OWA (UK) Ltd

Leading suspended ceiling systems manufacturer OWA UK followed on from the huge installation of metal mesh ceiling rafts at Assembly C in Bristol with a second major development next door. Assembly B featured different sizes of mesh rafts and a different scheme concept from AHMM architects. The stunning pair of new office buildings together represent OWA UK’s largest contract to date for its demountable metal OWAtecta S80 acoustic rafts.Designed by AHMM Architects and constructed by Galliford Try, OWA UK worked closely with its approved sub-contractor Morrissey to design and install the rectangular and trapezium shaped acoustic mesh rafts throughout the open Cat A floors. Meanwhile, black mesh S36 Progress hook-on panels created an industrial design along the corridor spaces. The mesh panels included black, fabric wrapped, class A acoustic pads to absorb sound in those areas.There were four different, bespoke S80 configurations supplied for each of the six open floors at Assembly B. Above all, each raft elegantly fitted the designated exposed soffit ceiling space to provide a flexible and stylish acoustic solution.OWA UK’s demountable metal OWAtecta S80 acoustic rafts balance aesthetic appeal with acoustic performance. They help disguise M&E installations while providing necessary sound absorption and limiting noise pollution from floor to floor. Also, S80 helps towards meeting sustainability targets by utilising low carbon steel to produce the metal panels and suspension system.Furthermore, our OWAtecta S80 design can be almost any size. The completed assembly is created by abutting framed or trapezium metal panels to form an isolated raft. Each panel hooks onto a concealed suspension system and are easily removable to give access for maintenance and cleaning.

Leading acoustic ceiling manufacturer OWA UK has fulfilled a 2,000m² contract for its demountable, metal, OWAtecta S80 acoustic raft. The innovative system features in Assembly C and B – a landmark riverside commercial office development in Bristol.Designed by AHMM Architects and constructed by Galliford Try, Assembly Bristol comprises three multi-storey buildings. The first of which was completed in 2021 and is occupied by BT. Furthermore, the last two phases, known as Building B and Building C, are now complete. OWA UK worked closely with the appointed sub-contractor Morrissey to design and install the trapezium and rectangular shaped mesh metal rafts throughout the open plan Cat A fit out.The mesh OWAtecta S80 acoustic rafts are in situ on nine floors at Assembly C. Moreover, the trapezium shaped ceiling rafts blend into the footprint of the kite shaped building to provide a flexible and stylish acoustic ceiling solution.PurposefulBalancing aesthetic appeal with acoustic performance, OWA UK’s demountable, metal, OWAtecta S80 acoustic ceiling rafts help disguise M&E installations. In addition, they provide improved sound absorption and limit noise pollution from floor to floor. With wellbeing a key part of the overall design, OWA UK’s acoustic ceiling solutions create comfortable communal collaborative spaces and ensure speech privacy in others.As the new demountable S80 acoustic raft is a bespoke solution, OWA UK was able to design the varying shaped ceiling rafts to meet the specific requirements of each building’s unique footprint. OWA UK’s approved sub-contractor Morrissey developed a smart process of constructing the supporting frames on the floor and raising them via a board lift to the ceiling soffit for attachment to the threaded rod hangers. You can view an installation video from the ‘downloads’ tab on the S80 acoustic raft product page.Also, the stairwell corridors feature OWAtecta S36 Progress, hook-on, black, mesh planks. Each plank contains a black, fabric wrapped, rockwool, class A acoustic pad to absorb sound reduce reverberation in these areas.

OWA UK was delighted to be consulted when BakerHicks began planning the refurbishment of its offices in Motherwell.Of key importance was the enhancement of the workspace environment to encourage collaboration and creativity. The remit was to provide additional acoustic control using the company colour palette to complement the interior scheme. The consultation process resulted in materials being selected to achieve an interesting and distinctive finish.A black powder coated, curved ceiling track was manufactured to mirror the walkway through the centre of the office; from the track OWAconsult FreeStyle baffles in coloured fabric were hung to provide aesthetic appeal and give extra acoustic comfort.OWAconsult FreeStyle Trapeze canopies were installed in three groups of four over a collaboration area, to offer class A acoustic absorption and give a focal point. The grouping of canopies in this way has added texture and interest to the space.

