TOUCHDOWN!
When looking for a tasteful yet hard-wearing floorcovering for a new stand at a rugby club, contractors chose products from luxury vinyl manufacturer, Amtico, to create a series of striking designs.
Northampton Saints have been playing rugby at the historic Franklin’s Gardens since the club was founded in 1880. Over the decades, the ground has undergone significant redevelopment, with purpose built stands providing a combined capacity of over 15,000.
Located at the north side of the stadium is the Barwell Stand, which is the latest addition to the club’s impressive infrastructure. Divided over three floors, the new stand also incorporates 12 hospitality boxes, conference and office suites, a family lounge and a 25-metre long bar area.
Local architects, Peter Haddon & Partners, were responsible for the complete project, with the design team of Steve Howlett and Rob MacNaughton tasked with creating flooring designs that matched the high specification of the existing hospitality areas.
Amtico Signature products have been used in a selection of striking laying patterns across the 1,280m2
space.
For the impressive entranceway, Riverstone Mantle tiles were specified,
mixing sandier touches with brown tones to contrast the dark, modern reception desk. Elsewhere, Dark Walnut wood flooring was used to effortlessly offset the ultra-modern furniture in the hospitality areas, while Lime Washed wood provided the bar area with a light and lively atmosphere.
Commenting on Amtico, Steve Howlett of Peter Haddon & Partners, said: “We’ve used Amtico several times on high-profile projects, so we knew we could incorporate the exact designs and laying patterns to fit the scheme. On this occasion, we needed to use wood and tile effect products which we specified from samples provided by Amtico.
“Overall, we’ve been very pleased with both the flooring and service from Amtico, so we would certainly specify them again.”
In the reception area, where specifying a ceramic based product was practical due to potential chipping, the stone effect was used. This proved to be an ideal option, providing an impressive entrance to the stand. In the VIP box
areas, dark timbers were chosen to maintain the same high-quality feel of product used in the Directors’ boxes. In addition, the performance benefits of the flooring made it an excellent choice for the project, where high footfall is expected – especially in the bar area.
Allan Robson, Chief Executive of Northampton Rugby Football Club, was closely involved in the transformation of the new stand and worked with Peter Haddon & Partners to choose the flooring.
Alan said: “We were seeking to change the traditional approach to decoration and fitting out, plus we wanted an upmarket feel, which would withstand high wear levels.
“Amtico was chosen because I know the product and its ability to perform well over time, while also retaining an attractive appearance. We’re very pleased with the finished result and expect the durability to remain high for many years.”
www.amtico.com
34 | SPORTS VENUES
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