Gradus

Gradus Wall Protection products have been fitted throughout the £350m Grange University Hospital, the first major hospital to be built in Wales in more than two decades. Hannah Capel, Senior Programme Manager at The Grange University Hospital, commented: "It is now widely accepted that creating a positive environment in healthcare settings has a significant impact on patients’ wellbeing.The wall protection installed by Gradus provides a hygienic solution and the wonderful designs create a less institutional and more relaxing environment for our patients, which benefits them considerably."

A range of Gradus wall protection systems and flooring accessories have been installed at the University of Hull’s brand-new Health Campus, helping to improve the building’s safety and enhance the facility’s modern aesthetic. The new £28million Health Campus boasts the new five storey Allam Building which features a mock operating theatre, hospital wards and intensive care unit.

Contract interiors specialist Gradus has supplied primary barrier matting to the new Haymarket bus station, as part of a £13.5milllion new build project, which allows 23 buses to drop off or pick up at any one time. Gradus’ Esplanade 8500 primary barrier matting was installed throughout the new bus station. Constructed from double grey rubber wipers and silver anodised aluminium scraper linking strips, Esplanade 8500 is an ideal solution for this busy environment.

Gradus supplied stair edgings, barrier matting and carpet to the New Look Support Centre at the Weymouth Gateway development. Committed to retaining its local presence and historic links with Weymouth, fashion retailer New Look underwent regeneration of its Mercery Road site as part of the Weymouth Gateway development. The purpose built New Look Support Centre is a modern three-storey building located at the entrance to the development. The finished look is one of clean modern elevations, substantially glazed to maximise the use of natural light and make the most of the spectacular view from upper levels.

Gradus’ Traditional Bronze stair edgings have been installed on 20 staircases that guide visitors from the upper deck to the scenic view promenade. Standing 324m above the Paris skyline, the Eiffel Tower is France’s most visited tourist attraction. In the first renovation operation to be carried out at the tower in almost 30 years, the first-floor platform has been transformed with the installation of a gangway and glass panels all the way round the central void, to give visitors the impression of walking on air, 57 metres above the ground.

LTS Luxury Trim System from Gradus was specified for the Blunsdon House Hotel, a unique four-star family owned hotel. The luxurious Blunsdon House has 108 bedrooms, two restaurants, three bars, 11 meeting rooms and a leisure club with an indoor pool and small golf course. As part of a recent refurbishment project in Carrie’s bar, the hotel required a durable, robust trim to withstand the amount of traffic accessing the bar daily. Gradus Luxury Trim System in polished brass was installed to create a safe transition between floorcoverings, whilst creating a premium and modern look.

The main auditorium of the Theatre has been refurbished with 900 new seats, sound desks and lighting systems, as well as the installation of a café, licensed bar and TV gallery. The foyer, studio theatre and entrance areas have been modernised. As part of the project, Gradus was chosen to supply and fit continuity LED step lighting to provide a contemporary linear effect and complement the new modern interior of the theatre. Not only does step lighting add to the design, but it also allows customers and staff to move around safely in darkened lighting conditions.

A complete wall protection system from Gradus has been installed at the newly refurbished Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN). Supplied and fitted by the Gradus Contracts Team, the system includes wall guards, corner guards, kickplates and bollards from the stainless steel range, plus handrails from the 450 timber range, which is designed to meet guidelines in Approved Document M, BS8300:2009+A1:2010 and HBN00-04.

Gradus supplied R95XT11 PVC-u and CXT3 aluminium stair edgings to the main staircases to help protect against the risk of slips, trips and falls. Gradus also supplied a range of barrier matting to the development, including Esplanade 5000HD and Boulevard 5000HD.

Located at the university’s Colchester campus, the £12m innovation centre is part of the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park. The Innovation Centre houses the new Studio X area and will showcase technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality.

We supplied a range of Flooring Accessories and Barrier Matting Systems to Colindale Gardens, an ongoing development of luxury townhouses and apartments in north-west London. James Holmear, Sales and Marketing Director at Redrow’s Greater London region, commented: "We wanted to create interior solutions that would reflect the luxury nature that Colindale Gardens offers and would also be hard-wearing and long-lasting for our customers. The solutions provided by Gradus not only fit with the premium feel of the development, but also provide a high level of safety for our residents and visitors."

