Architecturally inspiring the largest courthouse in the Netherlands

After years of planning and preparation, a new courthouse was finally opened in Amsterdam in 2021. It has become a magnificent complex of offices, restaurants, 50 courtrooms and meeting rooms, interview rooms, and spaces for detained persons covering an area of 47,250 m². To meet strict acoustic criteria, the architectural firm specifically opted for the seamless ceiling and wall system from the Danish company Rockfon.

Seamless, Monolithic Acoustic Solution

The 50-meter high building is open and inviting, but the "wow" effect is primarily brought by the spaciously designed foyer surrounding the courtrooms. The building accommodates 1,200 employees and 800 to 1,000 visitors daily, representing the largest courthouse in the Netherlands. In close collaboration with the architectural firm KAAN Architecten Rotterdam and the installation company Verwol Projectafbouw, all the requirements of the consortium NACH responsible for the design, construction, financing, and maintenance of the new building were fulfilled.

Large windows in the lower half of the building allow a view from the street into the interior, and the walls and floors are made of natural stone. While the design provides a sea of space and light, these materials represent hard surfaces that can contribute to unpleasant reverberation and echo. To create the right acoustic balance, the ceiling and walls were equipped with acoustic panels Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic.

According to architect and project manager Luuk Dietz, the building had to be functional, recognizable, and authoritative. "The primary process of justice is key and should not be disturbed in any way. Despite the dynamics of this busy public place with high ceilings and stone floors and walls, strict acoustic criteria had to be met. The only solution that fit our vision was the monolithic solution that represents Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic."

The architectural firm KAAN Architecten designed the new courtroom and specifically opted for the seamless ceiling and wall system Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic to optimize acoustics, as it has an elegant, monolithic appearance.

"Great acoustics are very important even in courtrooms," says Bauke van der Goot, process manager for the contractor, Heijmans. "We searched for the right partners and trusted the advice of experts such as the installation company Verwol Projectafbouw. They managed to create the perfect acoustic balance wherever it was needed."

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Strict Noise Requirements Addressed in a Visually Appealing Manner

While the courthouse is architecturally inspiring, it must also serve people, requiring a balance between transparency and accessibility with security and privacy preservation. A unique feature is the placement of the foyer, which is visible from all sides of the building.

"The façade extends from the ground floor to the third floor. It is entirely transparent and provides visitors the opportunity to look from the foyer into the city as well as from the city into the foyer," says Dietz.

"The Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic ceiling serves in the transparent foyer as a visual attraction, as it is an elegant seamless, flat, and subtly textured system that can conceal all kinds of service installations. Additionally, this system fully meets the acoustic requirements placed on such an imposing public building. Strict requirements for speech intelligibility and reverberation time apply to all rooms located in the building. Even smaller courtrooms and corridors that run along all office floors are also equipped with the Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic system."

Smooth Transition Between Walls and Ceilings

A high volume of visitors naturally increases noise levels in any space. To prevent echo, the walls in the foyer are covered with acoustic panels Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic, which ensure a seamless connection with the ceiling.

"The only solution we found suitable for meeting the strict requirements set by the central government agency Central Government Real Estate Agency was the monolithic ceiling and wall system Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic."

Approximately 13,500 m² of Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic panels have been installed in the new courthouse.

"The great thing about this acoustic solution is that it is an elegant seamless system that looks like a plastered wall or ceiling. The only challenge is that it is very difficult to orient yourself and figure out a way out since the entire execution fits perfectly together."

To facilitate orientation, round access hatches with the same finish as the Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic acoustic panels are placed on the ceiling, blending with the design and mirroring the rhythm of the other ceiling elements.

Area Sales Manager at Rockfon, Edgar Belonje, believes this is an impressive case study as various types of ceiling and wall solutions from Rockfon are installed here.

"All components on the ceiling, such as sprinklers, speakers, and smoke detectors, are arranged in a regular pattern. In the courtrooms, interrogation rooms, and meeting rooms, Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic panels are positioned along the upper half of the walls. Additionally, to create the desired design, 12,000 m² of modular ceiling panels Rockfon Blanka® with various edge finishes are used. These panels have been placed in the courtrooms, in high traffic areas, and in the restaurant. And by combining different ceiling finishes, from the elegant edge X to the functional edge A, consistency with the bright white and matte surfaces is achieved everywhere."

High Standards Regarding Reverberation and Sound Absorption

Erwin Verlegh, head of the estimating and purchasing department at Verwol Complete Interior Realization, explains that the client Rijksvastgoedbedrijf set high requirements for reverberation values and sound absorption for the new courthouse building.

Do you want to know how to create an acoustic balance in a building aesthetically? Sign up for a free online training for architects, where you will learn more about acoustics as well as other tips for modern office and building design in general.

"For this project, we often met with experts from KAAN Architecten and Heijmans and consulted on how to tackle and realize many square meters of ceiling and wall finishes. Sometimes it was challenging because the solutions had to match the architect's vision while also staying within budget. For design and construction, it is ideal when decisions are made at team meetings with experts to ensure a successful outcome."

Project process manager NACH Bauke van der Goot states that Verwol decided relatively early on the Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic system as the best acoustic and aesthetic solution for this project.

"Good acoustics are an important part of the public spaces in the building, especially in courtrooms. And ceiling and wall systems must significantly contribute to the best acoustic balance. Here, these acoustic systems also serve as a base for the artworks of artist Femmy Otten, as her works were designed specifically for this building. Placing these artworks on the walls presents a challenge, but the system allows for it perfectly and accommodates it."

Dietz states that intensive cooperation with the project partners is, in his view, one of the highlights of the project.

"The building ultimately turned out so well down to the last detail because all parties collaborated perfectly. Not only Heijmans, but all subcontractors were treated as equal partners in the construction process. Thanks to the cooperation of entities on the same side, this project is successful," says Dietz.

The first hearing took place in the new courthouse in Amsterdam on May 3, 2021.

Features of the Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic Ceiling System:

• sound absorption class A (α_w up to 1.00),
• complete design freedom,
• curvature of the surface of the acoustic panel up to a radius of 1500 mm,
• application on ceilings and walls,
• can be installed sloped, flat, or curved, into a suspended grid or directly onto the structural ceiling,
• unique seamless and flexible acoustic solution.

Why Use Rockfon Acoustic Solutions?

The main advantages of these products are given by the unique properties of stone wool from which they are made:

• protection against noise (high sound absorption and sound insulation),
• protection against fire spread (fire reaction class A1),
• quick and easy way to create beautiful and comfortable spaces (high reflection and dispersion of natural light),
• easy installation (lightweight),
• easy cleaning and resistance to moisture (hydrophobic, suitable up to 100% RH),
• your contribution to a sustainable future (100% recyclability).

More at www.rockfon.cz

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