Acoustical Interior Construction magazine

A C O U S T I C A L

Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association

FALL 2015 Cover Story— Golden Valley Supply Co. MUSM Livingston Lord Library Leadership Conference Stresses Team Building

Construction Excellence Awards Mean Big Things to

CISCA Contractors

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION THE RESOURCE FOR THE CEILINGS & INTERIOR SYSTEMS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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INSIDETHISISSUE

FALL 2015

Volume 58, Number 4

ON THE COVER: MSUM Livingston Lord Library Moorhead, MN Submitted by:

Golden Valley Supply Company

Other CISCA members involved with the project:

Floor to Ceiling/Carpet One

Architectural Surfaces

Architect: BVK Group

FEATURES 6 And the Winner Is... Your Marketing Effort!

Reasons to enter the Construction Excellence Awards Program

11 Celebrating the Year of the Contractor Introducing the Contractor’s Spotlight 27 Construction Excellence Awards Entry Form Now is the time to submit your entry

COLUMNS

4 Merry Christmas!

32 Cover Story MSUM Livingston Lord Library 40 CISCA Holds Leadership Conference in Florida It was a bundle of fun wrapped around some

5 Ten Tips to Keep You Organized Through the Holidays

DEPARTMENTS

solid learning

48 Controlling Noise in Today’s Challenging Office Enviroment

31 New Members

58 Ad Index

BEYOND ACOUSTICS 54 Fact Checking and Degrees of Truth A thought provoking view of the world

ACOUSTICAL INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

Executive Director: Shirley Wodynski • Publisher/Editor: Rick Reuland • Advertising Sales: Debbie Rauen EDITORIAL: For advertising rates and information or editorial comments or questions, contact: Rick Reuland, Association Publishing Partners, Inc., 6S252 Cornwall Road, Naperville, IL 60540 • 630-637-8632 • 630-637-8629 fax • rmgi@comcast.net ADVERTISING: For advertising rates and information contact Debbie Rauen • 940-368-2468 • debbie_int_const@yahoo.com © Copyright 2015 Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association.

This publication may not be reproduced, photocopied, stored in any electronic retrieval device or transmitted by facsimile without permission of the publisher. All rights under U.S.A. and international copyright laws are reserved. Publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts.

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION (ISSN 0888-0387) is published quarterly by the Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association, 1010 Jorie Blvd., Suite 30, Oak Brook, IL 60523.

Subscriptions: $40.00 per year. • POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Acoustical Interior Construction at 1010 Jorie Blvd., Suite 30, Oak Brook, IL 60523.

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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innerworkings

merry christmas!

By Jason gordon

I

hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As we move into the Christmas season it’s a good time to work on the “to do” list that most of us have.

I hope one of the items on your list is to submit an entry into the CISCA Construction Excellence Awards Program. The entries are due February 1, 2016 and the information and form can be found on the CISCA website.

The awards program is a great way to showcase the work your company does. I also want to mention that all of the projects that win awards each year would not be possible without the contractors who built them! Unfortunately, our contractor members don’t submit a lot of entries into the program.

So if you are reading this, and you are a contractor member, I want to encourage you to submit a project this year. It’s not as hard as you think and CISCA will assist you along the way if you have questions.

Additionally, in this issue of the magazine you will find an article on the benefits of submitting award entries along with a listing of the contractors who submitted projects in the last program. In future issues of the magazine we will feature articles that profile a project submitted by a contractor.

This is an additional benefit for our contractors who submit projects.

CISCA staff is ready to help you with any questions, so please reach out if you need anything and be sure to get your entry submissions in before the deadline.

I am excited to announce that we have formed a new Membership Committee this year. The goal of this committee is to reach out to contractors and increase membership. If you know a contractor who should be a CISCA member, please email the contact information to cisca@cisca.org and we will forward the information to the new membership committee.

Are you ready for a new and improved CISCA convention? Well, that’s what CISCA is planning to give you when you join us in New Orleans next year. The convention is April 16-19, 2016. It promises to be an epic event of networking, learning and fun. We are introducing a new convention schedule that will include a networking event every night, more fun outdoor activities, and plenty of education and training sessions. To make this year even more special, we have a new format and style for the awards banquet that you won’t want to miss. Look for a special invitation next month in the mail to learn more.

If you haven’t been to our convention in a while, or have never attended before, this is the perfect year to come experience it!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2015-2016 Board of Directors President Jason Gordon Heartland Acoustics & Interiors

President-Elect jeff hudepohl valley interior systems Secretary-Treasurer Garrett Larson Golden Valley Supply Co. Immediate past president Pete welly Foundation building materials Executive Director SHIRLEY WODYNSKI CISCA Directors adam bessert thorne associates, inc.

Eric Brown CertainTeeed ceilings Dave Chaffee E&K Companies Paul Gallagher C. J. Coakley Co., Inc. Herb Golterman Golterman & Sabo Mike Granatino Winroc/SPI scott qualls USG Ron Rice Hunter Douglas Architectural Products Alan Skinner Skinner Interior Systems, Inc.

Jason Gordon Heartland Acoustics & Interiors 2015 – 2016 CISCA President jason@heartland-acoustics.com 303-694-6611

Dave Vanosdall Lanton Associates, LLC Board Advisors Eric Mau Mau, Inc. Jim McManus Rulon International

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FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

10 Tips To Keep You Organized Through The Holidays

by Monica Friel

D

o you feel overwhelmed by clutter? Even paralyzed by it? So many of us do -- especially at this time of the year. So, in this season of making lists and checking them twice, here is a list that will help you prepare for the Holidays and make them a bit more enjoyable.

Start small

Break down big projects into small tasks. Looking at the entire project may lead to procrastination. Start in a specific area and make decisions about one item at a time.

Take small steps in the right direction now.

Create itemized gift lists

Write down the name of every person on your list and get the ideas flowing. Always keep the list handy, you never know when you’ll come across the perfect gift.

There’s several great smartphone apps out there that can help you keep track of your gift lists.

Make time

Set a timer and work with manageable bits. Doing this will help you feel less stressed. You’ll be amazed at how much can be accomplished in a just a short period of time.

Set up a gift wrapping station

Set up an area in your home for wrapping gifts. Keep all wrapping paper, gift tags, gift bags, ribbons etc. together. This way, you won’t have to search every time you need to wrap a gift.

Create a holiday folder

Gather great ideas for gifts, decorating, recipes, etc. and put them in a folder marked “Holiday.” Keep the folder handy throughout the year to add ideas as they come to you. When mom mentions in the summer how much she wants that gadget, you’ll know exactly where to put the reminder.

Corral holiday items

Holiday books, gift wrap, cooking items, clothing, linens and movies can all get packed away when the season is over. We tend to think of packing up holiday decorations and knickknacks, but there are many other things that

are used only at this time of the year. During the season, rethink how much can go into storage. This way, you’ll have less clutter around the house the rest of the year!

