The new London headquarters of the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons of England celebrates its historic origins and looks forward to its future as a place of learning for 21st century physicians and dentists.

The building in Lincoln’s Fields Inn retains the original, now listed, frontage that was designed by Sir Charles Barry, while the newly built rear section contains state-of-the-art learning facilities and the Professional Surgical Centre.

With an emphasis on high tech and sustainability, global architectural products company Hunter Douglas was specified to supply 358m2 of its solid wood grill ceiling in American White Oak, 15mm x 35mm slats, that were installed in the President’s suite, conference and function rooms as well as the entrance lobby and café area.

The Hunter Douglas solid wood grill ceiling is an environmentally friendly choice and comes with FSC/PEFC certification. It is also Cradle to Cradle Certified™ silver, which demonstrates that it meets certain stringent standards for manufacture and environmental controls.

Juliette Halliday, national sales manager at Hunter Douglas Architectural, said: “Solid wood is a good choice for any designer or architect that wants to maximise its environmental credentials as it is virtually CO2 neutral and is totally recyclable.

“The other advantage is that we provide an entirely made-to-measure solution, which means installers do not have to make any adjustments on site. This not only reduces waste but also reduces installation time and costs.

“As a global company we are used to being specified for prominent schemes, but it was wonderful to be part of The Royal College of Surgeons of England construction as it is a globally respected organisation, with a truly stunning headquarters.” The ceiling was installed by Wates Construction, with a 30mm gap and with an acoustic fleece that was fitted to the rear of the panels on site.

Kevin Monger, manager of drywall and suspended ceilings at Wates Construction, said: “The quality of the Hunter Douglas product was exceptional and definitely carried a great finish to what was already an amazing building. The help and advice from the Hunter Douglas team was outstanding and cannot be faulted.”

Jackie Weller, executive director (transform)/deputy chief executive at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, added: “We are delighted with our solid wood grill ceilings. They seamlessly blend into the historical architecture, whilst providing a high-tech and environmentally sustainable feel. It was a pleasure to work with Hunter Douglas, who provided us with a professional and efficient service.”