The recent findings that show teachers are losing their voice and struggling to be heard over loud classrooms come as no surprise. Research has shown this problem can be addressed by lining the walls of the classroom with an acoustic fabric, but when the walls and floors cannot be treated and are made from hard reflective surfaces, the reverberation issues can be difficult to address.

This is a problem that Hilton Brown Swim School was faced with. Housed in an industrial area, Hilton Brown Swim School was constructed from concrete tilt slab with large glass windows on its southern side, creating the perfect recipe for high levels of sound reverberation.

Staff at Hilton Brown often complained of having headaches, strained voices and feeling fatigued after a long day of teaching young children to swim. This drove Hilton Brown Director Howard Gumbley to Autex for a solution.

Working from recommendations made by Marshall Day Acoustic Engineers, Autex set out to manufacture a solution for the 2800m³ space. In a swimming pool, the ceiling is generally the most effective and easily treated surface due to its large surface area and because it is less likely to be damaged from direct impacts from people or equipment. However, an increased area of sound absorptive treatment is required when the absorption is located in one 'plane' some distance from the noise-generating activity.

Familiar with Autex Quietspace Lattice designs, Marshall Day Acoustics recommended installing 270m² of the Quietspace Lattice in the space; however Autex wanted to create a solution that complemented the swim school and made it an exciting environment for children to learn to swim in.

­Utilising the high performing design elements of Quietspace Lattice, Autex Design Engineers created The Droplet, a bespoke job consisting of 28 Workstation fins custom cut into a striking 3D water droplet on the ceiling.

Installed by APS Complete Property Services and completed in December 2014, The Droplet is manufactured from 100% polyester, making it perfect for the damp surrounds of the swimming pool as polyester is not affected by moisture, mould or mildew and will not rot or deteriorate in this type of application.

"I can't believe this is the same building," says Howard Gumbley, overwhelmed by the performance of the final install. "I can actually hear the teachers talking to the students. As a result of the install, Hilton Brown Swim School is now a comfortable space to learn, teach and of course, swim in."