Take pictures of your decor once it is set up

Print a photo of your display and put it inside the storage boxes. This way, if you really love the way something turned out you won’t have to reinvent the wheel every year.

Whittle down your freezer

Plan ahead for holiday leftovers and have a “mustgo” night when everything in your freezer must go. When you entertain, you’ll have space in the freezer to spare.

Set deadline

Define clear goals for yourself and keep your eye on the prize – an organized, clutter-free space!

Enjoy

Remember the holidays can be a magical time and your mindset plays a huge roll. Enjoy the season, schedule time to be with family and friends. It has actually been proven that taking time to enjoy the season will help reduce stress.

This list provides a great start. But remember, organization is a constant process. Decide right now to streamline and simplify. If you do, you will see a difference right away.

Monica Friel is president and founder of Chaos To Order.

Passionate about finding creative ways to organize anything, Monica has offered her expert advice on Oprah, Steve Harvey and many local and national publications.

She also manages and trains a staff of professional organizers who specialize in everything from household clutter to corporate chaos. She can be reached on: chaostoorder. com; Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; or Google+. Or by calling: (847) 825-8400.

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

And the Winner is…

Your Marketing Effort!

An industry award can make for a beaming project team – and offer opportunities to get some “marketing mileage,” too!

by Barbara Dutton

P

utting together a story of a project that is a source of pride for your company is what assembling an industry award entry is pretty much all about. The effort for a contractor will likely involve composing a narrative describing the project scope, and other CISCA members that worked on the project. It will almost certainly require organizing a collection of images to show the project off to its best advantage, and lastly, cutting a check for the entry fee.

Project challenges and solutions will typically be summarized in the entry, along with a description of the virtues of the work performed – whether they represent aesthetic achievements, space usage accomplishments or utility objectives, or a combination thereof.

The feats and end-results will be showcased to impress a panel of judges, hopefully persuading them to recognize the project with a prize: An award that can be touted by the project team, and by the company in a host of ways to draw attention to the organization’s experience and expertise – attributes to be flaunted in looking to attract new business that could turn into more award-winning work!

6

With the CISCA 2015 Construction Excellence Awards program on the horizon, interior construction contractors might be contemplating an effort to prepare and submit an entry.

Winners will, of course, be noted among their peers through coverage in the Acoustical Interior Construction magazine, as well as through fanfare at the annual CISCA Convention.

Company credibility

The prospect of receiving all this attention sounds exciting, but considering the number of tasks needing to be completed by a construction

FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

company on a day-to-day basis, a contractor might be tempted to let an opportunity to enter a competition go by, underestimating the return that might be achieved by investing in developing an entry. The experiences of winning contractors could, however, make the hesitant think again.

“I see the value that it has for our business,” says Brad Sampson, chief marketing officer at CDM Investment Group, as two E & K Companies won awards in the 2014 Construction Excellence Awards program.

E&K of Kansas City, won a Gold award in the Interior Finishes category for the Central Region for its work on the Black & Veatch World Headquarters in Overland Park, KS.; while E&K of Phoenix took home a Silver award in the Boutique category for a project called Office TI Space.

Sampson, who has not only served as President of CISCA, but is the author of a recently published book, titled No Excuses, Just Go Sell!, identifies several potential benefits that participating in an awards program can offer a company. “There are a lot of reasons to enter an industry competition such as CISCA’s,” he says. “It gives your company credibility. An outstanding entry can highlight

the quality of the work you do.”

Recognition from a major industry award brings much to enhance a company’s reputation, concurs Paul Wolmarans, chief executive officer at Kenpat USA, Apopka, FL, which won two awards in the 2014 Construction Excellence Awards competition “The CISCA award provides credibility to our credo of delivering quality work,” he declares.

“The Construction Excellence Award accomplishes several things,” observes Paul Gallagher, vice president at C. J. Coakley Co., Falls Church, Va., which took home a Bronze award in the competition’s Renovation category in the East Region, recognizing the drywall, plaster and acoustical ceilings specialty contractor’s work on a project called FOB 8.

“It recognizes our craftsmen for their efforts, it supports our relationship with the general contractor by giving them exposure for their project and it also gets our company name out into the marketplace as being associated with this type of construction and complexity,” explains Gallagher.

Recounting the challenge

When it comes to making an impression in the industry, Sampson believes that a winning project can help a contractor not only stand out among its peers, but also impress manufacturers, the architect with whom the company worked on the project, and the client whose project is featured. E&K of Phoenix sees value in sharing award success with team partners, ordering extra awards for both the architect and general contractor.

“We also gave them a framed picture of the job with a plaque that had their name with E&K,” reports Dan Pignatari, estimator at E&K of Phoenix. “It will be a friendly reminder of a successful partnership with E&K on an intricate job that required a lot of thought and hard work.” (continued on page 8) Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

Bob Neenan of Foundation Building Materials; Grant Snowden of Steel Ceilings; and Kip Young of E & K Kansas City receive a Gold Award from CISCA President Jason Gordon of Heartland Acoustics & Interiors during the 2015 CISCA Convention.

(continued from page 7) Lastly, Sampson suggests that potential customers that a company is trying to attract might take notice of the positive recognition. “The award has been very useful for us when scoping an intricate job,” confirms Pignatari. “It gives us credibility and shows that we can take a design and turn it into something that everyone can be proud of.”

Aside from the yields of a winning award, Sampson contends that the process of assembling an award entry, in and of itself, presents multiple potential benefits. “I really believe it forces and engages several people into your effort to create the story,” he says. “It is an opportunity within your own organization to recount the challenges and accomplishments associated with a project.” Compiling a competition entry, says Sampson, “forces them to look back.”

The exercise not only reinforces the relationship among project team members, he suggests, but also serves to create a story that can be used across the marketing spectrum.

Websites and feature articles are among the marketing vehicles for which content created for a competition might also be used. Indeed, the story of an award-winning project can 8

serve as an important promotional tool – one that can potentially engage current clients, and prospective ones.

“We have created case studies on these projects, we display them in our office, and we also share the

Gold award in the 2014 Acoustical Solutions category for the Central Region for The Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, FL. The contractor was also recognized in the competition’s Ceilings category, with a Bronze award in the Central Region for its work on the Harris Technology Center in Melbourne, Fla. “The physical award is used in our main office as part of our display to show recognition for current work for clients,” relates Gallagher. “In addition, the magazine publication itself can be useful to showcase similar installations to general contractors for closing work.

Lastly, we will include this award recognition in our website when the update is finished.”

Picking a project to profile awards with our clients that gave us the opportunity to work for them,” reports E&K of Chicago Vice President of Sales Dustin Sandoval in discussing project awards that the Elmhurst, Ill., office has collected. Similarly, Wolmarans, explains, “We publish receipt of the award in our quarterly newsletter and post the award on our website, to which we refer potential future customers.”

The drywall and ceiling company that Wolmarans leads received a

FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

The CISCA Construction Excellence Awards offers entrants multiple categories to enter in an effort to showcase a project that represents particular challenges met, or which are remarkable in some other way.

