Customer Showcase: Paul Mitchell Salon School

"We are very pleased with the panels in the Washhouse and Presentation Hall, they made the difference we were looking for!"

- Heather L Smith, Vice President of Operations - Vanguard College, Metairie, LA

The Problem

The main area the Paul Mitchell Salon School wanted to address was a large open room being used for instructional space, where the students practice technique on mannequins and receive feedback. This space is an open learning environment with a lot of hard surfaces that was described as very noisy and loud, making both instruction and conversation difficult.

The other area of concern for the school was the Admissions Conference Room. This small room is right off the reception area and was flanked by glass on two walls, creating a lot of echo and a lack of conversational privacy.

The Solution

We worked with the school's designers at Powell Dudley Frith Architects to create a solution that complemented the Paul Mitchell brand and the clean, minimalist design style in both areas. For the large classroom, we created custom 4'x6' image panels using photos of models (head shots) that line the long wall on one side of the room. This bare wall was causing sound to bounce off and reverberate back into the room. The custom decorative panels not only served to control the acoustics, but also provide inspiration for the students and instructors alike.

Additionally, the architects provided a paint sample and we chose several fabric options to match as they wanted additional panels that would blend with the decor. These 2'x3' decorative panels were mounted to the ceiling and made an acoustic impact in the space while blending nicely with the painted ceiling.

One of the 4'x6' custom image panels was placed in the small admissions conference room. The large size and placement between the two glass walls provided the desired acoustic control. Aesthetically, this panel is visible from the reception area on one side and from another lower instructional space on the other side, creating a visual impact that compliments the overall decor.

The Outcome

We are very pleased with the panels in the Washhouse and Presentation Hall, they made the difference we were looking for!" Heather L Smith, Vice President of Operations - Vanguard College, Metairie, LA