What’s old is new again. Decorative thermoformed ceiling tiles and panels were a mid-20th century innovation made practical by post-war availability of thermoplastics and the adoption of modular suspended ceilings. Widespread use in signature commercial and institutional buildings gave way to changing tastes and, for the past few decades, thermoformed ceilings have been relegated primarily to residential and do-it-yourself use. Unaffected by damp, impervious to mold and easy to install, they became particularly popular for basement remodeling projects.
There is evidence, however, that tastes are shifting again. Thermoformed ceilings are going up in national chain stores as part of their visual branding, in schools and universities, libraries, hotels and restaurants, and all manner of non-residential buildings. As a result, professional ceiling installers are seeing thermoformed ceilings in architectural specifications with increased frequency.