These classifications are:

• Ceilings – Complex or difficult design new construction ceiling projects (interior or exterior) using metal, wood, fiberglass, fabric or mineral fiber.

• Renovation – Complex or difficult design renovation projects using metal, wood, fiberglass, fabric or mineral fiber.

• Interior Finishes – Complex or difficult design interior finish projects. Category includes wall panels and cladding systems. This category is all inclusive for work done on the interior of a building.

• Acoustical Solutions – Complex or difficult design projects solving an acoustical challenge.

• Boutique – Unique interior projects less than 10,000 square feet.

The category to enter will be determined by the project selected to enter. In deciding which project, or projects, might have the potential to collect an award, Sampson suggests looking at some particular characteristics of a project to decide.

“The thing has got to have a ‘wow factor’ as far as looks,” he says. Of course, in capturing this aesthetic, Sampson, indicates that a company will want to “get the money shot photos” of the completed facility – images that can also be used to show off the project on a website or in another marketing medium.

Name recognition is another characteristic in considering a project for entry. Was it a high-profile project, such as stadium, or perhaps another prominent building, perhaps an arts center or museum? The degree of difficulty or skill associated with the work can also be a selling factor in a project that grabs a judge’s attention, suggests Sampson. “It’s probably a challenging job to build,” he says. “If you’re in the industry you look at it and say, ‘I know that thing was tough to build.’”

Finally, is the project one that expresses a high degree of value added for the end user? For a CISCA award, for example, the project might be one that acoustically made a difference for a client. “Because of the materials used,” cites Sampson, “it really had value for the client.”

Validating the Value

In addition to the multiple reasons cited that might inspire a company to enter an award competition, specifically CISCA’s Construction Excellence Awards competition, Sampson stresses the merits of doing so to promote a larger industry goal.

“It really engages people in our own organization,” he notes, adding that entering a project in a competition can also be an important way to support the industry.

“CISCA is a tremendous organization of value, so by doing this you are participating in the success of the organization,” he says. “We need to support our association, which has given us a lot.”

Whether supporting the association or working to enhance a company’s reputation, at the end of the day, participating in an awards program such as CISCA’s

recognizes and validates the value of solid teamwork in executing a meritorious project. Explains Sandoval, “The CISCA Excellence Awards gives us an opportunity to showcase the work we do, not only externally, but internally to our field staff and office.

“It’s easy for a project manager to get consumed by these amazing projects,” he concludes, “but this gives them the opportunity to share their hard work and showcase what great teamwork can achieve.” Maybe this year your company will capture an award that makes the project team beam!

Ok, Contractors— It’s your time to shine!

The entry form for the 2015 Construction Excellence Awards Program is on page 37. You can also download it from cisca.org.

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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SY S T E M S CONSTRUCTION EXCELENCEAWARDS

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FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

C E I L I N G & W A L L P A N E L S / S U S P E N S I O N S Y S T E M S / T R I M S & T R A N S I T I O N S / S P E C I A LT Y C E I L I N G S / K I T T E D C L O U D S & C A N O P I E S / S E I S M I C C O M P L I A N C E

YEAR of the CONTRACTOR

2016 Is the Year of the Contractor M

embers may have noticed a decided emphasis on the needs and interests of contractor members over the past months. This effort will intensify during 2016 as CISCA President Jason Gordon has declared it to be the YEAR of the CONTRACTOR. Increased awareness begins in this issue of Acoustical Interior Construction as we unveil a new standing feature — Contractor’s Spotlight.

Each issue will offer a project profile story of an entry that has been submitted by a CISCA Contractor member. We begin this series with a reflective look at seven projects that were entered in the 2014 Construction Excellence Awards Program.

It is vitally important to recognize and celebrate the wonderful work that our contrator members perform every year.

Would you like one of your projects featured like this?

Entering the Construction Excellence awards program is the first step!

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS



≥ontractor’s ºpotlight Performance Contracting, Inc. University of California, Riverside — Glen Mor Student Housing Performance Contracting, Inc. (PCI) is honored to be a key contractor of the Glen Mor Student Housing project, which remains the number one housing choice for students on campus at the University of California, Riverside. PCI takes pride in its reputation for “providing value that exceeds customers’ expectations,” which warrants their significant growth and allows the company

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to offer diverse but related services, making PCI a true “single-source” contractor to its customers. Special thanks to construction partners: Rulon Company, Rockfon (Chicago Metallic), USG, Westside Building Material, and L&W Supply Cal Ply.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

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≥ontractor’s ºpotlight Heartland Acoustics & Interiors University of Colorado Denver Academic Building 1 The UCD Academic Building was designed to serve as an architectural masterpiece that plays a key role in the evolution of the University of Colorado Denver and is a focal point for downtown Denver student life. The 132,000-square-foot five-story building consists of large instructional lecture halls, academic department office

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Spring 2014 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

space and student affair functions areas. Installed interior finishes include Rulon International wood ceiling and wood wall treatments, Accent Ceilings 2x8 metal panels painted to emulate the look of real wood, Armstrong World Industries acoustical ceiling systems, and acoustical wall panels from Wall Technology.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | Spring 2014

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

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≥ontractor’s ºpotlight E & K of Kansas City, Inc. Black and Veatch World Headquarters The Black & Veatch World Headquarters located in Overland Park, Kansas was recently renovated and provided with a new addition through the efforts of the design team which included Three Sixty Architecture and the general contractor J. E. Dunn. Key subcontractors including E&K of Kansas City, Inc. succeeded in providing the high level of finish expected by the

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FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

owner. Products that contributed to the ambience of the project were provided by Steel Ceilings Inc., Armstrong Ceilings, Winroc/SPI Absorption plus, Marino Ware, National Gypsum, CertainTeed Gypsum, Knauf Insulation, Architectural Components Group, and FBM Kansas City.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

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≥ontractor’s ºpotlight C. J. Coakley Co., Inc. FOB 8

T

he FOB 8 project was an existing structure formerly occupied by the FDA in Washington, D.C. The interior was entirely demolished except for elevator and stair shafts. The new ceiling systems required a unique patterning consisting of USG 2x2 panels and 1x2 panels, integrated together to create a ‘Logix’ System. The project schedule required installation of

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high volume of a uniquely patterned ceiling grid and tile in a short period of time.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

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≥ontractor’s ºpotlight Performance Contracting, Inc. University of Southern California - Steven & Kathryn Sample Hall

P

erformance Contracting, Inc. (PCI) was honored to be a key contractor of the University of Southern California, Steven & Kathryn Sample Hall, 4th Floor Renovations, which houses the center for student involvement. PCI takes pride in its reputation for “providing value that exceeds customers’ expectations” which warrants their significant growth and allows the company

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FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

to offer diverse but related services, making PCI a true “single-source” contractor to its customers. Special thanks to construction partners: Allied Building Products, Acoustical Material Services, Armstrong, USG, Knauf.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS

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≥ontractor’s ºpotlight Whitley Construction Company LLC Blue Cross Blue Shield - 1st Floor Renovation

H

igh Profile Decoustic Fiberglass Panels and Barz Metal Suspended Ceilings brighten the Blue Cross Blue Shield Corporate Offices Remodel Project.

