A 140-year old Category A listed building which has been restored and redeveloped now boasts greatly improved acoustics thanks to the use of the StoSilent Distance ceiling system from Sto.

The StoSilent Distance system was installed in the main hall area of the Town Hall building in Paisley, Scotland as part of the venue’s transformation.

'The highly ornate design of the original ceilings meant that this was a complicated installation, especially given the number of people using the building and the large volume of ambient noise which they could generate,' explains Sto’s acoustics project manager, James Gosling. 'A different solution was originally considered, but Sto’s specialist installer, Allied Interiors of Glasgow, recommended the StoSilent Distance system as a more appropriate and highly successful alternative. This underlines the valuable contribution which our installation partners often bring to a project such as this, with their extensive knowledge and expertise in the installation of Sto acoustic systems.'

The transformation of the building will see its capacity expanded, improve the audience experience, add new performance facilities, and create rooms in previously-unused spaces, and this required a highly practical and reliable acoustic solution. Featuring a versatile metal profile sub-construction, and acoustic panels manufactured from expanded glass granulate, the StoSilent Distance system proved to be the perfect answer, as it allows the creation of sound-absorbent walls and ceilings, in situations where existing structures, services or architectural detailing must be considered.

'The original Town Hall ceilings incorporate various beams, recessed areas and ornate detailing, and the StoSilent Distance system had to be designed to integrate with all these features, and yet still create the perfect acoustic environment which the building needed,' adds James.

The Sto system can be used to create smooth and seamless finishes over large areas, inclined planes or curves, or to achieve sharp and consistent joints at upstands, all without any worry about cracks appearing in years to come, so it was ideal for installing the acoustic panels on both the flat and vaulted ceiling areas.

'Aesthetic considerations were also extremely important, with great emphasis placed on the use of gold-leaf detailing and other techniques to create a visually striking end result,' James continues. 'As the StoSilent Distance system had a crucial role to play in this process, it was completed using our StoSilent Décor M finish. This is spray-applied to create a fine-stipple finish which really complements classical buildings such as Paisley Town Hall. In addition, it’s easy to refurbish, environmentally friendly, inert and natureplus approved, which makes it a very attractive choice for this type of project. It’s the most popular acoustic board finish in our range and can be tinted to match a wide range of shades from the StoColor system.'

The Paisley Town Hall refurbishment is being delivered by Renfrewshire Council as part of a wider investment in the town’s historic cultural venues. The reopened town hall will be operated by OneRen, the local charitable trust in Renfrewshire providing culture, leisure and sporting opportunities. The project architect for Paisley Town Hall was the Holmes Miller Partnership of Glasgow.