The Caudwell International Children’s Centre (CICC) is an award-winning £18 million development located at Keele University Science & Innovation Park, and the UK’s first independent facility dedicated to the diagnosis, support and research of autism. The awards won by the project include; RICS® Project of the Year 2019, Design in Mental Health Project of the Year 2019 and Healthcare Estates® IHEEM Awards Project of the Year 2019.

Humber Enterprise Park is an 86-acre site in Brough, East Yorkshire developed on the site previously owned by BAE Systems. Gradus carpet, matting and stair edgings (fitted using Gradus Grip) were used throughout. "Using Gradus Grip adhesive for fixing down the Gradus GTX51 & GXT11 profiles at Humber Enterprise Project was more cost effective as it is quicker than mechanically fixing each nosing, it also shortened the installation time as the adhesive sets quicker so there is no need to shut the staircases off for long periods." Nic Clawson Assistant Project Manager, Sandhurst Flooring

"Our carpets are an excellent choice for busy healthcare environments as they excel in terms of functionality, aesthetics and ease of maintenance. The carpet ranges installed at the Laura Mitchell clinic work well together to help to differentiate different areas of the building. Our floor plan design service helps to create bespoke design schemes to suit the exact design requirements of a project" Karen Burman Marketing Product Manager

John Scotting, Managing Director of main developer Scott’s Developments Ltd, commented: “The restoration of Steel City House has created a thriving business hub in the heart of Sheffield. Gradus were able to provide a choice of colour and design options that allowed us to achieve a modern flooring scheme, whilst still complementing the heritage of this period building. “The Gradus products selected provide the perfect balance between practicality and aesthetics and we’re really pleased with the finished outcome.”

“We needed an LED lighting solution that complemented the modern, stylish appearance of the refurbished building interior, but still ensured a safe and inclusive environment. Gradus ensured that the products selected matched our requirements and worked with us to produce a fantastic end result.” Nancy Davies, Marketing Manager for Storyhouse. Storyhouse is Ch brand new £37m cultural centre. Having restored the old 1930’s Chester Odeon building, a Grade 2 listed structure that has been empty since 2007, the building now houses an 800-seat auditorium, a 200-seat studio theatre, a restaurant, two bars and a 100-seat cinema.

An independent arts and entertainment venue, The Met hosts a mixture of theatre, music and comedy. Since closing in March 2016, the Grade II listed building has undergone a significant refurbishment to create a new and improved performance space and facilities. We supplied our specialist LED step lighting system. Fran Healy, Project Manager for The Met refurbishment, commented: “The LED lighting system has helped to create a safe and inclusive environment for all building users. Gradus were able to offer a full project management service based on our specification needs and we’re very pleased with the end result.”

As part of the exhibit, Gradus was chosen to provide LED stair edgings for a custom-built theatre to showcase two films from Rosalind Nashashibi, one of the shortlisted artists. Her films use the camera as an eye to convey moments and events, merging everyday observations with fantastical and mythological elements. Electrical Gaza (2016) captures the self-contained life of Gaza, removed from the world yet somehow enchanted and Vivian’s Garden (2017) depicts the relationship between two artists, who are mother and daughter, in the connected houses they share in a jungle garden in Panajachel, Guatemala.

Premier Inn is currently renovating several of its hotels and is choosing to install Gradus’ stair edging. RXT521 stair edging comprises a PVC-u channel and riser, providing an all-round visual contrast. The insert extends around the leading edge of the profile to ensure that foot contact is always made with the slip-resistant element of the stair edging. Sarah Simpson, Head of Product Development for Premier Inn, said: “We have large volumes of guests and staff using the stairs in our premises every day, so ensuring we work with a supplier like Gradus is really important.”