Clean lines and strategically placed fiberglass panels brighten the main entrance of the newly reno-

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FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

vated Cafeteria at One Pershing Square, Kansas City, Missouri. Designed by Helix Architecture. Special thanks to Ceilings Plus and the Whitley Construction Team for working together to a successful outcome.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCEAWARDS



≥ontractor’s ºpotlight E & K of Phoenix, Inc. Office TI Space

T

his project features a unique ceiling constructed of unistrut and CatS cable. We installed over 2,000 linear feet of CatS cable and over 2,000 linear feet of unistrut to create a focal point for an office tenant improvement. The basis of the ceiling design was to have two rows of unistrut typically spaced 5’ apart. Rope would run back and forth from unistrut

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FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

to unistrut creating a “weave” pattern. This would be used to create both ceiling and wall panels.

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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Begin building your inspiration at usgdesignstudio.com

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The trademarks USG, LIBRETTO, WORLD. BUILD IT., the USG logo, the design 26 FALL 2015 IT’S | YOUR Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION elements and colors, and related marks are trademarks of USG Corporation or its affiliates.

2015 Construction Excellence Awards q Rules q Criteria q Entry Form

The Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA) invites applications for the Construction Excellence Awards competition.

q

Call for Entries

Award winners will be recognized during the CISCA Convention April 16-19, 2016 in New Orleans, LA. The awards ceremony features a multi-media presentation of all submissions and winning projects. Winners will be featured in the Acoustical Interior Construction magazine.

Entries are due no later than February 1, 2016.

A special entry fee is available for entries received by January 15, 2016. No late entries will be accepted.

q

Regions

Your project will compete against other projects submitted in the same CISCA region. Projects must be submitted in the CISCA region where the project is located.

All entries will be judged using the same award categories and criteria against other submissions from that region. Projects outside the United States and Canada will enter the International Region.

Regional qualification does not apply to the Boutique and International Categories. All entries in the Boutique and International Categories will be judged as a group.

Note: Entries outside the geographic area shown at right are considered International.

q

Category Descriptions

Ceilings – Complex or difficult design new construction ceiling projects (interior or exterior) using metal, wood, fiberglass, fabric or mineral fiber.

Renovation – Complex or difficult design renovation projects using metal, wood, fiberglass, fabric or mineral fiber.

Interior Finishes – Complex or difficult design interior finish projects. Category includes wall panels and cladding systems. This category is all inclusive for work done on the interior of a building.

Note: Entries outside the geographic area shown below are considered International.

Acoustical Solutions – Complex or difficult design projects solving an acoustical challenge.

Boutique – Unique interior projects less than 10,000 square feet.

NOTE: Entries submitted in the wrong category may have points deducted from their scores or be disqualified by the judges.

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

27

Award Types

q

Award Recipients will be notified after judging. Winners are asked to notify the others listed on their project of the outcome of judging. Each winning entry is given one award.

Additional awards may be purchased for other CISCA members who worked on the projects. Additional awards purchased by March 7, 2016 can be presented during the dinner. All awards will be presented in New Orleans and a picture will be taken. Only CISCA members will be recognized in the video and in the magazine Gold – may be awarded in each category within each region.

Silver – may be awarded in each category within each region.

Bronze – may be awarded in each category within each region.

Boutique – Gold, Silver and Bronze may be awarded within this category.

Optional Special Awards Special Awards may be given at the discretion of the judges. Recognition may be given to the project the judges deem to be the “Best of the Best,” The Founder’s Award. The Founder’s Award is presented to the project deemed the best overall project – work of the contractor and use of manufacturer’s materials.

Contractor’s Award – this award may be given to a project submitted by a contractor. This award is similar to the Founder’s Award, but will be given based solely on the work of the contractor who has submitted the entry.

- - - - -

q

Entry Requirements Projects must be completed within 18 months of the date due and not have been previously submitted.

No maximum to the number of total entries from one company A maximum of three (3) entries in any one category from one company No project may be submitted in more than one category by the same company The company submitting the project must be a CISCA member, i.e. distributor, contractor, manufacturer, etc. by the date of judging.

WHAT TO SEND - $1,000 fee if submitted by January 15, 2016, $450 if the contractor is a CISCA member - $1,300 fee if received January 16 - February 1, 2016, $500 if the contractor is a CISCA member - Completed entry form, binder (as per below), pictures - Be sure the entry form clearly indicates the region where the project is located - Be sure the entry form clearly indicates the category under which the project is entered.

- Do not send material you need returned BINDER REQUIREMENT - White 1 inch, 3-ring binder (suggested Wilson-Jones W362-14W) - Each sheet/picture should be placed in a plastic protection sheet - No dividers should be used, no cover sheet - Items should be placed in binder in the following order: o Completed Entry form, along with form of payment o Narrative (no longer than 500 words) – more detail can be found later. No company name, project name, or location of project — if used, the name will be blacked out with a marker and points will be deducted by the judges. o Pictures – be sure the picture description is placed below the picture, not on the back, or on the adjacent page. Decription cannot state company name, project name, or location of project. o Short paragraph to be used in the magazine if the project wins (Up to a 50 word narrative should be written for the magazine and awards presentation, should the project win an award. This narrative should include the name of the project and all contributing companies.) o CD of photos in jpeg format only or sent via Dropbox. o Please indicate which picture you would like used in the magazine.

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Judging Criteria

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY A panel of industry representatives will judge the entries. A copy of the judges’ scoring sheet is attached.

When thinking about what to include regarding job conditions, consider the challenges a job site might present to the contractor working within a difficult space. For example, other tradesmen and equipment working at the same time making installation more difficult; unusual heights and the complexity of installation due to these heights; or other extreme unusual outside influences that challenged the installation process. Include the estimated total man hours which the job required for completion.

Many times the submittals include the statement “the job had a short time frame for installation” or something of that nature and depending on the project and products installed that may or may not be considered a “job condition”.

OVERALL PRESENTATION AND APPEARANCE OF ENTRY Binder:

a.

Each entry must be in a white, 3-ring binder with no company or project names or logo.

Suggested binder is Wilson Jones, W362 14W.

b.

Each sheet of paper and photograph is to be in a clear plastic protection sheet

c.

Do not use dividers

d.

Binder should be arranged in this order:

o Completed Entry form, along with form of payment

o Narrative (no longer than 500 words) – more detail can be found later

o Pictures – be sure the picture description is placed below the picture, not on the back, not on the adjacent page.

o Short paragraph to be used in the magazine if the project wins (Up to a 100 word

narrative should be written for the magazine and awards presentation should the project win an

award. This narrative should include the name of the project and all contributing companies.)

o CD of photos Photographs All photos should be hi-resolution. A minimum of (5), but no more than ten (10) 8” X 10” or full-sheet photographs may be included. Provide a brief description of the photo below the picture. Photos should be good quality photos which clearly show the judges the project. Photos do not have to be professionally done, but if they are, be sure to obtain reproduction rights from the photographer for CISCA’s use without limitation. Photos on the CD should be in JPEG format. It would be helpful to the judges to have photographs of the project before, during and after completion of the project. Project name and company or specific product names should not be in the photographs.

