The Innovation Centre at Zentia’s Gateshead facility is a destination workspace launched in early 2024 to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation within the built environment. Purpose-designed for flexibility and engagement, the space includes two smaller meeting rooms and a large conference suite accommodating up to 60 people. Equipped with full AV presentation capabilities, the centre also features a striking ceiling grid designed to showcase Zentia’s latest product innovations.
The challenge
A key priority for the large boardroom was ensuring the ceiling installation strongly reflected Zentia’s brand identity and its commitment to product innovation. As a high-traffic, customer-facing environment, the space needed to function not only as a meeting and collaboration hub, but also as a hands-on product showcase for visitors, clients, and internal teams.
Zentia specifically wanted to highlight its new Ebro AB mineral fibre ceiling tile, a true black acoustic tile designed to deliver both visual impact and balanced sound performance. This choice led to the main challenge of achieving a consistent, intentional deep black finish suitable for a highly visible showcase environment, while maintaining acoustic performance to allow the room to continue functioning as a comfortable meeting space.
The solution
To meet these requirements, Ebro AB mineral fibre ceiling tiles (600×600, 15mm board edge) were installed within a DecoFrame Kit Classic floating canopy system to create a bold, high-impact feature ceiling.
The Ebro AB tiles deliver a true black finish (closest RAL 9005) with reliable acoustic performance. They were installed on a compatible black grid/canopy system to ensure visual continuity and deepen the overall black aesthetic. The approach demonstrated how high-quality black ceiling finishes can be achieved using standardised systems without compromising on performance, cost or design intent.
The project successfully bridges the gap between product showcase and real-world application. Visitors are now able to experience Zentia’s Ebro AB ceiling tiles in a fully functioning environment, demonstrating not just how the product looks, but how it performs in practice. By combining bold visual impact with acoustic performance, Zentia has created a space that not only showcases innovation, but actively embodies it.
ABOUT ZENTIA
Zentia is a market-leading UK manufacturer delivering high-performance acoustic ceiling and wall solutions. They make a wide range of mineral ceiling tiles, suspension grids, and floating ceiling systems at their two factories in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
Evolved from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions and with over 100 years of knowledge and experience, Zentia is the UK’s only major ceiling manufacturer, offering a shorter supply chain to the construction industry in the UK and Ireland, and providing specifiers and ceiling contractors with reliable products they can trust.
To find out more about Zentia click here.