When Colstons School, Bristol required a new “Multi Electric” acoustic wall on the fourth floor of one their numerous period buildings, they commissioned Niche to undertake the project.

Early liaison with Colstons Facilities Manager, Mr Alan Meakin, along with site surveys of the school, quickly determined that the design and layout of the building stairwell did not allow for ease of access for the 3,300 mm high panels. Indeed this, along with the rear spiral staircase emergency exit was the defining factor that a totally different approach was required.

Therefore, Niche took full project co-ordination responsibility for the provision of a 35 tonne crane to ensure that the panels arrived at the fourth floor installation site safely.

Every aspect of the proposed lift was discussed with both client and the appointed main contractor at all stages, to ensure any potential hazards to personnel, buildings, grounds and panels were dealt with in conjunction with Sparrows Crane Hire, Bristol.

The only element not controlled by Niche were the elements but the sun thankfully gave wonderful weather conditions to successfully carry out the lift and the installation to a high standard, all to the clients satisfaction.

In May 2010 we successfully completed a scheme for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the highly prestigious City Tower complex in Piccadilly Gardens Manchester.

The scheme involved our Multi-electric moveable wall Type 100U system stacking in a unique fashion with panels being remotely concealed behind a column at the external window side an excellent example of how flexible the stacking of the panels can be and how Niche implements it’s client’s individual requirement.

At Telford Golf Hotel and Country Club the client’s requirement was for a bespoke, high specification and up market movable wall system with an emphasis on flexibility of space with excellent acoustic properties. The panel finish was required to blend with the interior décor whilst also being a unique feature.

Our Type 100M was selected to meet this criteria. Initially this £7.5M refurbishment didn’t lend itself well to a top hung system with no existing provision for supporting this product type. We worked closely with the main contractor and structural engineers and used our extensive experience to advise and assist our colleagues with the correct design which allowed a safe but easily navigable, individual panel system. A central column was created to form a hub from which 4 individual movable panel systems could meet thus creating 1, 2, 3 or 4 rooms at any one time. The panels for each wall system were designed to stack away remotely from their main track line and be hidden when not in use. The panels, almost 4M high, were finished in neutral colour laminate, with associate visual break-point to match the room interior.

The client wanted to combine privacy with the flexibility of an ‘open feel’ and the need to make the most of borrowed light in the basement area. We selected our Type 80 top hung movable wall system (no floor track) with integral blind units for privacy control and good light passage, a neutral panel finish which also blended in with the interior décor. A hinged pass door panel was incorporated into the system to allow maximum flexibility with passage through the wall once the panels are closed off.