Palm Beach County Convention Center

"The goal was to create a wood ceiling mirroring that of the decking on a wooden ship"

Interior Ceiling - Click to Zoom

Jeff Wierenga with TVS Architecture gave this very clear goal for the wood ceiling in this amazing space: "to create a wood ceiling mirroring that of the decking on a wooden ship". Surrounded by the finest estates in the country and next to a multi-billion dollar renovation of the downtown district, the Palm Beach County Convention Center stands in the center of a new tourist and convention destination mecca. Within the halls and its perimeter, 45,000 SF of wood ceiling adorn the heights of this spectacular facility.

As we delve into the intricate nature of the design phase, it is here we begin to truly appreciate Jeff's vision for the ceiling. The first of several challenges, was designing the staggered pattern within each panel to create the "look" and "feel" of decking on a wooden ship. Each panel was ultimately designed as a four-member panel with lengths ranging up to 16' 4". The panel design needed to remain consistent with the design intent as well as being cost effective. While creating this basic panel layout, Jeff outlined that no individual member within the panel could be less than 3' or greater than 8' to create the desired look. This directive created a particular challenge for WoodCeilings project draftsman Nathan Pfeifer who worked diligently on the project tackling this difficult assignment. In the realm where price is no object this task would appear almost inconsequential, but given the restraints of budget and design, Nathan did a remarkable job in keeping 100% of the Architect's design intent while at the same time maximizing the material yield, allowing us to offer our customer the best possible value at a highly competitive price.

Mahogany Veneer - Click to Zoom

The second challenge was to meet the color and environmental requirements for this space. Khaya Mahogany veneer was originally the preferred species for this project. However the "figure", an intrinsic characteristic of this veneer, was not a part of the desired look. The cost of the veneer was also prohibitive to the budget. Simultaneously, it was decided that the substrate for the interior should match that of the exterior (marine grade plywood). Armed with such knowledge, our research led us around the world to find a Mahogany veneer that would match the desired color palate, with the ability to be laid onto marine grade plywood. Our search landed us in Brazil where a veneer was found that matched these requirements.

Exterior Ceiling Corner Detail - Click to Zoom

Having successfully navigated the design and species concerns for the interior wood ceiling, our efforts were then directed to the exterior of the building, and the harsh reality of the outside elements in this particular region of the country. The commercial code in Palm Beach requires all new construction to withstand 140 MPH winds. After completing the exterior design details, they were sent to Florida wind load engineer Albert Hernandez of Avart Engineering Consultants. Albert applied the necessary elements of force to calculate the ceiling and the suspension systems ability to withstand the wind load. This was the final task to be completed prior to submitting the shop drawings to the Architect for final approval. The end was in sight and the conclusion was positive until Albert notified us of yet another challenge; the specified suspension system would not work for the exterior. Once Albert had reviewed the ceiling and suspension systems his conclusion was obvious; a new system would need to be designed. As the leading expert on wind load engineering for the Florida area, Albert met the challenge with ease, and eight weeks later we were back on track. The exterior shop drawings were submitted and approved in short order.

Shipping Crate - Click to Zoom

The first shipment of finished wood ceiling panels arrived at the Palm Beach County Convention Center July 15th 2003, as scheduled. Each shipment from Oregon to Florida required a full week of travel. Strategic planning was crucial in order to accurately time each shipment for the installation process. From the first shipment to the last, panels arrived on time and ready for installation in their intended areas.

The overall layout and design for the interior wood ceiling worked beautifully with the design intent and the surrounding structure, co-existing in harmony. Palm Beach County Convention Center was an overwhelming success throughout the three phases of design, manufacture, and installation. Acousti Engineering of Florida received the installation contract and Eric Sinclair, Project Manager, was instrumental in the success of the project in many aspects including:

Panel Installation - Click to Zoom

1. Keeping the flow of communication open between The Clark Construction Group, and WoodCeilings, which proved to be extremely valuable as it related to construction schedules, timeframes and the like.
2. PBCCC required over 30 different panel lengths and Eric provided clear and concise field measurements for all the custom factory lengths resulting in zero rework.
3. Providing input and assistance while resolving crucial issues when they arose.
4. His continual supervision and insight in the whole Project Management phase and his updates to us with their progress at the job site even after the final shipment.

Now complete, the Palm Beach County Convention Center stands stately and beautifully in its place. Although numerous challenges presented themselves during construction, the issues were overcome with cooperative effort and creative problem solving which enhanced the beauty of the product and made the ceiling the awe-inspiring centerpiece of the project. Every manufacturer and installer looks forward to the opportunity to work on a project with a high level of complexity and challenge. WoodCeilings and Acousti Engineering eagerly embraced this challenge and maneuvered through it as a true partnership.

Exterior Ceiling - Click to Zoom