Narrative A maximum of 500 words providing details about the size and scope of the project. Narrative should include information on the challenges and special obstacles encountered on the project; the degree of difficulty or extenuating circumstances encountered in completing the project. Basically, answer these questions:

• What makes this project special?

• Any manufacturing difficulties

• What qualifies this project for an award?

• Any installation difficulties

• Estimate of man hours required • Discuss the contractor’s creativity and

ability to solve problems on the project NOTE: THIS NARRATIVE SHOULD NOT INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT, SPECIFIC PRODUCT NAMES, THE NAME OF THE CONTRACTOR, MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR, INDEPENDENT MANUFACTURERS REP, ARCHITECT, OTHER COMPANY THAT WORKED ON THE PROJECT OR PERSONS WHO WORKED ON THE PROJECT. IF INCLUDED, THESE NAMES ARE BLACKED OUT WITH A MARKER WHICH MAKES READING THE NARRATIVE DIFFICULT FOR THE JUDGES AS THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF FLOW WHEN READING. UP TO 10 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED IF NAMES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS NARRATIVE. NOTE: ALL WINNERS RECEIVE ONE CRYSTAL AWARD AND ONE COPY OF THE COFFEE TABLE VERSION OF THE AWARDS BOOK. EXTRA COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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q

2015 Entry Form

CISCA CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE AWARDS Please complete the information exactly as it should appear on the award. Each submission requires a separate entry form, which must be in a separate entry binder. Form must be completed in its entirety. Contact person is requested to respond to all communications in a timely manner.

Print or type exactly as it should appear on the award, in the magazine and on the website.

Category (circle one) Acoustical Solutions Ceilings Interior Finishes Renovation Boutique International q q q q q q (No Region) Region (circle one) South Central East West q q q q Name of Project: Location of Project (city, state): List other companies involved in this project. Please note, Contractor, Distributor, Manufacturers Reps and Manufacturers must be CISCA members to be recognized as having worked on the project. If you have a long list of contributors, please append them to your entry form on a separate sheet.

Contractor: Company name, Contact name, Email address, phone number, city, state Distributor: Company name, Contact name, Email address, phone number, city, state

Mfg. Rep: Company name, Contact name, Email address, phone number, city, state Manufacturer: Company name, Contact name, Email address, phone number, city, state Architect: Company name, Contact name, Email address, phone number, city, state Acoustician: Company name, Contact name, Email address, phone number, city, state

Applicant: Company Name: Contact Person: Title:

Mailing Address:

Telephone Number: Email Address:

As company representative I give CISCA permission to use photographs and any information submitted for the CISCA Construction Excellence Awards competition, promotional materials and news releases.

Submission deadline is February 1, 2016

Signature: Payment Type (circle one): Check Visa MasterCard AMEX

1010 Jorie Blvd., Suite 30, Card Number: Expiration Date: CCV: Date:

Billing Zip Code:

Oak Brook, IL 60523 Ph: 630-584-1919 Fax: 866-560-8537

www.cisca.org

NEW MEMBERS COMPANY Acoustical Material Services Acoustical Material Services Acoustical Material Services Aladdin Construction Allied Buidling Products Allied Building Materials Allied Building Materials - New Haven Allied Building Products Allied Building Products Architectural Finishes, Inc. Architectural Materials Atlantic Meridian Contracting Corp.

Bonitz, Inc. Builders Gypsum Builders Gypsum Builders Gypsum Builders Gypsum Builders Gypsum Chadwick Technology Pty Ltd FBM Akron FBM Algood FBM Appleton FBM Austin FBM Avondale FBM Bloomington FBM Clarksville FBM Cleveland FBM Dallas FBM Dallas, Texas FBM Detroit FBM Escondido FBM Fort Wayne FBM Fort Worth FBM Gaylord FBM Grand Rapids FBM Green Bay FBM Greensburg FBM Hayward FBM Holland FBM Indy East FBM Indy West FBM Jacksonville FBM Kalamazoo FBM Kokomo FBM Lafayette FBM Lansing FBM Madison FBM Marquette FBM Midland FBM Murfreesboro FBM Muskegon FBM Naples FBM Nashville FBM North Hollywood FBM Ocala FBM Orange FBM Orange City FBM Orlando FBM Oxnard FBM Petoskey FBM Phoenix FBM Phoenix, Arizona FBM Pico Rivera FBM Pittsburgh FBM Riverside

CITY STATE Salt Lake City UT Van Nuys CA Los Angeles CA Biloxi MS Baltimore MD Lessburg VA New Haven CT Capitol Heights MD Gaithersburg MD Alpharetta GA Morrison CO Savannah GA Greenville SC Irving TX San Antonio TX Fort Worth TX Round Rock TX Houston TX Killarney Heights NSW AU Akron OH Cookeville TN Mensha WI Austin TX Avondale AZ Bloomington IN Clarksville TN Parma OH Dallas TX Dallas TX Livonia MI Escondido CA Fort Wayne IN Fort Worth TX Gaylord MI Grand Rapids MI Little Suamico WI Greensburg PA Hayward CA Holland MI Indianapolis IN Indianapolis IN Jacksonville FL Portage MI Kokomo IN Lafayette IN Lansing MI Madison WI Negaunee MI Midland MI Murfreesboro TN Muskegon MI Naples FL Nashville TN North Hollywood CA Ocala FL Orange CA Deland FL Orlando FL Oxnard CA Petoskey MI Phoenix AZ Phoenix AZ Pico Rivera CA Carnegie PA Riverside CA

Belmont FBM Rockford San Diego FBM San Diego San Jose FBM San Jose Sarasota FBM Sarasota South Bend FBM South Bend Houston FBM South Houston Tampa FBM Tampa Tomball FBM Tomball Traverse City FBM Traverse City Tucson FBM Tucson Tucson FBM Tucson, Arizona Tyler FBM Tyler Wausau FBM Wausau Youngstown FBM Youngstown Valdosta Fogleman Kailua-Kona GW Killebrew Charlotte Interior Distributors Durham Interior Distributors Midlantic Sales Group, Inc. Annapolis Snohomish Pacific Source Kilauea Pacific Source Wailuku Pacific Source Honolulu Pacific Source Wailuku RME

MI CA CA FL IN TX FL TX MI AZ AZ TX WI OH GA HI NC NC MD WA HI HI HI HI

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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THEINSIDESTORY

r e Cov

y r Sto

MSUM Livingston Lord Library Moorhead, MN

Gold Award - Renovation - Central Region Submitted by: Golden Valley Supply Co. Other CISCA members involved with the project: Floor to Ceiling/Carpet One Architectural Surfaces

Architect: BVK Group

by Meta Levin

T

hanks in large part to work done by Golden Valley Supply Company, Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) students now have a bright, cheerful and acoustically sophisticated 21st century library in which to work.