University of Derby has recently refurbished its Nunnery Court halls of residence which included the installation of XT stair edgings to all core staircases. GXT11 from Gradus’ market-leading XT range of stair edgings were specified for the project to enhance the buildings safety, while maintaining a clean and contemporary aesthetic. XT stair edgings comprise an aluminium channel with a slip-resistant insert that extends around the leading edge of the profile to increase underfoot contact with the slip-resistant element of the stair edging, helping to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls on the stairs

ASXT11 stair edgings from Gradus were specified for the project to ensure the safety of the staircase Gabija Bingelyte, Project Manager for the London School of Economics refurbishment said: “Thousands of people pass through the campus each year and, as such, the university needs to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for students, staff and visitors. “As the market leader with 50 years’ experience in the industry, it was an easy choice to specify Gradus for the project."

The Solar Campus development will see both the first team and academy training at the same venue for the first time. It has a total of eight football pitches. Anthony Roberts, Product Manager for Gradus, commented: “The Tranmere Rovers facility required a package of products designed to withstand a large amount of footfall and provide safe access in a building where flooring contamination is common. The products specified work in conjunction with each other to help prevent dirt and debris being tracked around the building and ensure slip accidents are reduced.”

Gradus has supplied and installed a range of bespoke wall protection solutions throughout the ground-breaking new Proton Beam Therapy Centre at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Gradus supplied and installed its SureProtect Pure® hygienic wall cladding in White and Iceberg shades. Specially designed to create an impermeable barrier to moisture and bacteria it features a smooth, easy-to-clean surface to ensure a hygienic solution that meets ‘Health Building Note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment’

BMI The Somerfield Hospital is part of BMI Healthcare, a leading provider of independent healthcare with a nationwide network of hospitals. Gradus SureProtect Pure hygienic wall protection in White was specified for use in the anaesthetic and sluice rooms, specifically designed for areas of a hospital where cleanliness is a priority, the hygienic wall cladding creates an impermeable barrier to moisture and bacteria and has a smooth, easy to clean surface. It offers a tough and durable finish helping to protect against impact and abrasion from passing equipment, trolleys and beds, thus reducing any ongoing repair and maintenance costs.

Gradus has supplied and fitted a range of wall protection solutions as part of the £16m newly built Bitterne Park School in Southampton. The new school includes 80 new teaching classrooms, a purpose-built assembly hall/theatre, a new dining space with a fully fitted kitchen and purpose built fully fitted classrooms to house the students as part of their Food and Nutrition studies.

Gradus has supplied a variety of wall protection systems as part of a refurbishment project at the University of Liverpool’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital based at the Leahurst Campus in the Wirral. The Small Animal Teaching Hospital is part of the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Veterinary Science and employs over 350 staff, including over 100 veterinary surgeons and 280 students. The facility is one of the largest and most innovative veterinary hospitals in Europe, teaching students the very latest theory and techniques.

Gradus wall protection was chosen to future-proof the facilities of Nexperia, a global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFET devices for the Automotive industry. The majority of Nexperia’s manufacturing takes place in laboratories. As a result, a durable wall protection system was required that would be resistant to a variety of cleaning chemicals and that can withstand the rigorous maintenance cleaning regimes which will take place at the facility.

The school underwent a complete refurbishment in September 2015 and chose to use a very pale blue paint scheme throughout most of the building. Within 3 months the areas within the school that see heavy traffic, including corridors and the dining hall had begun to show signs of scuffing and wear, due to the pupils knocking against the walls with their bags. The site manager at the school was concerned by the level of damage and began to consider wall protection products to combat the problem. Gradus supplied and fitted the school with wall protection solutions to prevent further damage.

We supplied and fitted a combination of Wall Protection solutions at St Ninian’s High School in East Renfrewshire, reducing the impact of scuffs and scrapes in the school’s corridors, improving its internal appearance and enhancing the environment. “We were looking for a way to deal with wear and tear and how to keep the school in pristine condition, particularly after the refurbishment of certain areas,” explains Anne O’Neill, Business Support Manager at St Ninian’s. “It was clear that a new approach was needed, so we contacted Gradus about their wall protection solutions.”

