In 2003, a review at Mill Hill School in Ripley, Derbyshire had found teaching accommodation to be considerably lacking: the existing buildings were worn out and a new building was required to house IT facilities and drama teaching, as well as providing a new base for the school's sixth form.
With funding available from a wider £18 million government initiative to rejuvenate schools in Derbyshire, Mill Hill School was able to construct a new building with a total of forty rooms and carry out extensive refurbishment to turn its ageing facilities into an inspiring environment worthy of its specialist arts college status.
A key aspect of the project was to ensure that the new buildings complied with Building Bulletin 93, the regulatory framework for the acoustic design of schools. Building Bulletin 93 recognises that teaching and learning are acoustically demanding activities that require low ambient noise levels and high levels of sound insulation
Dune Max ceiling tiles from Armstrong World Industries were selected to meet the requirements of Bulletin 93 and installed over a total area of 3,500m2. Dune Max produces a calculated reverberation time of 0.6 seconds for a typical 200m3 classroom which is an optimum result as defined by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
