Case Study: CertainTeed Ceilings Makes the Grade at Northampton Community College Campus

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Feb 07, 2023

To accommodate its growing student population, Northampton County Community College had expanded its Monroe County, Pennsylvania, facility twice, but they were still running out of space. In 2005, the administration decided to move on from the original building and erect an entirely new campus. They found an 82-acre lot nearby and got in touch with MKSD Architects of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Students were invited to voice their opinions by participating in the schematic design phase with the architects. “In the former single building, there was no food court, no gym, no student-oriented spaces, and no large library. By adding all these components and enhancing the learning environment, we knew we could help fulfill their ideas of what the campus could and should be,” said Silvia Hoffman, partner and architect with MKSD Architects.

The administration liked the idea of sustainable construction and agreed to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, which recognizes best-in-class building strategies including acoustics.

MKSD Architects specified more than 100,000 square feet of CertainTeed’s Symphony® m and VOC-compliant Symphony® f, and an additional 10,000 square feet mix of Rx Symphony®, Theatre® Black and School Board® ceiling panels. The entire job was installed with a CertainTeed Suspension System. The panels were chosen for their exceptional acoustical properties and clean, contemporary aesthetic.

Hoffman says the CertainTeed ceiling panels were essential for controlling or enhancing the acoustics in each classroom. The panels also offer high light reflectance to aid in the even distribution of lighting across desks. In addition, the panels’ environmental properties bode well for versatile rooms like the new state-of-the-art library and food court.

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