Dienstencentrum Gentbrugge

The city of Ghent undertook the renovation of a building complex in Gentbrugge, a municipality within the greater Ghent area, to transform it into a multifunctional community center. The renewed facility, now called “De Felix” in tribute to the original architect Paul Felix, brings together local administration, cultural spaces, and sports facilities under one roof.

As part of the redevelopment, an additional top floor was constructed above the existing 1970s structure to accommodate two new ballet studios, covering a total area of 280 m² (3,014 ft²).

To meet the project’s key requirements for structural compatibility and high acoustic performance, CDM Stravitec collaborated closely with the project’s acousticians to develop a tailored dry floating floor system.

The design was specifically optimized for a lightweight rooftop addition while ensuring effective sound insulation and vibration control.

The final build-up included:

• A wooden beam substructure was installed to compensate for unevenness in the existing floor, ensuring the final floating floor surface is level and provides a uniform, stable support for the isolator bearings.
• A Stravifloor Channel system using 50 mm (2") bearings providing structural decoupling and impact noise reduction.
• 100 mm (4") mineral wool infill within the cavity for enhanced sound absorption.
• Three layers of 18 mm (3/4'') fibre-cement boards forming a rigid and stable load distribution layer, adding mass for improved acoustic performance without overloading the structure.

This configuration created a large air void beneath the floating surface, significantly improving vibration isolation and sound attenuation toward the spaces below. By combining lightweight construction techniques with a tailored acoustic design, the solution ensured that the new ballet rooms deliver both structural integrity and acoustic comfort, supporting the project’s goal of creating a multifunctional and sustainable community facility.