A medical school where every room has a different acoustic brief
How HLM Architects met the demands of lecture theatres, labs and clinical suites under one BREEAM Excellent roof.
White rectangular Rockfon Eclipse islands above the library study area, absorbing sound where students need to concentrate.
A building for the future of healthcare in Lincolnshire
The new Medical School at the University of Lincoln was built to train the region's future doctors. Designed by HLM Architects and built by BAM, it houses lecture theatres, laboratories, clinical simulation suites and a biomedical library, all to a BREEAM Excellent standard.
"It represents more than just a building. It is a commitment to current and future communities in Lincolnshire to develop sustainable healthcare for the region," said Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln.
Wellbeing shaped the design throughout, with biophilic principles, natural light, natural ventilation and visual links to the landscape. But those same principles created a real acoustic challenge.
Exposed ceilings and clinical spaces in the same building
To support the building's thermal mass and natural ventilation, many ceilings were left exposed, which rules out a conventional suspended ceiling for sound absorption.
At the same time, the school's range of spaces each came with very different acoustic and technical demands. Open social and learning areas needed sound controlled without covering the ceiling. Lecture theatres needed speech clarity for complex medical content. Clinical simulation suites and laboratories needed infection control on top of acoustic performance, with surfaces that could be cleaned to a healthcare standard.
No single product could cover all of it.
Project info
Project name
Lincoln University Medical School
Location
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Architecture
Installation
Photography
Simon Jones Pro Vision
Construction
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Eclipse islands and wall panels in a lecture room with an exposed ceiling, controlling sound.
Another view of the library, where the floating Eclipse islands keep the library space calm and quiet.
Rockfon Eclipse islands above the reception and meeting area, absorbing the noise of people gathering, working and talking under an open ceiling.
“It represents more than just a building – it is a commitment to current and future communities in Lincolnshire to develop sustainable healthcare for the region.”
Professor Mary Stuart
— Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln
Five products, matched to five demands
In the open areas with exposed ceilings, Rockfon Eclipse floating panels were suspended to absorb sound while keeping the thermal mass design intact, with Eclipse wall panels adding further absorption on vertical surfaces.
Rockfon Blanka was installed throughout the school, delivering Class A sound absorption, high light reflection and room-to-room sound insulation across the general teaching and study spaces.
In the clinical simulation suites and laboratories, Rockfon MediCare was specified. Compliant with HTM 60, it combines Class A sound absorption with low particle emission, easy cleaning and A1 fire safety, meeting the strict infection control requirements of healthcare environments.
In moisture-prone medical areas, Rockfon Koral was used for its wipe-clean, moisture-resistant surface, with cost-effective Rockfon Artic installed where a more economical option suited the space.
White rectangular Eclipse islands over lounge seating, keeping a busy circulation space comfortable.
The new Medical School at the University of Lincoln, built to a BREEAM Excellent standard.
Eclipse islands across the lecture hall, supporting the speech clarity that a teaching environment depends on.
The right product in the right place
Around 2,500m² of tile and grid was supplied, with installer Brebur working closely with Rockfon throughout the project.
"We have an excellent relationship with Rockfon. Their wide range of specialist products always ensures the architectural vision is achieved. They are always on-hand to offer technical advice and commercial acumen," said Vinny Lilley of Brebur.
Also designing a healthcare or education building where acoustic comfort, infection control and exposed ceilings all need to be addressed? Get in touch, and we'll help you find the right product for every space.
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