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Behind the Scenes at Mason Clinic
When you’re working on a building like Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora E Tū Wairua Hinengaro – Mason Clinic forensic mental health facility, acoustics aren’t just a finishing touch. They are part of compliance, part of patient wellbeing, and part of how people experience the space every day.
For the Mason Clinic redevelopment, dbsorb was engaged across much of the acoustic treatment. The project achieved a 5 Star Design & As Built NZ v1.0 rating under the New Zealand Green Building Council framework, but getting there required more than panels. It required teamwork, iteration, and careful planning.
This is a behind-the-scenes look at how we approached the project, solved problems, and adapted our processes along the way.
Understanding the Building Needs
From the beginning, the brief was not just about sound. The building needed to:
- Feel secure and safe in a high-risk IL3 environment
- Be durable and easy to maintain under hospital-grade cleaning
- Support calm, non-clinical spaces for mental healthcare
- Control reverberation to ensure speech clarity and privacy
Every panel, colour, and groove influenced how people experienced the building. Acoustics were not just a metric. They were part of creating a supportive, therapeutic environment.
Why dbsorb Panels Made Sense
Choosing acoustic solutions for this type of facility was also not just about ticking boxes. Our panels were selected because they helped the design and construction teams manage multiple priorities:
- Recycled PET content, aligning with sustainability credits + makes specification easier in tendering
- Fire rating ISO 9705-2003 Group 1, meeting safety standards without extra testing or complications
- Low VOC and OEKO-TEX certified, which supports indoor air quality goals and reduces questions from project teams
- Durable printed finish, which stands up to frequent cleaning and daily wear
- Printed panels instead of inlay, with fewer joints for better longevity, tamper resistance, and a cleaner visual result
For the project team, this meant less back-and-forth during specification, smoother approvals, and confidence that the panels would perform as expected in a secure, high-traffic environment.
Translating Artwork into Installable Panels
Artist Mei Hill provided cultural design guidance, working closely with tāngata whai i te ora and staff to develop the concepts and narratives that shape the building’s interior design themes. Incorporating her mahi toi and artist-supplied graphics required careful consideration to ensure the integrity and intent of the cultural design were fully upheld.
Our process included:
- Colour calibration, making sure Resene colours matched exactly for consistency across panels
- Panelisation, dividing the artwork into installable sections while maintaining visual continuity
- Installation checks, ensuring grooves and joints worked safely in an IL3 setting
Colour calibration in action: dbsorb matching panels to Resene colours, ensuring seamless transitions from acoustic panels to painted surfaces for a clean, cohesive look.
These steps were not just about aesthetics. They reduced the risk of site issues, helped installers work more efficiently, and ensured the design intent survived construction.
Workflow and Coordination
With a project of this scale, clear processes made the difference. dbsorb focused on:
- Tracking panels from design to installation to prevent misplacement or mistakes.
- Aligning grooves and patterns across long corridors.
- File prep and revision control so the latest updates were always used.
- Installer collaboration, to schedule panels efficiently, involve us on corner cap details, deliver high-quality workmanship, and maintain a collaborative approach throughout. Their feedback helped us refine panel handling and create small jigs where needed.
dbsorb working onsite with installers to fine-tune panel installation, align tolerances, and resolve details together.
We value feedback from everyone on site. When errors or challenges came up, we used them to improve our workflow, so the next batch ran smoother. That approach reduces stress for everyone and leads to better outcomes.
Practical Design Adjustments
Some of the most effective decisions were small but practical:
- Tighter joint tolerances improved both visual consistency and acoustic performance.
- Shallow grooves added texture without creating tamper points.
- Corner caps and concealed edges protected panels in sensitive areas.
- Layout tweaks reduced offcuts and waste, saving time and material.
These adjustments made installation faster, reduced errors, and helped maintain the look and performance the design team intended.
Collaboration Across Teams
Success came from close collaboration with architects, contractors, and installers. Early conversations about panel layouts, groove patterns, and colour choices reduced surprises on site. Clear documentation and labelling allowed everyone to reference the same information and stay aligned.
The team at dbsorb treats feedback as essential. Every note from collaborators, whether about alignment, handling, or sequencing, helps us improve our processes for the next project.
Lessons Learned
E Tū Wairua Hinengaro – Mason Clinic reinforced a few important points for us:
- Early acoustic modelling and target-setting avoids costly redesign later.
- Material and detailing decisions affect both constructibility and long-term maintenance.
- Engaging installers in the conversation uncovers practical solutions.
- Small adjustments in design can save time, reduce waste, and protect visual and acoustic intent.
How This Shapes Our Work Going Forward
For dbsorb, projects like E Tū Wairua Hinengaro – Mason Clinic are about more than delivering panels. They are about being part of the team that:
- Achieves acoustic performance goals while keeping design intent intact.
- Works efficiently on site.
- Supports maintenance planning and long-term durability.
- Listens to feedback and adapts processes in real time.
This approach, collaborative, flexible, and detail-oriented, helps ensure the final result meets the needs of both the people using the building and the teams delivering it.