Renovating the Livingston Lord Library was wideranging and challenging. It included adding acoustical wood ceilings to provide warmth, ambiance and sound control. Golden Valley Supply Company’s contribution to the project earned it CISCA’s Gold Award, Renovation, central region.

The key to successfully completing this project was keeping the wood panels within certain temperature and humidity tolerances. Golden Valley’s warehouse was up to the job. The panels were ordered with plenty of lead time, then carefully stored in the warehouse.

Moisture levels were checked regularly, says Gary 32

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

Larson, of Golden Valley Supply.

Actually, the warehouse was conveniently located in Fargo, ND, which is next door to Moorhead, MN, the home of Minnesota State University Moorhead. They are, says Larson, like twin cities.

Originally designed and constructed in the 1960s, the Livingston Lord Library building needed a complete overhaul. Minneapolis based BKV Group was hired to design and renovate the building into a 21st Century learning center.

The design focused on the changes in college libraries in the last 50 years, including redefining spaces, as well as accommodating the need for using electronics and media, not to mention safety, archives and technology.

With its academic resources areas, Center for Academic Innovation, 24/7 student media labs, (continued on page 36)

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33

THEINSIDESTORY

34

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Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

35

THEINSIDESTORY (continued from page 32) consolidation of service desks and self-service student areas, the Livingston Lord Library not only is at the forefront of college libraries, but a welcoming place for students to study and work.

CISCA member firm, Architectural Surfaces was chosen to provide its Acoustigreen Selectwood Perforated 2x4 Ceiling and Wall Panels in a maple finish for the ceilings. “They were looking for a wood product,” says Larson. Golden Valley Supply sent samples of the Acoustigreen product to the contractor, as well as the architect.

Because the library was open during construction, the project was divided into three phases. Work began on the east side of the fourth floor. It moved to the west side’s second story, but in the midst of

36

everything, the third and fourth floors on the east side were added to the job, but the construction schedule remained the same, says Bryan Vidden, subcontractor Floor to Ceiling/Carpet One commercial sales manager.

Working while the library was still open was one of the major challenges those on the project faced. “The second floor was full of book shelves with books in them,” Vidden says.

Using a custom rack lifting apparatus, the Floor to Ceiling/Carpet One crew was able to lift the shelves, still containing the books, jack them up and roll them out of the way. “We lifted them only ½ inch to 2 inches off the floor. It wasn’t very high and we did it without tipping them.”

The apparatus is made by a company that services the library industry and the University owned one.

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Several areas in the library renovation design called for 8 foot by 80 foot long, independently hung cloud ceiling panels. “We were not able to attach them to the wall,” says Vidden. “Normally we would be able to attach them to the wall to keep them structurally sound.”

To make it work, Vidden and his crew braced the panels from above, hanging them from the ceiling with a special clip that hung from the grid.

This also allowed for a ¼ inch gap between the panels. “These panels were larger than normal,” says Vidden. “But our installer had the expertise.”

The library features a large, central staircase and, of course, Floor to Ceiling/Carpet One had to work around it. It required a hydraulic scissor lift and “It took some (continued on page 38)

Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

37

THEINSIDESTORY (continued from page 36) maneuvering,” says Vidden. The lift featured a 30 inch wide by 8 foot long bed, with a 4 foot to 5 foot extension on the end. Installers were able to walk along it, but still needed to reach out and up.

Panels were hung on clips with twist and turn clip grips. “There were six clips on the back,” says Vidden. Installing the panels involved putting them up on an angle, sliding them into the grid and twisting them into place. The six inch trim rises vertically, along the edge of the cloud, functioning to conceal the grid system and insulation. Lights were independently hung between the rows.

“They all required independent

38

suspension,” says Larson. “It was a little bit tedious, but they all got together.”

The panels involved 8,000 feet of custom designed wood panels, many of which were installed over the custom built staircase. It was, says Vidden, a team effort to come up with the panels, all of which were made to order for the project and micro– perforated for the acoustics required.

“The biggest challenge was the lay out of the panels for the ceiling,” says Vidden. “They all had to conform to a pattern.” They also were attached below the grid system. “It was time consuming.” All had to be aligned to insure that they fit properly and looked right.

Vidden and his crew coordinated

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with the HVAC, electrical and sprinkler contractors. “The trades all had to work off blueprints,” he says. “It took a lot of preparation to do it right. It was challenging, but good.”

The results are impressive. “I like it,” says Vidden. “The Library is unique, different and definitely an improvement to what was a dingy and gloomy building before.”

Larson is pleased, as well. “It has a nice, warm feeling and it looks awesome,” he says

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CISCA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Leadership Conference Mixes Teambuilding — Networking

by Rick Reuland

T

he 2015 CISCA Leadership Conference employed a heady mix of teambuilding, networking, and leadership instruction during the three day event. Held October 1416, 2015, at the Innisbrook Golf Resort at Palm Harbor, FL (near Tampa), the event drew approximately 75 CISCA members.

On day one, the expected welcome reception had an energetic twist — a physical event patterned after the popular CBS reality show — The Amazing Race. The CISCA version was ably administered by resort personnel and took nearly two hours to complete a series of physical challenges spread around the resort complex. To add another level of challenge the teams began the race in the waning light of day and finished in complete darkness. The event ranged in difficulty from a plastic cup stacking station, to a basketball free throw, to a gold chip shot on a pool deck.

Photos of the teams and events are here and on following pages. (continued on page 42) This table spent time strategizing on the race

President Jason Gordon welcomes the group 40

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— Instruction

This table just enjoyed each others company

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41

CISCA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Let the Race Begin...

This challenge involved chipping a golf ball into a ring by the pool

While this team had to carefully stack cups 42

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A brain challenge to name commercial catch phrases

This team had to practice their free throws

Balance the ball and drop it in the cup Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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CISCA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

All Teams Cross the Finish Line

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and The winner was...

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CISCA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Serious Side of Leadership

Day one speaker Ulli Munroe

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— Styles and Examples

Day two speaker Wally Adamcik Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION | FALL 2015

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INDUSTRIALACOUSTICS

Controlling Noise in Today’s Changing Office Environments Right combination of sound absorbing and sound blocking represents best approach to ceilings tailored to the needs of a space

By Sean D. Browne

A

coustical performance is one of the most vital ceiling selection criteria. Excessive noise in healthcare facilities can negatively affect patient stress, comfort and recovery.

In schools it is critical that students are able to hear and to understand their teacher. In commercial office spaces office employees have long considered poor acoustics one of the leading sources of workplace dissatisfaction.