A stunning suite of high performance ceiling and wall acoustic solutions from OWA UK has been specified for the University of Birmingham’s new landmark Molecular Sciences Building. OWA collaborated closely with the project design team of Associated Architects, Morgan Sindall and specialist contractor Titan Interior Solutions.The new building provides a state-of-the-art hub for the University of Birmingham’s ground-breaking research and academic work across chemical, environmental and bio-molecular sciences. Offering inclusive and flexible facilities for a variety of different users, the building uses eleven different ceiling and wall systems to enhance the acoustic performance of the building.LaboratoriesOur comprehensive product range enabled the project design team to devise tailored solutions to meet the different acoustic requirements of the building while creating a consistent and stylish aesthetic. Demountable, metal, OWAtecta S39 hook-on ceiling system, with a 55% open area, is in the laboratories. These perforated metal ceiling panels incorporate black acoustic fleece and class A pads but in some areas they have neither to support the specific ventilation strategy required for the lab spaces.Study roomsIn the offices and study rooms, OWA UK’s metal, demountable, S80 acoustic rafts mask the major M&E services whilst still enabling easy access for servicing and repair. Designed to meet the aesthetic and acoustic requirements of the varying spaces, the metal rafts were specified in eight different rectangular sizes and in addition, irregular trapezoidal shaped versions were installed in the lift lobbies. The rafts include class A pads to maximise acoustic absorption, with these areas also benefitting from OWA UK’s Freestyle acoustic wall panels.Communal areasIn the main communal areas of the building, various OWA UK ceiling systems control the acoustic reverberation, hide M&E installations, and improve design aesthetics. In the corridors, OWA UK supplied its OWAtecta aluminium S16 tubular baffle system, finished in the stunning Pearl Copper shade (RAL8029) which was the primary ‘feature’ colour of the design scheme. Regularly spaced tubes incorporate a full-length, integrated, LED light. Accompanying the tubes are OWA’s bespoke perforated metal bulkhead panels, also finished in the same Pearl Copper feature colour. The laboratory corridor spaces feature our clear spanning, metal, OWAtecta S36 lay-on corridor system. This ceiling system uses a simple wall trim to support the panels instead of an overhead grid. The system is quicker to install and allows easy access to pipework and essential services which run through the ceiling void. The S36 and bulkhead panels both contained high performance class A acoustic pads to capture sound and reduce echoes.StaircaseOne of the most stunning design features of the new Molecular Sciences building is the central staircase that leads to an upper atrium area. Here, OWA UK supplied various acoustic ceiling solutions, including bespoke rectangular panels beneath the stair runs and segmented panels beneath the semi-circular half landings. These too utilise the Pearl Copper ‘feature’ colour to create the focal point of the building. In the upper atrium, the metal OWAtecta S61 clip-in wall panel system was specified in various panel sizes to fit around the windows and grilles. All the wall panel joints fully co-ordinate with the metal OWAtecta S39 hook-on ceiling system to create a cohesive look. Both the wall and ceiling panels also benefit from the use of class A absorption acoustic pads.GeneralOWA UK also procured a number of bespoke elements to offer greater design versatility, including its acoustic OWAconsult FreeStyle baffles and wall absorbers. Both are wrapped in the client’s choice of fabric to match the desired blue and grey colour scheme. The FreeStyle ceiling baffles interweave with rectangular lights in some corridors and in the large open plan workspaces. OWA UK also supplied its OWAcoustic premium Brillianto A fleece covered, class A ceiling tiles. These lay into our OWAconstruct T24 cliq ceiling grid to form an S3 cliq T24 exposed system in the back areas.

