Project Overview
Location: Baltimore, USA (Bustling Inner Harbor Gastronomy District)
Client: Foundry & Flagon Flagship Commercial Restaurant (450-Seat Capacity)
Product Used: HENGJIU Felt High-Performance Polyester (PET) Acoustic Ceiling Grid Tiles & Suspended Baffle System
Quantity: 1,200 Square Meters
Thickness & Density: 15mm thickness, high-rigidity structural PET felt
Color Scheme: Charcoal Grey and Warm Sand (Designed to complement exposed matte-black ductwork and warm ambient lighting)
The Challenge: Clattering Cutlery and Conversations in a Cavernous Dining Space
The Foundry & Flagon was designed with a trendy urban-industrial aesthetic: double-height ceilings, exposed brick walls, steel pillars, and hard wood-plank flooring. While visually spectacular, the 450-seat dining hall quickly became an acoustic nightmare during peak Friday night dinners:
The “Cocktail Party Effect” Gone Wild: As the restaurant filled up, the clattering of silverware, clinking of wine glasses, and loud laughter bounced off the hard brick and timber surfaces. To be heard, patrons naturally started shouting, creating an escalating spiral of ambient noise.
HVAC and Kitchen Rumble: The powerful open-kitchen exhaust systems and roof-mounted HVAC units sent a continuous, low-frequency hum running through the structural ceiling, compounding customer fatigue.
Strict Food-Safety & Fire Building Codes: Any ceiling material suspended directly over a dining and secondary prep zone had to strictly resist moisture retention (to prevent mold/mildew), be highly dust-resistant, and pass the most stringent fire safety standards.
The Solution: Architectural-Grade PET Acoustic Ceiling Grid Systems
HENGJIU Felt engineered a lightweight, high-performance T-bar drop-ceiling grid system utilizing our structural 15mm thick polyester acoustic tiles to deaden the overhead sound reflection zone.
Exceptional High-Frequency Absorption: Our high-density PET structure possesses an optimal airflow resistance profile, achieving an NRC of 0.90. It targets and swallows the harsh, high-frequency sound spikes 2000HZ- 4000HZ) typical of crashing porcelain, glass, and metal utensils.
Anti-Microbial & Moisture Resistant: Unlike traditional mineral wool or fiberglass ceiling tiles that sag and grow mold when exposed to kitchen steam and humidity, HENGJIU’s 100% polyester fibers are inherently hydrophobic. They retain their structural shape perfectly and do not harbor bacteria or odor.
Class A Commercial Fire Rated: To comply with Baltimore’s commercial hospitality regulations, all ceiling components passed the ASTM E84 Class A test, offering peace of mind to the operators and local building inspectors.