48

Over the years, study after study by the University of California Berkley’s Center for the Built Environment has found that the lowest performing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) factor in office environments is acoustic satisfaction. Its research has also shown that poor acoustics, especially the intrusion of distracting speech, is a major cause of reduced effectiveness, higher stress, and declining job satisfaction. (continued on page 50)

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Sean D. Browne is Principal Scientist – Global Acoustics for Armstrong Commercial Ceiling Systems. He can be reached at sdbrowne@armstrong.com

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INDUSTRY ACOUSTICS (continued from page 48) In addition, the Gensler 2013 U.S. Workplace Survey indicates that organizations offering “balanced” workplace options, meaning those that enable team or collaboration areas in open plan spaces without sacrificing the ability to focus in concentration areas in those same spaces, are seen as more innovative and have higherperforming employees.

As this type of workplace emerges, the study notes

it will become increasingly important to attain higher levels of speech privacy not only in traditional closed plan places but also in focus or concentration areas in open plans. The challenge in areas such as these will be to balance the needs for privacy and focus with the need for a teaming environment in one space.

Right Mix of NRC and CAC

Acoustics in flexible interiors takes on new importance as traditional products are not always compatible with these design trends.

For example, in the past, acoustical ceilings typically offered either good sound absorption to decrease unwanted sound levels, or good ceiling attenuation to block unwanted sound intrusion into spaces, but not both absorption and blocking together in one ceiling. The choice of ceiling is usually dictated by the primary function of the space.

Today, however, architects are challenged with designing spaces with flexible floor plans, multiple functions, and a variety of different noise sources and locations. As a result, one of the best solutions for keeping noise levels down is the use of newly innovated acoustical ceiling panels that provide combined acoustics. This means the panels have the ideal mix of sound absorption (Noise Reduction Coefficient, or NRC) and sound blocking (Ceiling Attenuation Class, or CAC).

Today’s open plan space can easily become tomorrow’s closed office without changing out the ceiling.

The NRC indicates the ability of a ceiling to absorb sound. It is expressed as a number between 0.00 and 1.00, and indicates the average percentage of sound it absorbs. An NRC of 0.60 means a ceiling absorbs 60% of the sound that strikes it and provides good absorption. A ceiling with an NRC less than 0.60 is considered low performance, one

50

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with an NRC of 0.70 or greater, high performance.

However, NRC alone won’t address all the design challenges of today’s workplace.

The CAC indicates the ability of a ceiling to block sound in one space from passing up into the plenum and transmitting back down into an adjacent area that shares the same plenum. The higher the number, the better the ceiling acts as a barrier to sound intrusion between the spaces. A ceiling with a CAC less than 25 is considered low performance, one with a CAC of 35 or greater, high performance.

Because of its sound blocking ability, CAC is an important consideration between adjacent closed spaces as well as between adjacent closed and open spaces. It is also necessary in open spaces where collaboration or teaming areas are located and sounds from mechanics in the plenum and noise from floors above need to be blocked. If the CAC values in a ceiling are below 35, walls must go to the deck to achieve confidential speech privacy.

In open plan spaces where both focus areas and collaboration areas are located, ceilings panels that combine both a moderate to high NRC to decrease reverberant sound, and a moderate to high CAC to block sound from traveling into the plenum and adjoining rooms are recommended. (see chart on page 52)

Easier Ceiling Selection

Ceiling panels that provide the right combination of NRC and CAC values now represent the best approach to ceilings tailored to the current and future needs of a space.

And, by providing both sound absorption and sound blocking in a single panel, they also make it easier for architects to specify a ceiling and facility managers to maintain it since the same panel can be used in a multitude of spaces. The combination of acoustic performance of NRC and CAC are shown below.

In closed plan spaces, speech privacy between adjacent spaces and speech intelligibility within the space itself is essential. As a result, ceiling panels that combine both a high CAC to block sound from traveling into adjoining spaces, and a moderate to high NRC to absorb unwanted sound within the space are best.

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INDUSTRY ACOUSTICS Rating

NRC

CAC

Good

0.60 – 0.65

35+

Better

0.70 – 0.75

35+

Best

0.80+

35+

(continued from page 51)

Enhanced Acoustic Value

Regardless of whether it’s an office building, healthcare facility or school, the ability to control sound in a space by using ceiling panels with the right combination of sound absorption and sound blocking not only helps achieve speech privacy but also increases speech intelligibility. The result is greater overall acoustic comfort, a reduction in noise-produced annoyance, and greater work effectiveness.

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The new direction in BIM.

Collaboration starts with Hunter Douglas Ceilings.

With the most comprehensive BIM package in the metal ceiling industry, we’re bringing everyone along on the journey: GCs, the MEP trades, and Framers (MEP-F). Our team will help you navigate the BIM process, taking your project from initial design through final construction. www.HunterDouglasCeilings.com/BIMdirected

©2015 Hunter Douglas Inc. All rights reserved.

Hunter Douglas is a registered trademark.

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BEYOND ACOUSTICS

Fact Checking and Degrees of Truth

by Jim Paluch

In this season

of political debates, it is very interesting to watch each candidate as they are passionately trying to win our votes.

They loudly proclaim their answers to questions or quietly with batting eyes give what sounds like an intelligent and truthful answer. They seem so well rehearsed when it comes time to look in the camera and can make it seem as if it is just them and me, and together we can change the multitude of things that are wrong.

54

The more they say that something is wrong and they can fix it, the better the chance they have of making me and them believe that it is a fact. How often, however, have you asked yourself, “Are they telling the truth?” It happens often for me and I am always interested when I come across a “fact checker” in a paper, magazine, or website. When reading through a “fact checker,” the candidate’s statements are scrutinized, and one of three answers can

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be the result: “It was a fact,” “It was almost a fact,” or “It was not a fact.”

That prompts one of three responses from me in the same order” “That’s great”, “I wonder what else they are spinning?” and “How do they look themselves in the mirror?” This is not meant to belittle or critique our candidates, who I believe have the best intentions and just like each of us may have convinced themselves of what the facts are even though they may not truly be . . . the facts.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had our own personal “fact checker”? Beth and I had an appointment with a nutritionist this week, and it brought this concept of knowing what exactly the facts are and what are not facts to my mind. As the nutritionist started asking questions about what our typical breakfast, lunch or dinner would consist of and how we approached buying groceries, we felt pretty good about how we stood up to her questions. Then a “fact checker” came into play when she asked what I may eat when I’m on the road travelling.

I simply responded with a question of my own, “Is it true that pizza represents all four food groups?” The fact is I had fooled myself thinking through the years that it is okay to go all day, miss lunch and justify a pizza delivered right to my hotel room that evening!

The next line of questioning coming from this interrogation specialist disguised as a nutritionist focused in on exercise. “What type of exercise do you do?” she asked me looking over the top of her glasses and seeming to sense she was starting to

break through the “fact facade” I had so cleverly crafted in my mind. “Oh that is something that is very important to me,” I said with the pride of an Olympian athlete. “I am a runner!”

She then enthusiastically, yet cunningly, replied, “That is awesome.

