The acoustic experience in medical and health care facilities plays a critical role in creating a less stressful environment for healing and recovery. Good acoustics are essential to ensuring patients’ needs are understood, medical instructions are clear, information is accurately recorded, and confidential details remain private and in compliance with HIPAA.

Photo courtesy of Fotoworks/Benny Chan via Perkins&Will and Rockfon

Recognizing the importance of optimizing acoustics, guidelines for the design and construction of health care facilities, published by the Facilities Guidelines Institute, require that “all normally occupied health care facility spaces shall incorporate acoustic surfaces.” In waiting areas, patient treatment rooms and staff offices, acoustics are of top concern.

For Kaiser Hollywood Romaine Medical Offices, Rockfon Sonar acoustic stone wool ceiling panels achieve a Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.95. Sound-absorbing ceiling panels with a 0.90 NRC or higher are categorized as the best acoustic performance.

Rockfon’s stone wool ceiling panels in Kaiser Hollywood Romaine Medical Offices have a bright white surface that reflects up to 86 percent of light. “This high light reflectance makes more efficient use of both daylight and electric lighting,” said Roxanne Bennett, Rockfon’s Architectural Sales Manager. “The diffused interior light reduces glare on equipment monitors and computer screens. This helps protect the staff from eye strain, headaches and irritability, promoting a more comfortable and compassionate atmosphere.”

Perkins&Will selected Rockfon’s acoustic stone wool panels in different sizes, edge designs and suspension systems. This created visual separation between private and shared spaces, and functional distinctions where different performance was required.

Photo courtesy of Fotoworks/Benny Chan via Perkins&Will and Rockfon

• In the private staff and patient rooms, Rockfon Sonar 2-by-4-foot ceiling panels showcase a square tegular narrow edge design accentuated by the slim grid line of Chicago Metallic 4000 Tempra Series 9/16-inch ceiling suspension system.
• In the shared waiting rooms, large format 2-by-8-foot Rockfon Sonar panels with a fully concealed edge were installed in Chicago Metallic 1200 Series 15/16-inch ceiling suspension system.
• The same 15/16-inch suspension grid was used with Rockfon Medical Standard ceiling panels. Designed with a square tegular narrow edge, these panels provide a modern aesthetic, high light reflectance and a best-level NRC of 0.90.

Installed in areas where more stringent infection control was needed, Rockfon Medical Standard panels do not contribute to the growth of MRSA, are classified to Bacteriological Class B5 and B10, and have a low particle emission, resulting in Clean Room Classification ISO Class 5.

Helping maintain healthy, clean interiors, Rockfon’s stone wool naturally prevents the growth of mold and bacteria without using added antimicrobials. “In both the design and health care community, the safety of antimicrobials in interior finishes, furnishings and other surface treatments increasingly is called into question,” Bennett explained.

Photo courtesy of Fotoworks/Benny Chan via Perkins&Will and Rockfon

“With little evidence proving their ability to prevent infection and their overuse being linked to antibiotic resistance, Kaiser Permanente has banned antimicrobial use in building materials,” Bennett elaborated. “Perkins&Will also agrees that antimicrobial products do more harm than good and have placed them on its official Precautionary List.”

Supporting material transparency, health product declarations and UL-verified environmental product declarations are available for Rockfon Sonar and Medical Standard ceiling products.

Photo courtesy of Fotoworks/Benny Chan via Perkins&Will and Rockfon

Rockfon Medical Standard and Sonar stone wool panels also have earned UL Environment GREENGUARD Gold Certification for low chemical emissions. This certification process ensures that a product is suitable for environments, such as offices and health care facilities, and takes into consideration safety factors that may impact those with vulnerable immune systems, children and seniors.

Along with thoughtful material choices for health, comfort and well-being, Perkins&Will said, “As Kaiser Permanente faces growth and development in the 21st Century, the need to modernize existing infrastructure and expand their existing footprint means venturing into densely populated urban settings. Faced with this challenge, Kaiser Permanente identified a building for lease in a burgeoning ‘Old Hollywood’ neighborhood that provided opportunities to serve current and potential future members. The Hollywood Romaine interior tenant improvement reinforces the evolving Kaiser Permanente brand... The result is a re-imagined healing environment infused with art and color that fits appropriately in its community.”

Kaiser Hollywood Romaine Medical Offices is part of the Los Angeles Medical Center Service Area, which serves more than 330,000 members of Kaiser Permanente. Opened in December 2019, the facility provides primary care and specialty services, including family medicine, internal medicine, LGBTQ care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, physical therapy, psychiatry, radiology, a nurse clinic, a laboratory and a pharmacy.