The imposing building of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts immediately attracts attention when you walk through the centre of Antwerp. This museum has undergone a complete restoration and special renovation. The classic building has been extended to incorporate 40% more exhibition space with a modern appearance. Thanks to OWAplan, the acoustics in the Royal Museum have also been raised to a higher level. This enables the fine art to come into its own and be admired even more.The entrance, the entire first floor and the restaurant now enjoy the invisible luxury of acoustic comfort. The new exhibition spaces (formerly four historic courtyards) and the viewing hatch between them are also equipped with OWAplan. This captures sound and reverberation, preventing it from moving from one room to another.The acoustic plaster ceilings provide a clearly noticeable difference in peace and balance. Shrill sounds are absorbed and reverberation and echoes are captured, allowing you to enjoy the silence that reigns in museums. This way all attention remains on the art. And it deserves it!The KMSKA is a beautiful museum full of classic and modern works of art, which is definitely worth a visit. When you visit, experience the museum-quality acoustics of OWAplan in real life.

Leading window, door and façade systems supplier Schüco needed help to improve the sound quality within its UK showroom in Milton Keynes. OWA UK was the first to hear the call and has provided the perfect solution with an array of stylish acoustic ceiling rafts and canopies.The showroom is ideally suited to hosting events and displaying the Schüco product range. But, echoes within the large space were making it hard for visitors to clearly hear those who were speaking. The solution was to introduce sound absorption via four of OWA’s attractive acoustic canopy and raft systems. This resulted in greater speech intelligibility, thus enhancing the overall experience of those using the showroom.Commenting on the transformation, Schüco UK marketing director Helen Gemmell said: “We have an impressive showroom and events space which is housed within an area of the building with a warehouse structure. This resulted in a lot of sound problems due to the structure of the building and so OWA worked with Schüco to provide a tailored solution to resolve the sound challenges experienced when hosting events”.“The result of the acoustic ceiling canopy has made a vast improvement to the acoustics of the building, removing the echo from the space and improving the clarity of sound. The solution is also in keeping with the design and high-end interior of the showroom thanks to the aesthetically pleasing industrial look to the canopy.”Andrew Smith, managing director of OWA UK added: “We are delighted that we have been able to enhance what was already visually a stunning showroom space by working with Schüco to design and install a high-performance acoustic ceiling package. We are looking forward to attending more events at the showroom and also inviting our own customers to see our products in action and experience the comfortable acoustic environment first hand.”Acoustic SolutionOWA UK installed a variety of acoustic canopy and raft systems in different areas of the showroom. Therefore, creating the perfect balance between acoustic performance and aesthetic appeal.Three large RAW concrete monolithic rafts feature over the main conference space. As it’s name suggest, RAW concrete is a natural and industrial-looking surface. It mimics the look of the material while offering high sound absorption. Up to a hundred square metres of RAW boards were installed using OWA’s S7 suspension system. The installation avoided interfering with the existing services. As practically any size and shape is possible, each raft perimeter is finished with a black metal profile frame. The large format mineral boards are screwed from below with colour-matching screws. Similar to a regular plasterboard MF suspended ceiling system.Above the mezzanine level, three further raft and canopy solutions are on show. Four demountable metal OWAtecta S80 acoustic rafts, including black acoustic fleece and class A acoustic pads. The rafts were designed to fit around the existing lighting rig. Each individual panel simply hooks onto a hidden frame and abuts one another to form the final assembly. In adjacent walkway areas, new ‘one-piece’ metal OWAtecta S14 acoustic canopies offer a smaller solution. Each canopy includes a black acoustic fleece and class A acoustic pad. Also, S14 canopies can be specified in any colour. Finally, above the bar area, OWAconsult Corpus cuboid shapes showcase the three-dimensional design. Corpus enables designers freedom to create individual layouts utilising the square and rectangular acoustic canopies.

