SYMPHONY OF ENDURANCE
Amtico’s LVT stood the test of time so well at the Royal Academy of Music that when the subfloor beneath failed, Amtico was the first choice replacement floorcovering.
Before
The Royal Academy of Music is one of London’s most prestigious conservatories, with alumni including Katherine Jenkins OBE, Annie Lennox OBE and Sir Elton John. Its main building is situated on Marylebone Road, a busy street in the heart of England’s capital, adjacent to Regent’s Park.
In the early 1990s the venue underwent an interior renovation. The main lower-floor corridor was fitted with stylish wood- effect Amtico LVT flooring; a classic Stripwood laying pattern was used to complement the warmly-toned Washed Teak, while richly-hued Dark Walnut in a bevelled diamond pattern was used to visually segment the long, linear space. The products harmonised with the period flavour of the interior, complementing the building’s traditional colour palette. After 28 years, the Amtico flooring installed at the Academy was still in perfect condition. So, when its subfloor began to crumble and refurbishment was unavoidable, Amtico was the first choice to provide a replacement.
With approximately 800 students attending the venue each year, and countless guests visiting to hear performances, it is no surprise that, since its last refurbishment more than 28 years ago, the corridor has experienced incredibly high levels of footfall. Yet, after almost three decades, the venue’s LVT flooring was still in excellent condition. The floor’s 1mm wear layer withstood the scratches, scuffs and stains you would expect to see in such a busy commercial environment.
The subfloor beneath wasn’t so durable. As it began to crumble renovation became unavoidable, despite the LVT flooring looking immaculate. Pleased with the success of its previous
04 | CASE STUDIES
After
installation, the venue decided to choose new Amtico to take its place. The existing flooring had provided the longevity and durability needed to cope with the high volume of students and guests, so the smart replacement was to re-install new LVT as part of the renovation.
John Gowling, Maintenance Officer at Royal Academy of Music, explains: “The main objective was to choose replacement flooring that would once again last for decades to come. It was important for the end-result to be in keeping with the Academy’s prominence, so we chose to continue the traditional look of wood grain. One of the key differences was the inlay of parquet within the diamond border, which gives an element of the heritage of the building.”
The new flooring follows the style of the much-loved previous design. It sees Washed Teak used throughout the space in a classic Stripwood laying pattern. Similarly mirroring the previous design, the space is once again visually segmented by areas bordered in Dark Walnut Bevelled Diamond, yet, for a fresh twist, the bordered areas now contain Washed Teak in a diagonal parquet pattern. The tour de force of the project is the incorporation of the Academy’s logo, crafted using the flexibility of LVT. The bespoke crest laying pattern creates a memorable impression in the grand space and is made from Dark Walnut and Washed Teak to complement the bevelled diamond border.
John says: “The main objective was to choose replacement flooring that would once again last for decades to come. Naturally, we couldn’t install anything but Amtico.”
www.amtico.com/commercial
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