Located near Taunton, Somerset, the Halcon Centre provides short breaks, with 24-hour professional care, for up to 18 adults who are physically disabled or have sensory loss. SureProtect Design® bespoke wall cladding was installed in the main corridor at the centre featuring a row of imitation panels, that have been designed to look hand-drawn with a marker pen to offer the homely feel the centre was looking for. In addition, the Halcon Centre further increased the corridor walls’ protection by installing Gradus’s CGH5090 High Impact PVC-u Corner Guards and WGS200 Wall Guards, both in colour Gravel.

“We worked closely with The Priory Ruskin Academy on this project, striving to understand their vision for the study room and making sure we delivered our part – so it’s great to see how happy pupils and staff are with the result. As ever with projects like this, communication was key. We work closely with all our clients to make sure we meet the brief exactly, providing protection where it’s needed.”

Gradus has collaborated with Vinci Construction and AFL Architects to transform a state-of-the-art medical facility, the new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the Broad Street building in Halifax ensuring both functionality and aesthetics were prioritized. The purpose of the CDC is to enhance accessibility to diagnostic tests for our patients by offering a centralized location for various community services. The project involved the installation of various Gradus products across multiple rooms, enhancing the environment for patients and staff.Products Used SureProtect Artworx was specified and installed in various rooms such as ultrasound rooms, an x-ray room, a scanner room and waiting areas. The bespoke printed wall cladding was specifically chosen to create a calming and visually appealing atmosphere, using high-resolution biophilic photography. This product not only adds a touch of art to the walls but also protects the wall substrate, making it ideal for healthcare settings. Gradus Standard PVC-U Corner Guards in colour 002 Gravel have been installed throughout the building to protect corners from impact and wear. Corner guards are crucial in maintaining the integrity of the walls, especially in a busy medical facility where equipment and foot traffic can cause damage. SureProtect Endure textured wall cladding was installed in different colours and heights throughout the new CDC building. In the staff kitchen, SureProtect Pure was selected for use as a splashback. SureProtect Pure is a smooth, hygienic PVC-u wall cladding, that combines functionality with a fresh clean look, providing an easy-to-clean surface. In keeping with the Biophilic elements, SureProtect Design in 062 Light Oak was installed in the cannulation room. This product’s wood-effect finish brings a touch of nature indoors, creating a more inviting and comfortable space for patients.Throughout the building, Cover Formers with Capping Strips have been used, to provide a seamless finish between the walls and floor covering. Sit-on skirting have been used throughout the building to ensure protection at the base of the walls but also adds a polished and professional look to the facility. Project Highlights The integration of Gradus products has significantly improved the medical facility’s environment. The use of SureProtect Artworx and SureProtect Design has added visual appeal, while the Standard PVC-U Corner Guards and SureProtect Endure provide essential protection. The application of CF20 Cover Former and Gradus SI150502P sit-on skirting ensures a cohesive and polished look throughout the building. By choosing Gradus, the facility has successfully created a space that supports both patient well-being and staff efficiency, demonstrating the impact of well-designed protective solutions in healthcare settings.

The Christie was seeking a solution that would provide it with all the benefits of wall protection in terms of reducing lifecycle costs, while being as invisible as possible, creating a less institutional and more relaxing environment for its patients. To make this vision a reality, Gradus worked closely with the hospital throughout the process. Having worked with The Christie before, we were thrilled to continue our relationship on this prestigious and rigorous ProCure 21+ project. The project was an excellent example of our supply-and-fit service, highlighting how we work closely with clients and supply chain partners to deliver the project on time and exactly to specification

Whitby Hospital is a Community Hospital providing inpatient, outpatient and community services. Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust provides community and out of hours services to Whitby and surrounding areas, and currently has a population of approximately 14,000 residents. A selection of Gradus Wall Protection systems alongside Gerflor flooring was specified for this critical ProCure 22 project.

Gradus has supplied and installed a range of bespoke wall protection solutions throughout the new Same Day Emergency Care building at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Fitted by the Gradus Contracts Team, the system includes wall guards, corner guards and combination handrails.

Gradus has recently installed its market-leading Wall Protection systems in the new NHS Rainbow Community Hub in Elland, West Yorkshire, which provides healthcare for young people with complex healthcare needs.