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

  • bar graph with the bars made out of abstract cinder blocks and other construction materials

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in K–12: Materials & Construction

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in K–12 materials and construction from the experts in the trenches.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • Kimball International Debuts Health & Education Experience Center

    Kimball International recently opened a new facility at its corporate headquarters in Jasper, Ind., that will act as a hands-on showroom for a variety of its furniture products and solutions, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot Health & Education Experience Center was originally designed by Gensler as the headquarters for Kimball International’s National brand.

Digital Edition