Given the current imperative for socially distanced teaching space, it was fortuitous that the University of East Anglia had recently specified Style to install six moveable partitioning systems in various classrooms across the campus. Each Dorma Hüppe wall divides a classroom into two evenly sized areas that can cater for smaller bubbles of students. 

Boasting an incredible 55dB Rw acoustic integrity, concurrent lessons can run entirely undisturbed and, when a larger space is required for bigger groups of students, the rooms can be quickly and easily opened out.

The University of East Anglia is an internationally renowned facility based in a campus that provides exceptional facilities for over 17,000 students. Ranked as one of the top 25 universities in the UK, the campus is in 320 acres of rolling parkland just outside Norwich city centre.

With a desire to create flexible room configurations in several classrooms, the University was looking to make the space as adaptable as possible to cater for an increasing number of students.

Working with architect Fraser Brown Mackenna and contractor RG Carter, Style was specified to install one manually operated Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall and five semi-automatic walls in different seminar rooms throughout the University.

Adding to the practicality of the walls, the elements are all finished in a Getalit HPL whiteboard, enabling lecturers and students to use them for note writing during seminars and workshops. 

“Demonstrating the exceptional quality of our systems, we were able to show the University a similar wall that we installed 10 years ago which is still in perfect working order, still delivering smooth operation and outstanding acoustics,” said Mike Fine, Style’s director for the midlands. 

“They were reassured that, by choosing Style, they would benefit from a high-quality moveable wall from our world-leading manufacturing partner.” 

In addition to addressing the immediate need for safe teaching space during this pandemic, a moveable wall is a long-term investment. Combined with a routine service contract from Style, a moveable wall system can last up to 25 years or longer, delivering adaptable space well into the future.