OWA makes the grade for Scotland’s landmark sustainable office development. The architect chose a trio of recyclable metal ceiling systems from OWA to complete the new-look interior at 30 Semple Street – a major new office redevelopment located in the heart of Edinburgh which is setting new standards for sustainable design.Dating back to 2001, the outdated facilities at 30 Semple Street have been given a major overhaul with the decision to refurbish and renovate helping to breathe new life into both the office block and regional commercial market. Overseen by the building’s original designer, Michael Laird Architects, the building has been transformed by main contractor, Ogilvie Construction, with the addition of two new floors, a roof terrace, and a host of sustainable design features. The resulting scheme is the first office development in Scotland to achieve an ‘outstanding’ design-stage BREEAM rating.Now standing at 8-storeys, the Grade-A office accommodation at Semple Street also boasts a clean, crisp, and light interior design scheme that features products from OWA’s popular OWAtecta metal ceiling collection. Installed by CCL Interiors Ltd and supplied through OWA’s distributor partner, Galaxy Insulation and Dry Lining Ltd, a combination of OWA’s metal S48 bandraster ceiling system, S36 hook-on metal corridor system, and S45 T15 metal lay-in ceiling tiles were specified throughout the building.OWA thriving in ScotlandThe contract for 30 Semple Street is OWA’s largest order for its metal S48 bandraster ceiling system in Scotland to date. Ideally suited for large open-plan office areas, the S48 metal ceiling hides the services above while ensuring ease of access via the fully demountable hook-on panels. The concealed primary suspension system gives a clean and contemporary finish to create a bright and spacious workplace environment. Furthermore, OWA’s S36 Progress hook-on metal corridor system, which incorporates demountable acoustic panels, enhances the corridors and lift areas. The use of this ceiling system also features an attractive ‘shadow gap’, which further complements the contemporary design of the new interior. For the washroom areas, a simple yet striking ceiling design includes OWA’s S45 TI5 metal lay-in suspended ceiling system to provide a practical yet attractive solution.Overseen by OWA’s regional sales team, full-size samples of each ceiling solution were provided at the design stage to ensure that OWA’s products aligned with the project’s exact aesthetic, performance, and environmental criteria.OWA provides some of the lowest embodied carbon figures for its range of metal ceiling systems available on the UK market. As well as being durable and easy to maintain, OWA’s metal ceiling systems are fully recyclable and manufactured almost entirely from steel produced using electric arc furnace technology. This results in embodied carbon figures as low as 4.99 kg CO2/m² for metal tiles or canopies, plus varying additional amounts depending on the suspension system.

OWA were thrilled to supply our ceiling systems to the iconic venue, The Exchange, at the University of Birmingham. As part of its recent renovation to restore the historic building to its former glory, our OWAconsult Selecta ceiling canopy was chosen as the perfect solution for this high-ceiling building thanks to its class A acoustic performance.We were the only company who could offer the large, bespoke sizes required by the architect. We also supplied custom trapeze shaped panels for the corners in the vaulted ceiling.

OWA UK was delighted to be able to contribute in such a positive way to the interior design of the new student residence at Westcombe House in Greenwich. This is a high-end project designed by Bowman Riley Architects which exhibits great attention to detail whilst showcasing innovative OWAconsult RAW concrete rafts.The materials used have been embraced by interior designer Laura Baarda of Bowman Riley; “OWA helped us with the specification and detailing of the dropped ceiling rafts and they create the perfect mix of contemporary and luxury to create more intimate areas over the dining and seating areas”. The rafts complement the exposed soffit whilst ensuring acoustic comfort in the spaces.The games and cinema room, along with the corridors, utilise our fully-demountable S3 T24 exposed system incorporating OWAcoustic Sinfonia black with black T24 hook grid. These ceilings offer excellent acoustic control with a very sleek and sharp aesthetic.OWAlifetime Sinfonia in white gives a clean, bright aspect to the Westcombe House utility areas, such as the entrance and laundry.