Excellent acoustic properties have been achieved at the Mahony Hall, a concert venue which forms part of The Helix, a £23m arts complex in Dublin.

An all-hardwood interior was rejected on the grounds of cost and use of scarce resources.

Instead, architect David Lanigan of Dublin’s A&D Wejchert & Partners opted for walls comprising in situ concrete and concrete block walls, 215-400mm in thickness, with layers of 18mm standard Medite MDF, and 18mm Class O Medite flame retardant MDF veneered in steamed beech.

The MDF panels produced by Weyerhaeuser Europe Ltd are linked by sliding tongue detail and movement is minimal, resulting in an “acoustically excellent” interior which is also highly attractive and safe, according to Mr Lanigan.