significant contrast to an untreated aquatic facility. The overall project was a great success for Gisborne and the Tairawhiti district and was awarded a Gold Award and Special Award in the Tourism & Leisure section of the 2024 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards
- Crisp, frameless look with wrapped edges.
- High light reflectance.
- Concealed aluminium frames for strength.
- Dimensionally stable in high humidity.
- Water repellent surface.
