South Shields’ gateway
The Word is designed to be South Shields’ gateway to cultural, social and business knowledge, and to be exciting. The area’s industrial heritage plays a role in helping to realise this ambition and is woven into the fabric of the building.
Inside, the circular façade is likened to the pages of a book inviting the reader into the depths of creative writing, of knowledge, of delightful storytelling, of individuality and ideas. The interior has an engaging and open plan design to encourage visitors to explore all the areas available and interact with the different activities on offer.
A Cultural Oasis
Visitors to The Word are welcomed in the building’s triple height central atrium which forms the focal point of the building. Inside the atrium, visitors can take in excellent views of all four levels of the building and beyond towards the water front and the River Tyne.
Steve Dickson, Senior Director at FaulknerBrowns Architects, specified Rockfon for the project and explained why:
“Rockfon Mono Acoustic is installed around the perimeter of the galleries to help create a homogenous and continuous ribbon around the circular atria of the building which enhances the atrium’s stylish, contemporary interior design.”
The atrium’s interior features a mixture of surfaces including glazing and concrete which have the potential to generate unwanted noise. To counter this, Mono Acoustic provides Class A sound absorption which significantly decreases echo and reverberation levels, creating a relaxed environment where visitors can converse with ease.
