Scoil Phádraig is a boys’ national school in Clane, Co. Kildare, serving the community since 1982. Designed for 700 students across 24 classrooms and a SEN unit, the school is recognised for its holistic approach to education, with a strong emphasis on sports, music, science and ICT. A new campus, funded by the Department of Education, was developed to replace the existing school and modernise its facilities.
Challenge: The new general-purpose hall, intended for a wide range of school activities, needed to comply with government standards for sound quality in educational settings. Work also had to be completed outside peak school hours to minimise disruption. In addition, the hall required reduced reverberation times in line with Department of Education Technical Guidance documents, while exposed surface-mounted services meant walls needed to be battened out for acoustic installations.
Solution: To address these challenges, the school partnered with Zentia to specify Sonify Wall Absorbers. The solution was selected for both its acoustic performance and the project support provided.
Available in 35 colours and multiple shapes and sizes, the Sonify panels allowed the school to enhance the hall visually while improving acoustics. White square panels were combined with colourful circular absorbers in yellow, blue, orange and purple to create a bright, engaging space.
The panels were installed using a gridded bonded system with an air gap between the panel and wall, improving sound absorption and helping control ambient noise. This created a more comfortable environment for group activities and everyday use.
Installation was completed by main contractor Ganson with minimal disruption to the school calendar.
The refurbishment successfully transformed the hall into a vibrant, functional space that meets strict acoustic standards while also improving the overall aesthetic of the environment.