UW Milwaukee’s Engineering & Mathematical Sciences building features Rockfon metal ceilings

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (EMS) building recently completed a 25,000-square-foot renovation, upgrading its laboratories, collaborative spaces, support spaces, offices and graduate workspaces.

Designed by Continuum Architects + Planners, the UWM EMS renovation project creates functional laboratory space within the confines of an existing 1970’s building. Within the 13,400-square-foot research laboratory space’s collaboration areas and classroom vestibules, Continuum specified Rockfon® Spanair® Metal Torsion Spring concealed ceiling panels.

Performance Contracting Inc. (PCI) installed Rockfon’s fully concealed metal ceiling system with 2-by-4-foot panels finished in a high-tech, reflective Satin Silver color and a custom linear perforation pattern. Balancing the lively communal spaces and quieter learning areas on the 9th and 10th floors, acoustic enhancements and perforations allow these metal panels to provide excellent sound absorption with a high Noise Reduction Coefficient of up to 0.90 NRC.

“The 25,000-square-foot renovation created four new laboratories, collaborative spaces, support spaces, offices and graduate workspace. It was designed to create functional laboratory space within the confines of an existing 1970’s building. The layout puts science on display making it visible to others, while filling the spaces with natural daylight,” described Continuum Architects + Planners.

The improved interiors offer an attractive, comfortable, safe and healthy learning environment. Choosing Rockfon ceiling products with best-level sound absorption promotes comfortable interiors, where students can concentrate on their research, clearly understand their instructors and communicate with each other. Rockfon Spanair Metal Torsion Spring Panels are non-combustible and have a Class A Fire Rating. Metal does not support mold, mildew or potentially harmful microorganisms. The ceiling’s material performance properties further contribute to the well-being of UWM’s students, faculty and staff.

Supporting UWM’s sustainable and operational goals, Rockfon Spanair Metal Torsion Spring Panels metal ceiling systems are manufactured with up to 85 percent recycled content and provide pin-pointed access to the plenum for future updates to the electrical, audio/visual, IT and other systems. These aluminum panels feature edge springs, which allow the panels to nest in place and easily demount for simplified installation and maintenance. The ceiling panels require minimal care and cleaning during their long lifespan, saving labor and material costs and at the end of their years of service are 100 percent locally recyclable.

Facilities make a difference in recruiting students interested in STEM and retaining faculty, according to Robin Van Harpen, senior vice chancellor for finance and administrative Affairs at UWM. She said, “Students are attracted to updated facilities because they can better support interactive learning and the skills that today’s employers need.”

Completed in May 2022, the UWM EMS building’s updated facilities feature Rockfon Spanair Metal Torsion Spring concealed ceiling panels with a high-tech aesthetic, highly sustainable material and high sound absorption that balances collaboration and concentration in a flexible, research-focused, learning environment.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (EMS); https://uwm.edu/engineering
• Architect: Continuum Architects + Planners, S.C.; Milwaukee; https://www.continuumarchitects.com
• Contractor: J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.; Milwaukee; https://www.findorff.com
• Ceiling systems - installer: Performance Contracting Inc. (PCI); Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; https://www.performancecontracting.com
• Ceiling systems - manufacturer: Rockfon; Chicago; https://www.rockfon.com
• Photographer: Kevin Harnack

About Rockfon
Rockfon is part of ROCKWOOL Group and is offering advanced acoustic ceilings and wall solutions to create beautiful, comfortable spaces.

At ROCKWOOL Group, we are committed to enriching the lives of everyone who experiences our product solutions. Our expertise is perfectly suited to tackle many of today’s biggest sustainability and development challenges, from energy consumption and noise pollution to fire resilience, water scarcity and flooding. Our range of products reflects the diversity of the world’s needs, while supporting our stakeholders in reducing their own carbon footprint.

Stone wool is a versatile material and forms the basis of all our businesses. With approximately 12,000 passionate colleagues in 40 countries, we are one of the world leaders in stone wool solutions, from building insulation to acoustic ceilings, external cladding systems to horticultural solutions, engineered fibers for industrial use to insulation for the process industry, and marine and offshore.

For more information, please visit https://www.rockfon.com.

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