Maximize Unused Space with Unistrut Ceiling Grids
October 1, 2024
Creating more usable square footage out of thin air sounds like a dream scenario for any construction project. Ceiling grids make that dream a reality, transforming otherwise unusable overhead spaces into a support system. While they have historically been used to support mechanical services in industrial environments, ceiling grids can be used in just about any environment or industry to both support necessary utilities and enhance design elements.
From retail applications to universities to more traditional data center systems, the Unistrut Midwest team has created ceiling grids to meet a wide variety of requirements.
Unistrut Ceiling Grids
The construction industry is continuing to focus on sustainable building practices and systems that are simple to install and maintain. Unistrut meets these demands with its design flexibility and customization capabilities.
Designed with bolted connections and no welding required, Unistrut ceiling grids allow for connection at any point in the channel. Grids can be created in any size, pattern, spacing, and design load, and they can be connected to nearly any existing structure. This flexibility allows the end user to easily adjust or add to the ceiling grid system for future requirements.
The repeatable components found in ceiling grids and Unistrut's all-bolted connections are perfect for prefabrication. Unistrut Midwest offers prefabrication services for any Unistrut ceiling grid project, enabling a fast assembly and installation process and reducing total on site man hours.
Residential and Retail Ceiling Grids
While ceiling grids have traditionally been considered a utilitarian solution often covered by acoustical tiles, a well-executed ceiling grid can enhance the design of retail or residential spaces. For the open floor concepts favored in many retail stores, offices, and apartment community spaces, a Unistrut ceiling grid can both support necessary functions and be a design element itself.
Unistrut ceiling grids can be custom designed in a range of grid pattern sizes and to run at any angle relative to the space, and they can be powder coated to complement the interior design. And because it's Unistrut, even a beautifully designed ceiling grid can support elements like lighting, conduit, fire suppression systems, and decorative elements or art installations.
University Ceiling Grids
Universities are ideal candidates for ceiling grid solutions. With hundreds of thousands of square feet and varying demands in each space, ceiling grids can support everything from lighting to laboratory equipment.
The Unistrut Midwest team has designed, supplied, and installed ceiling grid supports for university laboratory snorkel exhausts many times over the years, creating customized solutions for each space that allow students to work at their seat instead of having to move to a larger exhaust hood elsewhere in the lab. Because college classrooms can be used for various courses, we have also created ceiling grids that can support both lab equipment and other utilities, like cable reels, track lighting, and cable trays. For these applications, the Unistrut ceiling grid is designed to keep the overhead systems neat and organized, and finishes are often customized to fit the design of the space.
Ceiling grids aren't only limited to the science buildings, however. Our team has worked with clients to create suspended systems to support theatrical lighting and scenic backgrounds for university productions or to support overhead lighting to create welcoming spaces around campus.
Data Center Ceiling Grids
Data centers can easily become a mess of wires and utilities if they don't have sufficient organization and support. Ceiling grids take overhead space and turn it into a universal support system for hot aisle containment, cable trays, conduit, bus ducts, fire suppression, ductwork, and more. By moving these systems overhead, surface space is freed up for even more servers, increasing the capacity and efficiency of a data center.
As hyperscale data centers become increasingly necessary, standardized Unistrut ceiling grid systems are frequently being used in their designs. The versatility of Unistrut allows data centers to to adapt to current setups and future configurations, with a focus on flexibility and future proofing.
Our team is ready to discuss ceiling grid options for your next project. Contact us to see what solution can work for you.