At Sacred Heart College’s Sports and Wellness Precinct in Newtown, Geelong, the project aimed to create a high-performance, acoustically comfortable, and durable environment for students and staff. The double-court gymnasium required a ceiling system that could control internal reverberation, reduce breakout noise to surrounding buildings and residences, and maintain fire compliance and long-term durability. The Durra Panel Acoustic Ceiling System was specified to meet these goals, providing a low-maintenance, impact-resistant solution while ensuring installation efficiency in a constrained construction programme.
The design and construction team faced several key challenges in delivering the Sports and Wellness Precinct at Sacred Heart College. As a double-court gymnasium, the space required both effective internal noise control to support student comfort and wellness, and robust breakout noise mitigation to protect surrounding school buildings and neighbouring residences.
Adding complexity, the Durra Panel Acoustic Ceiling System needed to be installed after the roof was completed, meaning that all works had to be performed from below without the typical access provided during standard ceiling installation. Additionally, the ceiling needed to comply with fire safety regulations, requiring a Group 2 material rating throughout, while remaining durable, low-maintenance, and resilient to the high-traffic, impact-prone environment of a sports hall.
Durra Panel provided a modular acoustic ceiling system tailored to meet these performance and construction constraints. The system was installed throughout the entire ceiling above the double-court gymnasium using a stick-built method, allowing for installation from below after the roof decking was in place. The Durra Cement Sheet Acoustic Pattern finish delivers an NRC of 0.49, effectively controlling internal reverberation and minimizing breakout noise to the surrounding environment. The panel system also provides a highly impact-resistant, low-maintenance surface, achieving the required Group 2 fire rating while eliminating the need for wet trades such as plasterboard. This modular approach allowed the installation to progress efficiently while meeting all acoustic, durability, and compliance requirements, without compromising on quality or performance.
The project was delivered successfully and on schedule, with excellent feedback from the builder, installer, and end client. The Durra Panel Acoustic Ceiling System met all specified acoustic and fire safety performance criteria, creating a comfortable, safe, and resilient environment for students and staff. The modular installation method minimized construction complexity and disruption, while the durable, low-maintenance ceiling ensures long-term usability and compliance. Overall, the Sports and Wellness Precinct stands as a high-performing, well-engineered space that supports student wellness, protects the surrounding community from noise, and exemplifies the effective integration of acoustic design and sustainable building solutions.
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