Toronto Junior Middle School Installs New Acoustic Panels

Islington Junior Middle School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which serves students in grades PreK–8, recently announced that it has installed new acoustic ceiling and wall tiles in four of its classrooms. The school opted for SONEX Valueline panels from pinta acoustic, inc., as a solution to help establish quieter classrooms as a means of boosting performance and reducing stress.

Previously, according to a news release, Islington JMS had been using fabric-wrapped fiberglass panels installed on walls and ceilings to dampen sound. Many of the panels were starting to come loose and fall from the ceiling. In the name of safety, the school’s administration removed the panels and began hunting for alternatives.

Rakesh Rana, interior sales manager for Sound Solutions, Inc., recommended the SONEX Valueline panels to the school. According to a press release, the SONEX panels are lightweight, flexible and are easy to attach to walls and ceilings using a specially designed adhesive.

“We have been working with the Toronto District School Board for over 50 years,” said Rana. “They wanted to mimic the original design in appearance. Offered in custom sizes and colors, SONEX Valueline panels were the best choice. Additionally, SONEX provides better sound absorption than the previous panels.”

The school saw a total of 5,664 square feet of new panels installed. The panels are 1-7/8” thick. Each classroom has 144 SONEX Valueline panels on the ceiling, each of them 24”x48” and installed with pinta’s acouSTIC adhesive to match the contours of the curved ceiling. Likewise, each classroom saw the installation of 30 more 48”x96” panels to cover the walls, again using the adhesive.

“The previous, fabric-wrapped fiberglass panels had to be split on the back before installation to follow the contour of the ceilings,” said Rana. “They were mechanically fastened to the walls and ceilings using clips attached to rails. SONEX panels were much easier to install in this application. A team of people from the school board installed the panels to walls and ceilings in all four classrooms.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.