Knauf AMF Ceilings help transform derelict building into a stunning retail banking space

A prestigious international bank has recently invested £3m in the refurbishment of a derelict 1970’s office building at the heart of Manchester’s China Town, creating a new retail branch in the city. Knauf AMF Ceilings’ Bandraster grid system was chosen to supply a specialist ceiling solution that would enhance the aesthetics of the stunning main atrium and produce an elegant finish. The scheme included lowering the existing basement to accommodate retail banking space, and providing a sleek staff and VIP function room at roof level, with bi-folding glass doors leading onto a roof terrace. Met-Excel carried out the installation and was impressed with the finished result. “We were asked by our client to provide a quality, stand out solution for the main customer banking area, after speaking to several system suppliers we decided on the AMF system, easy to install and highly effective we were confident that our client and more importantly, the end user would be impressed our operatives enjoyed fitting the system and were proud of how it looked upon completion, good result all round.” Knauf AMF’s Bandraster grid system was specified with a Thermatex Acoustic AW/SK planks in the atrium. The Thermatex panels ensure excellent acoustic control for the large open-plan area and the suspension options of the Bandraster system allowed the architect full creative expression in ceiling design creating a linear look to the ceiling tiles as an alternative to standard 600 x 600mm tiles. The parallel suspension sections of the Bandraster grid system can be adapted to the architecture of any building. Lightweight partitions can be installed under the Bandraster sections. Bandraster grid is ideal for when thicker profiles of 50, 100 or 150mm are required to act as breakers to support long and heavy planks up to 2500mm. Lateral bracing is achieved with either exposed or concealed sections and ceiling planks can be made demountable or non-accessible to suit individual requirements. Knauf AMF’s Thermatex Alpha tiles were installed in the office areas in the new bank providing superior acoustic performance with Class A sound absorption.