Exteriors and environmental applications

Ceilings systems for exterior applications need to stand up to the environmental factors while maintaining performance and aesthetics.

Your exterior ceiling applications may be in the form of canopies, exterior soffits, drive-throughs, parking garages, entrance extensions or other exposed overhangs. These types of exterior architectural features require higher corrosion resistance to meet building code requirements.

Chicago Metallic® suspension systems and exterior metal ceiling panels are manufactured from aluminum or galvanized steel. These exterior ceiling tiles and panels are installed in the exterior suspension system to form the assemblies, which work together to provide a continuous appearance from exterior to interior.

Aluminum ceiling grid and outdoor ceiling panels are a reliable choice for exterior suspended ceiling applications. These durable assemblies do not deteriorate or deform. Galvanized steel components and metal accessories complete the system and support buildings’ performance, aesthetic and sustainability goals.

Commercial kitchen ceilings

Reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses and infections is the top health concern for cafeterias, restaurants and other dining areas. 

Washable ceiling tiles for commercial kitchens are an essential element to safe food preparation. Fire-rated and moisture resistant, food-grade ceiling tiles for kitchens also are important performance attributes when considering the best kitchen ceiling design ideas.

Our most popular kitchen ceiling panels are made from stone wool. Stone wool not only resists fire, water and humidity, it also resists potentially harmful microorganisms and mold. Taking cleanliness to the next level in kitchen suspended ceiling tiles, our Rockfon® Hygienic Plus™ withstands rigorous cleaning and prevents MRSA and other bacteria.

Sustainable kitchen design

Along with contributing to healthy commercial kitchen and dining facilities, kitchen ceiling tiles also need to support more comfortable and sustainable kitchen designs. Our stone wool ceiling products offer high sound absorption, high light reflectance, include recycled content and are 100 percent recyclable. They also are GREENGUARD Gold certified by UL® Environment for low-emitting materials, which contributes to improving the indoor environment and air quality. Many of these attributes are recognized by LEED®, WELL® and other green design guidelines.

Bathrooms, restrooms, toilet rooms and washrooms

Ceilings for bathrooms, like ceilings for commercial kitchens, usually focus on functionality first. Commercial bathroom ceilings’ materials must withstand nearly constant use, rigorous and frequent cleaning and high humidity conditions.

The best ceiling panel for bathroom designs will meet both the demanding performance requirements of these high-traffic spaces and help present a clean, neat appearance. Modern bathrooms serve a diverse group of users. More than offering a basic toilet and sink, today’s commercial bathrooms are more frequently used as a place to literally recharge, taking a moment to catch up on personal messages. Using restroom facilities as an impromptu breakroom brings heightened awareness to the level of privacy available. 

Bathroom ceilings ideas

Ceiling ideas for bathrooms should consider the benefits of sound-absorbing stone wool drop ceiling tiles. Should your ceiling design favor a more creative look, suspended ceilings for bathrooms can help you bring them to life with non-traditional shapes, edge options, contemporary patterns and more.

Bathroom ceiling options may seem limited to bathroom drop ceiling tiles. Yes, a suspended bathroom ceiling typically includes acoustic, bathroom ceiling tiles installed in a ceiling suspension system. 

Corridors and hallways

Corridors and hall ceiling designs help in directing and connecting people. While primarily serving as interior transitways, they also provide opportunities to promote chance encounters and casual interaction within a larger, integrated space of an office, school, hospital or airport.

Many corridors are long, straight, uninterrupted stretches. Your ceiling design can accentuate this continuity with linear ceiling panels and planks, or a monolithic appearance with drywall. Adding regularly interspersing accents of color or changing the patterns of suspended ceilings also can provide visual feedback to help with wayfinding.

White ceiling tiles or other reflective surfaces also can brighten up hallways by maximizing available light. Our white, acoustic stone wool ceiling panels can reflect more than 80 percent of light - natural or electric - to foster a sense of positivity, activity, and productivity as one moves through the corridors.

An overly energetic corridor also can be distracting to the adjacent rooms. To optimize acoustics in hallways, choose from our breadth of highly sound absorbent ceiling panels, planks, and tiles to reduce the sounds of voices, equipment, and busy footsteps.

Combing both linear aesthetics and acoustic performance, our baffle systems provide an alternative to suspended ceiling grid designs in corridors. Choose from either our stone wool or metal baffle products to improve hallway acoustics in new construction or renovation applications.

Lobbies, atriums, foyers and reception areas

Lobbies present the first and last impression most people will see when visiting your building. They can be formal or casual. In many ways, they are the living rooms of our commercial interior spaces.

Capitalizing on this high-profile opportunity, your lobby or mezzanine ceiling design will fit the style and attitude appropriate to the overall building. Multi-story, open atriums with natural light, views, and vegetation are the current trend. Our bright, white ceiling systems provide high light reflection and diffusion to leverage these welcoming lobbies.

Many commercial buildings’ reception areas are finished with beautiful stone and glass. These hard surfaces can cause echoes, making it difficult to hear announcements or conversations. Choosing our sound-absorbing stone wool suspended ceilings, acoustic wall island panel systems, and specialty metal ceiling tiles with acoustic enhancements will add to lobby visitors’ comfort. In the rare case of emergency, hearing critical announcements also supports safety, as does the fire-resistant nature of our stone wool materials.

Elevating your lobby ceiling design ideas to greater heights, we also can help you create standard and custom acoustic ceiling clouds, unique islands and distinctive grid patterns.