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MINNEAPOLIS¾ While SONEX® Valueline Panels are known to provide effective and affordable sound control, Rene Gonzalez Architect recognized the acoustical panels as much more. SONEX Valueline proved to be the ideal material to provide the insulated atmosphere that the architect envisioned for the new Alchemist shop in Miami Beach, Fla. The product covers 1,945 square feet (180.7 square meters) within the boutique’s 2,500-square foot (232.26 square meters) area. Very important, SONEX meets Miami Beach’s stringent fire code.
Set in the bustling and popular Lincoln Road shopping district, Alchemist caters to an elite audience with a discerning eye toward design. When conceptualizing the ground floor shop, Rene Gonzalez Architect knew they wanted to embrace the energy of the neighborhood and find a distinctive solution for their aesthetic expectations. The architecture firm set to work to create a unique style for the store that invites the lively crowds to enjoy an oasis of tranquility. They also wanted to incorporate a dynamic lighting effect that echoed the Miami Beach skyline and was reminiscent of urban areas in Japan. pinta’s SONEX Valueline met all those requirements while absorbing sound reverberating off glass, acrylic, steel and sealed Chattahoochee stone surfaces.
“The look and texture of SONEX completely fit our design needs for Alchemist,” says Monica Vazquez, associate at Rene Gonzalez Architect. “SONEX was the only suitable material that met Miami Beach’s strict fire code regulations for flame spread and smoke density.”
The panels installed at Alchemist are 2 by 4 feet (610 by 1,219 mm) and 1.5 inches (38 mm) thick. To create lighting reminiscent of the Miami Beach skyline, the contractors hollowed out sections of the panels and installed LED lights, programmed to change colors, vertically on the walls. Lighting from the ceiling also radiates from behind and around the SONEX ceiling clouds. During the day, SONEX Valueline reflects natural light from the large front window throughout the store.
“SONEX cut like butter and at the same time cut clean,” says Kevin Regalado, project director at Rene Gonzalez Architect. “We were able to miter corners, curve the panels for unique display areas, and adhere the product to plywood to create ceiling clouds that are suspended from aluminum studs.”
Regalado explains: “During construction, we noticed how loud it was in the space. There was a world of difference after SONEX was installed. Suddenly everything became peaceful.”
SONEX Valueline Panels are made from Class 1 fire-rated willtec® acoustical material. SONEX offers excellent acoustical control across all frequencies with a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) ranging from 0.75 to 1.05. The panels are especially effective at absorbing excessive sound at the middle frequencies (500 and 1,000 Hz). They have a subtle surface pattern and are available in multiple colors and sizes.
To download "The Science of Better Acoustics" white paper, go to www.pintaacoustic.net/acoustic-information. To learn more about pinta acoustic and its product line, visit www.pinta-acoustic.com or call 1.800.662.0032 or +1 612.355.4200.
About Alchemist
Owned by Roma Cohen and Erika Cohen, Alchemist occupies two spaces in the Miami Beach Lincoln Road parking garage designed by Herzog and de Meuron. The fifth-floor skybox features an eclectic mix of high-fashion styles from well-known designers to emerging brands. The ground floor shop features men’s and women’s upscale fashion, beauty and lifestyle items. Both boutiques were designed by Rene Gonzalez Architect.
About Rene Gonzalez Architect
Founded in 1997 in Miami, Rene Gonzalez Architect (RGA) believes that a building is inexorably linked to the cultural and natural environment beyond its physical footprint. The work intentionally blurs traditional lines and creates an active design conversation with a site’s ambient elements. Detail-oriented and contemporary, the award-winning firm specializes in the design of museum and gallery spaces, hospitality, commercial, retail and residential projects. RGA strives to shift perceptions of design and open a dialogue with the spaces we occupy.
About pinta acoustic, inc.
pinta acoustic, inc. manufactures a broad range of attractive ceiling tiles, wall panels, ceiling clouds, baffles and other acoustical products for commercial and industrial applications. pinta acoustic’s products include CONTOUR® and PHONSTOP Ceiling and Wall Tiles, HARMONI and WHITELINE® Ceiling Tiles, SQUARELINE® Metal Ceiling Tiles, BIOLINE® Wood Ceiling Tiles, BALANCE Ceiling Clouds, WHISPERWAVE Panels, Baffles, Ceiling Clouds and Awnings, FABRITEC Wall Panels, SONEX® Panels and Baffles, SONEX AFS Ceiling and Wall Systems, SONEX Rondo Baffles, SONEX Clean Baffles, Panels and Ceiling Clouds, willtec® Linear Absorbers, PROSPEC Decibel Drop® Viscoelastic Damping Compound, PROSPEC® Barrier, Foam and Composite Materials and Ceiling Grids.
