FLOORING PRIORITISING PERFORMANCE
Interface explains why architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands turned to the flooring specialist for a project at University College London.
Spread across the heart of the capital and with 42,000 students, University College London (UCL) is one of the largest universities in the UK. With a reputation for excellence, UCL is a firm choice for students looking for a quality higher education provider that’s plugged directly into the energy of the city. As a result, UCL requires an ever-expanding portfolio of functional and stylish facilities, including accommodation, to deliver a first-class education to its growing student roster.
"The building will promote collaboration between the different faculties and live up to the social and environmental values that the university is proud of."
The university’s presence in east London is growing to include a brand new 148,275 sq ft accommodation development as well as new academic, retail, community and public engagement spaces at One Pool Street. A short distance from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a freshly minted piece of London history, the building will promote collaboration between the different faculties and live up to the social and environmental values that the university is proud of.
Construction company Vinci led the build, whilst architects practice Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS) lead the design. When it came to sourcing durable flooring solutions for the development, LDS turned to commercial flooring manufacturer and global leader in sustainability, Interface.
All day, all night, all purpose The space is now home to 550 students with round- the-clock high footfall throughout the accommodation, academic, retail and community spaces, so it is crucial that the space prioritises durability and performance. To meet this demand, Interface’s nora rubber flooring was specified for the areas that will see the most action
38 | TOMORROW’S FM
underfoot, such as corridors and breakout areas. Nora products are highly resilient and are designed to last, with maximum wear resistance and low indentation behaviour.
Interface also provided robust nora rubber flooring with increased slip resistance for the kitchens and stairways. Infused with granite, noraplan ultra grip is designed specifically for these spaces, with slip resistance to R11 standard. The covering offers significant protection in areas where slips and falls pose serious risks. Noise was another key consideration as the space is being used for a mix of work and socialising, and ultra grip’s 6-7 dB footfall sound absorption helps to reduce sound impact between different areas of the space.
Sustainable by design One Pool Street and the whole of the UCL East campus development aims to have as little impact on the planet as possible. Efforts were made to reduce energy consumption and running costs, with reducing carbon emissions prioritised throughout the design and construction journey. Sourcing flooring from Interface was a natural step forward with this. The company’s active, transparent approach to assessing, reporting and improving the environmental impact of its products has made it a trusted provider of sustainable solutions.
Interface’s entire product portfolio, including carpet tile, LVT and nora rubber are carbon neutral across their full lifecycle. What’s more, in September 2022, Interface announced that it is third party certified as a Carbon Neutral Enterprise, demonstrating the company’s voluntary and ambitious commitment to climate action.
Speaking about the project at UCL, Jason Cadman, Account Manager at Interface, said: “We were seriously impressed by this project, and were really proud when LDS approached Interface to provide flooring solutions. We’re pleased that nora rubber flooring was able to meet the extensive functional requirements for the space and it was refreshing to work with developers and architects who share our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our work.”
Quality that lasts norament 975 loose-lay floor covering was used throughout the raised access areas in the accommodation to meet the functionality and sustainability expectations for this space. Made with 30% recycled material and PVC-free, the covering was easily fitted and immediately ready for use, with no coatings or welding necessary;
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
