The Vision
The vision for the new banquet hall at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church was to create a sanctuary of warmth and hospitality—a space where guests could gather and converse with ease. Central to this atmosphere was a ceiling that could merge the organic aesthetic of natural wood with high-performance acoustics. By selecting a solution capable of absorbing up to 95 percent of ambient noise, the design team ensured that the ceiling would play a pivotal role in transforming this vision into a functional reality.
The Challenge
Designing the overhead landscape for the new banquet hall in Austin presented a complex architectural puzzle. The design team from W+H Design and Arista Interiors had to engineer a solution that respected the dramatic, sloped geometry of the hipped roof while seamlessly integrating with a series of existing, intersecting wood beams.
Initially, the team considered using real-wood linear planks to maintain a consistent, warm aesthetic across the 4,200-square-foot hall. However, with a capacity for 300 guests, the acoustic demands of the space could not be overlooked. The team feared that traditional wood would fail to provide the necessary noise reduction and sound quality. “We knew sound was going to be an issue,” said Carol Willmann, Principal, W+H Design. “It’s a banquet hall. They tend to be loud.”
The Solution
To bridge the gap between style and performance, the Armstrong team recommended LYRA Plant Based (PB) Wood-Look ceiling planks, which were ultimately specified for the project. These lightweight fiberglass panels from Armstrong deliver an authentic appearance of natural timber while providing exceptional sound absorption. The final design utilized custom 12" x 96" planks in a rich Toffee Chestnut finish, installed within a nonstandard Armstrong SUPRAFINE grid system in a coordinating Oat finish. To complete the look, the structural wood beams were painted in warm stone and brown undertones to perfectly complement the ceiling’s finish. “Basically, we mimicked the look of a wood plank ceiling with a wood-look product that has similar dimensions,” said Jake Fetterman, Sales & Design Specialist, with the Armstrong PROJECTWORKS Design & Pre-Construction Service.
Executing this intricate design required a high degree of technical collaboration. Ceiling contractor BEC Austin worked closely with the PROJECTWORKS engineering team and Armstrong to develop the custom grid layout. The system had to support the expansive planks while navigating the 26-degree slope of the roof and the existing beam structure.
“The tough part about figuring this out was that we had to work around the wood beams in a ceiling that is sloped to 26 degrees,” explained Fetterman. “We paid special attention to the support system for the custom 8-foot planks to guarantee they remained flawlessly level and secure.”
Leveraging PROJECTWORKS digital design software, the team engineered a nonstandard SUPRAFINE grid that utilized main beams for the long edges and Armstrong 12-foot Hemmed-Angle Molding for the short edges. “There weren’t any cross tees,” Fetterman noted. “The short edges of the planks rest on the angle molding and the angle molding itself is attached to the wood beams. Because of those beams, we had to come up with something creative. Angle molding was the solution.”
To ensure long-term structural integrity, the main beams were supported perpendicularly by Armstrong PEAKFORM support hangers, positioned two feet from each side of the 8-foot planks to prevent sagging and provide necessary rigidity. “This was an interesting and nonstandard installation,” concluded Fetterman, “and no other ceiling would be installed this way.”
The result is a triumph of form and function. The design team noted that the hall remains remarkably serene even during peak event hours. “The wood-look ceiling really paid off for us – both aesthetically and acoustically,” said Willmann. “It’s the quietest space in the whole building. Besides being beautiful, people are shocked that it’s not real wood.”
Project: Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church Banquet Hall
Location: Austin, TX
Designer: W+H Design/Arista Interiors
Products/Services:
LYRA Plant Based (PB) Wood Look Ceiling Panels