Can You Hear Me Now?
Islander Reopens with Improvements
By Holly Houser, Ocean Reef Press Editorial Assistant
The Islander opened its doors to seated dining on Monday, May 18, and those who have since enjoyed dinner out may have noticed a new improvement to the noise level. Among other updates, the Islander has a newly-installed acoustic ceiling, meant to decrease noise and improve the Member dining experience.
Enhancements to the Islander and Gianni Ristorante were originally slated as part of this summer’s Capital Projects plan, but the Coronavirus provided some extra unexpected time to work on them. The Club took advantage of this opportunity to make some renovations in time for Members, who are staying at Ocean Reef longer than usual this season, to enjoy before heading to their northern clubs.
“We were pleased to be able to do something good for The Club during a difficult situation,” said ORC President Alex Tonarelli. “Having the restaurants closed and many Members extending their season at The Reef a bit longer due to the Coronavirus, we wanted to take the opportunity to do some enhancements during a time that wouldn’t disrupt the experience for Members.”
Members have remarked on the level of noise in the Islander since its post-Irma remodel finished in 2019. “As part of the Islander renovation in 2018-19, we included acoustical solutions to reduce the noise in the restaurant,” said Vaughn Roberts, the Club’s Sr. VP of Finance/Projects. “A key element was the acoustical ceilings in the dining room and bar area. Unfortunately, the original installation of the finish coating on the ceiling in the dining room was not adequate – which resulted in insufficient performance from the material. Earlier this year, the installer agreed to correct the issue at no additional cost to the Club and with these changes, our Members should enjoy a quieter experience.”
Carlos Sardiña from Woolems, the company that installed the acoustical paneling system, explained the outcome, “Following the most recent enhancements, we compared the pre- and post-construction sound results,” said Sardiña. “The post-construction results are well below the original levels, resulting in an acoustical environment that is much more conducive to a pleasant dining experience.”
In addition to improving the Islander’s acoustical ceiling, the Club refinished the floors and furniture, and performed a few other renovations.
As for Gianni, the Club also took advantage of the closure by refinishing the wood floor and staircase, deep-cleaning and sanitizing the entire restaurant, professionally cleaning the carpets, and replacing all the fans on the Gianni terrace with dimmable, lighted fans.
Also on the Capital Projects schedule this summer is the Clubhouse renovation, the Lobby and Ocean Room renovation, and the Associate Parking Garage. Read more about these exciting projects at oceanreef.com/capitalprojects with updates to come in the June 5 edition of the Ocean Reef Press.