Tell me, how many miles do you run in a week?” Now, I wouldn’t go so far as to say my life passed in front of my eyes, but in what was only a few seconds, many images passed through my mind of years passed . . . long runs with friends, running in winter storms, on beaches and my favorite thing of all, running through the parks near my home with our Dalmation and in recent years Sam, our boxer! I could feel the smile on my face begin to fade as I heard the alarming words come from my mouth . . . “Well the fact is . . .” I confessed as I thought how well she had broken through my resistance, “in recent months, the runs have happened less and less, and gotten shorter and shorter. Actually they are more of a walk in the woods than a run.”

“That is okay!” she smiled removing her glasses. “It sounds like

you do more than 95% of most Americans. At least you are doing something.”

With that experience behind me, and during my run this morning with the sunrise painting colors in the eastern sky and Sam bounding after a deer just to my left, I began to wonder how many other “fact checks” I need in my life. As I ran, I started thinking about some criteria to question myself on and the first thing that came to mind was the book I wrote almost 20 years ago, Five Important Things.

I thought through each of the five things: • Continue to Learn • Appreciate People • Great Attitude • Set Goals • Don’t Quit With each one I tried to say yes I’m doing that but, the fact is, I knew I could do better. Next, I took the opportunity to consider the next book, Leaving a Legacy, and went through the seven things that this story was built around:

(continued on page 56)

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BEYOND ACOUSTICS (continued from page 55) • Make the best use of your time • Keep the desire to smile • Life is as we see it • Face the dragon within • Appreciate the value of hard work • Find inspiration in everything • Have the courage to take action • With the sun now starting to come up over the trees I once again realized that the fact is, I knew I could do better.

Letting Sam jump in the back seat of my truck, I got behind the steering wheel and was just sitting there when the question came to me, “What do I really want my legacy to be?” The fact is... I knew what I did not want it to be ... “at least you are doing something and that’s more than most,” like the nutritionist informed me. I also knew I did not want it to be “I was doing pretty good, but knew I could do better” like I told myself during the run... the fact is, I was inspired sitting there, knowing I had some work to do, and because of facing the facts I knew what work had to be done.

Checking the Facts

Where can we continue to discover criteria to fact check against?

The mission, vision and values of our company would be a great place to start or if you are a bit more analytical, look through your position description or last performance review. What are the facts you discover about yourself when you consider these and other things that can give a clear dose of reality when looking at your career or business?

How about your family? Do you really have a “date night” with your spouse each month like you say, or would a fact checker point out you used to have date nights but in the last two years it’s happened once or twice? How about family vacations, starting to save for college for the kids or retirement? Are you getting 56

outside and creating memories with your kids or have you put yourself and them stuck steadfast in front of some type of screen creating a shorter time with them, evident in the fact you are always saying, “how fast it seems they are growing up and how soon they will be moving out of the house!”

How about your continued education, community involvement, commitment to your friends, or being there for your aging parents?

Quotes worth consideration “What are you pretending not to know?”

- Derek Gracely “The only one keeping an eye on us is ourselves. How good do we want to be?”

- Mike Rorie “As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information.”

- Benjamin Disraeli “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

- John Adams “I deal with the obvious. I present, reiterate and glorify the obvious -because the obvious is what people need to be told.”

- Dale Carnegie

What about your faith? The fact is, we have so many positive things to inspire our lives. When we start to consider them, we can build on all the things that are going right and not just aimlessly wander around claiming to fix the things that are seemingly going wrong. Wouldn’t that be a great strategy for all those men and women standing in our presidential debates? Let’s all continue to seek the facts and build on the great things taking place around us. The fact is, it would be hard to debate whether living this strategy would produce results that go far beyond, “doing something and that’s more than most people.” The fact is, truth doesn’t come in degrees, and we can improve anything when we know the facts!

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If you want to learn more about the power of PEOPLE SOLUTIONS THAT DRIVE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE, contact: JP Horizons Inc. 7245 Mildon Drive Painesville, OH 44077 Phone: (440) 352-8211 Fax: (440) 352-8225 e-mail: jim@jphorizons.com web site: www.jphorizons.com

© 2015 CertainTeed Corporation

BIG by design. Acoustic by nature.

The Gyptone® BIG™ family of products from CertainTeed Ceilings allows you to create beautiful continuous walls and ceilings that seamlessly blend aesthetics with acoustics, performance and sustainability. Their large format creates sweeping surfaces with elegantly patterned perforations.

You can Be Certain™ Gyptone® BIG™ will distinguish your designs with a bold style unlike any other, while creating a space with superior Environmental Acoustics™. www.CertainTeed.com/Ceilings The Gyptone® BIG™ Line 6 panel features: -Rectangular, perforated pattern (80mm x 6mm) -Acoustical backing (NRC of 0.60) -Smooth, paintable surface -Low VOC Compliant/independently tested and certified -Health Product Declaration (HPD) available

Ceilings

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In Memoriam

Rodger Leon 1937-2015 It is with deep personal regret that I inform you that Rodger Leon died on Saturday, October 24th.

Each of us not only grieves at the passing of this wonderful individual and friend, but also for the loss his family suffers. Rodger was 87.

In 1970 Rodger founded Design Sales Associates, one of the first interior architectural industry’s independent agent firms, and has been a pioneer and successful industry leader working closely with ceiling and specialty manufacturers. He was a graduate mechanical engineer and had the gift of solving complex architectural design issues and transforming them into systems that could be manufactured.

Rodger retired when he was 78 years old.

Rodger is survived by his wife Betty, to whom he was married for 63 years, and children Susan and Paul Richter, Missy and Bill Carambelas, Virginia and Bill Leon, nine grandchildren, and seven great- grandchildren.

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Armstrong ...........................................................................10 .. www.armstrong.com ................................................................................................

877.armstrong CertainTeed.........................................................................57 www.certainteed.com 800.233.8990

Globalnex...................................................................................52 www.globalnex.com

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(813) 287-8210

Gordon Incorporated ........................................................ 2 www.gordon-inc.com 800.747.8954

Hunter Douglas .................................................................53....... www.hunterdouglasceilings.com.

770-542-1207

L.D. Peters & Sons, Inc........................................................9.......

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WELCOME

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Emlyn Bertsche

58

REW Materials ....................................................................7 www.rewmaterials.com.

Rockfon LLC ....................................................................59 www.rockfon.com

Meet...

New to CISCA, Emlyn is eager to connect with current members and reach out to prospective members. She comes from a background in education and communication, and looks forward to focusing on those areas within the CISCA community. In her spare time, she’s an avid runner and enjoys sailing with her husband.

www.ldpeters.com 914.576.510

Rulon International ......................................................... 60 www.rulonco.com 904.584.1400

Emlyn Bertsche Membership & Education Coordinator Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association 1010 Jorie Blvd, Suite 30 Oak Brook, IL 60523 630-584-1919 Emlyn.Bertsche@cisca.org

FALL 2015 | Acoustical INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

USG ................................................................................... 26 www.usg.com 312.436.4000

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