Acoustical Ceiling Tiles

East Brandywine Baptist Church

Located in Downingtown, PA, East Brandywine Baptist Church was searching for an acoustic ceiling solution following the renovation of their gym; an internet search led them to Kanopi by Armstrong World Industries.

The challenge

East Brandywine Baptist Church is where community happens. The active congregation spends a lot of time in its gymnasium, however, the gym was long overdue for an update - it had been over 30 years!

According to the facilities director, Ann Wuertz, identifying the 30-year-old ceiling material was a challenge, “We could not find anybody who could tell us what the ceiling was because of the wear and tear and because of how old it was.” The decision was made to renovate using stucco on the ceiling because they knew it would need to be impact-resistant.

Following the completion of the renovation, the aesthetics were modern and fresh, however, the acoustics became an issue due to the materials used. Wuertz and everyone who would visit the updated gym quickly noticed the loud, reverberating sounds. “The space echoed and it was hard to be comfortable.” They knew that an acoustical solution needed to be installed so that they could enjoy their new space.

The solution

To help with the acoustical issue in the space, Wuertz took to her computer to search for the answer. She started Googling and Kanopi was the first to catch her eye.

Selected for use were black LYRA PB Direct Apply panels. This product offers sustainable and acoustical options for a wide variety of applications and can be installed directly to existing drywall, plaster, concrete, or metal ceilings using ceiling adhesive.

Altogether, 62 panels were installed, for a total of 992 square feet. The black color was chosen to blend in with the current ceiling. The panels have a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of 0.95, meaning they absorb 95% of the sound that strikes them. After installation, visitors, church-goers, and staff noticed the improvement and the acoustical analysis confirmed it.

“The new ceiling made a WORLD of difference. It was a great experience.”

- Ann Wuertz, Facilities Director, East Brandywine Church

“The new ceiling made a WORLD of difference. It was a great experience.”

- Ann Wuertz, Facilities Director, East Brandywine Church

“The new ceiling made a WORLD of difference. It was a great experience.”

- Ann Wuertz, Facilities Director,
East Brandywine Church