Gyproc’s hush-hush specification for new Repton Students

Gyproc has got together with sister company, Ecophon, to ensure that the ALDAR’s Repton School’s new state-of-the-art teaching block on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, will feature leading edge acoustics to complement its outstanding learning spaces and facilities.

The new 5-storey block, designed to accommodate up to 1500 year 3-13 students, will significantly expand the range of students served by the highly respected international school, which was originally opened in 2013 to provide a ‘British’ style education for younger pupils, up to Year 4.

Gyproc and Ecophon were called in at an early stage of project design to provide a complete partition, ceiling and internal lining specification to meet the school’s demanding Rw 62dB acoustic requirements, and ensure an optimum acoustic environment for both teaching and learning, throughout the new block.

In addition, the linings would also be expected to provide a minimum of 60 minutes’ fire resistance to allow safe evacuation in the case of fire, plus high levels of impact resistance for walls to corridors, assembly spaces and other high traffic areas to maintain the integrity and high quality appearance of the modern building interior.

Working closely with Main Contractor Ghantoot General Contracting and Consultants AECOM and BSBG, acoustic specialists consultants from the two companies developed a complete specification incorporating GypWall ROBUST and twin-frame GypWall QUIET acoustic partitions, in combination with Gyproc MF and specialist Gyproc and Ecophon acoustic ceilings. Where additional acoustic performance was required for sports halls and other noisy areas, Ecophon wall panels were added to control reverberation.

In high traffic areas, GypWall ROBUST partitions, lined with Gyproc DuraLine impact resistant plasterboard, are being used to combine high levels of acoustics with a damage-resistant surface that will brush off daily knocks and scrapes from chairs and bags to maintain the high quality smooth appearance without the need for intrusive ongoing maintenance.

Contractor Mais Interiors will install a total of almost AED 1.5 million of Gyproc and Ecophon systems throughout the new school block. When completed later this year, the new building will house state-of-the-art teaching and sports facilities, including a multi -purpose hall, three indoor sports halls, three shaded rooftop tennis courts and a five-lane 25-metre indoor swimming pool.