Aluminum Mesh Ceiling Transforms Baden-Württemberg State Ministries

February 15, 2017

Stuttgart is the capital and largest city in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg. Rich in history and culture, it is now known for its role as a global hub for high-tech industry.

Thanks to this robust investment, Stuttgart has seen an architectural renaissance, as businesses large and small seek out modern, urban commercial spaces that address the needs of today’s workplace. With construction and retrofit projects on the rise, this ancient city is being transformed for a second time in the past century, one space at a time.

King of England Reborn for the 21st Century

Nestled between the Old Castle and Stiftskirche in Stuttgart’s Old City was one of Germany’s first coffee houses. The coffee house served as a central gathering place for locals and travelers but was eventually replaced by the King of England Inn in 1798. While the inn remained an important meeting place, it was destroyed during the Second World War and replaced again with a large administrative building.

Vacant for many years, the building was recently purchased, refurbished and modernized for use by the Baden-Württemberg state ministries. The primary objective of the renovation was to retain the building’s character while providing users with state-of-the-art facilities.

To ensure optimal room acoustics and a contemporary, attractive aesthetic for the top floor conference center, the architects opted for a gold-anodized acoustic ceiling made of aluminum mesh. Manufactured by GKD, the ceilings are a spectacular and one-of-a-kind addition to the space.

An Ideal Solution

GKD’s new CMP mesh ceiling system was the ideal solution for the penthouse conference center. Notably, the system was designed as a direct result of conversations with architects and designers who wanted beautiful, functional and easy-to-install metal mesh options for new and renovated commercial spaces.

Available in rigid or flexible panels, the mesh can be cut into a variety of shapes and can be easily bored and trimmed to accommodate lighting, sprinkler systems and other fixtures. This makes them ideal for retrofit projects like the administrative building.

For installation, ceiling panels are first sized and formed into a “pan” shape. This provides panel stability and gives a finished appearance. The ceiling can be acoustically passive or active, depending on the addition of an acoustic fleece. The grid support network above the ceiling panels is secured by clips from the grid system. Such a system allows for adequate airflow and can be readily demounted for access to ductwork, plumbing or wiring.

Modernization Meets Conservation

The refurbishment of the historical building posed a variety of challenges to Stuttgart-based architect firm zsp Architekten. The plan involved the overhaul of all structural and energy-related aspects of the façade and roof surfaces, as well as the entire interior. Since the facility’s ground floor is home to several shops, the goal was to provide uninterrupted sales operations throughout the refurbishment process.

Additionally, the final design had to retain the reinforced concrete skeleton (with a travertine façade) and the existing historical steel composite windows. Using restorative coating analyses and photographs of the building taken during construction, some walls and windows were restored to their original colors. Fire protection was also optimized, and teams removed harmful materials. Throughout the interior of the building, surfaces and technical facilities were given a modern facelift.

Finding the Right Fit

The top floor of the building received extra attention during the design and build process. Originally converted into apartments, the new owners wanted it converted into a conference and meeting room. However, the ceiling structure presented particular challenges to the architects when it came to equipping the narrow, but very long room with a lobby. They required a large, grid-free ceiling that combined acoustic properties and a formal appearance.

The CMP mesh ceiling system by GKD included an aluminum honeycomb supporting plate to accommodate large, rigid panels. The gold-anodized surface layer made of Alu 6010 aluminum mesh gives the room a royal feel that befits the history of the location. Underneath the 1000-square feet of panels is an intermediate layer of acoustic fleece to manage acoustics and reduce reverberation.

The highly stable and lightweight nature of the structure helped make finishing and fastening a breeze. The honeycomb supporting plate is mounted to the substructure by means of a perforated plate with L-shaped brackets fitted to the back.

As such, the top floor of the new “King of England” now boasts a glossy ceiling surface with a monolithic effect. The reduced number of joints resulting from the large dimensions of the panels and their butt join design underline this effect. The shine of the metallic mesh is further enhanced by the round LED ceiling lights.