Case Study: b8ta, Mission Bay

Retail therapy for the hands-on gadget savant!

This contemporary marketplace was designed by Gensler, San Francisco with product discovery and interaction in mind. The project mission was to create a space where patrons felt comfortable occupying for long periods of time to test out new technology and equipment. High-traffic areas often require a variety of hard surfaces for durability and ease of cleaning. These surface types often create excessive reverberation which can result in unintelligible speech and auditory discomfort. In order for the space to enable a soothing experience from all senses, optimizing the acoustics becomes key.

Gensler was given a challenging environment for the expanding brand. The alcove is surrounded by a full glass curtain wall and boasts an impressive s-shaped, exposed ceiling. USG Ceilings Plus® and CADE Architectural Resources collaborated with Gensler to manufacture a suspended ceiling solution that met all key points: design intent, acoustics, budget, and installation flexibility. Design discovery and acoustical analysis ultimately revealed that the best product for this application was Barz™ by USG Ceilings Plus®: an open-plenum, modular, sound-absorptive system that allows for every panel to be removable without any visible access panels.

Barz™ offers a multitude of finishes, configurations, and custom elements to choose from. To enhance the acoustical performance of the space, each hollow baffle was customized with CNC-punched microperforations and infilled with 100% recycled-cotton acoustical batting. A Saranté® (PVC-free, faux-wood) laminate was selected, and perfectly complemented the other interior finishes on the project.

Overall, Barz™ gave the design team the flexibility to create a curated solution, specifically developed to address their client’s needs. The collective product expertise and experience brought to the table by all teams helped lead to a stunning, award-winning project.