"altro"

Expanding care options with fit-for-purpose solutionsAltro Wood, Altro Serenade, Altro Aquarius, Altro Stronghold 30IssueFounded in 1995, The Glen is part of the Willow Valley Communities network that offers ageing residents a mind, body and spirit approach to wellness. The Glen provides a range of support services including shortterm rehabilitation from surgery or illness, as well as specialised memory care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. The facility needed updating to allow residents to continue to enjoy the comforts of home while promoting their physical and mental wellbeing.ApproachTo continue its mission of designing programmes and places fit to people, Willow Valley enlisted CCS Building Group to manage The Glen expansion project, which began in 2018. CCS collaborated with their Altro representative, knowing Willow Valley’s history of using Altro products during previous renovations with proven success.SolutionThroughout its completion, The Glen project utilised multiple Altro floors. For resident rooms accommodating those receiving skilled care, CCS chose Altro Wood for its warm, domestic aesthetic. In the facility’s communal areas, Altro Serenade provides 19dB sound reduction to reduce excess noise. Altro Stronghold 30 was used in the facility’s kitchens for its superb slip resistance and comfort underfoot for busy staff. For residents’ bathrooms and shower areas, CCS selected Altro Aquarius specialist safety flooring for its high slip resistance value both in shoes or barefoot.

Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro is the biggest hospital in Cornwall. The corridor needed updating quickly and required a durable solution to withstand high footfall and wheeled traffic in the area. Altro Cantata adhesive-free flooring was combined with Altro Fortis Titanium wall protection.

Altro brings all things bright and beautiful to children’s hospiceIssueHaven House Children’s Hospice in Woodford Green, Essex, provides the highest level of respite and palliative care to families and young people from birth to 19 years old who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.In the hospice children benefit from a range of play activities, as well as day and overnight stays. They also have access to music therapy, aquatic physiotherapy, physiotherapy and therapeutic yoga.ApproachHaven House interiors needed to be hard-wearing and functional, because a lot of areas are clinical spaces. Altro was recommended by Great Ormond Street Hospital.A visit to Altro’s offices at Letchworth proved to be inspiration for the design scheme at Haven House.SolutionThe brightest and boldest Altro floor and wall products have been used, with rainbow staircases and cleverly colour zoned areas making the facility strikingly beautiful inside and out.A few months after the refurbishment, the feedback from children, staff and visitors to their new colourful environment at Haven House has been overwhelming.

Altro floors and walls bring the seaside in at Cornish holiday parkIssueBeachside Holiday Park is a busy, seasonal, family business that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. In response to customer needs, the team at Beachside Holiday Park was investing in a large refurbishment, to totally transform the main building, providing a new, spacious, cohesive reception, restaurant, bar and soft play area with an overall beachside theme. The refurbishment needed to be completed in time for an expected busy holiday season.ApproachIn the large reception, restaurant and bar area, flooring choice was vitally important to achieving the overall vision, with the team wanting to create a space that shouted sunny seaside, even if it was raining outside. Beachside turned to Ian Williams of Ace Flooring & Carpets on the recommendation of their main contractor. “We worked closely with Ben and the team at Beachside to make sure we got the look and feel they were after,” explained Ian. The toilets and back of house areas also needed a refresh, providing customers and staff with hygienic and safe spaces.SolutionThe Beachside Holiday Park needed a floor for front of house that provided longevity, durability, looked good and was easy to maintain. The team at Beachside Holiday Park and Ace Flooring worked together on this incredibly impactful space and selected two wood-look options of Altro Ensemble modular flooring. In the kitchens, Ace Flooring recommended the tried and tested combination of Altro Crete resin floor and Altro Whiterock hygienic wall cladding to deliver a robust, resilient and hygienic Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approved solution. In the toilets and throughout the back of house, the installation of sustainable Altro XpressLay adhesive-free safety floor reduced the downtime of these busy areas.The design was so good, Ace Floor and the Beachside team were nominated for, and won, an Altro Design Recognition Award.

Altro help transform spaces for mental wellbeingIssueThe old unit was originally a hospital ward which had been de-canted and empty since the COVID-19 pandemic. This included bedrooms, shower rooms, and kitchens in an old-fashioned community hospital building.ApproachThe building was stripped out and architects Hypostyle were enlisted to re-design all spaces as part of the major refurbishment programme. These spaces included a reception and waiting area, treatment office, corridors, and therapeutic rooms. The local Altro specification consultant provided guidance on suitable products when considering infection control, hygiene requirements, and NHS standards, and local children and young people were consulted on the colour scheme. A natural, calming atmosphere was required, one that reflected the hospital gardens and nearby woods, and Hypostyle provided the internal design specification.SolutionTo create a welcoming, biophilic theme, Altro Suprema in a natural tone and Altro Wood adhesive-free were specified for the reception, corridors, waiting area and treatment rooms.Helping to reduce noise transference, Altro Orchestra with 15dB impact sound reduction, was specified for the offices. For hygiene and safety, Altro Whiterock White and Altro Suprema were specified for the bathrooms.“It takes a lot of courage for young people to attend CAMHs – it can be an anxious time for them and for one of them to say ‘This place is wonderful, it has made me feel better already’ has confirmed that we have achieved our overall goal to create a welcoming, calm and comfortable environment. This is now the standard we will be aiming for in all future projects.”Altro Whiterock White hygienic wall cladding is a proven, high performance alternative to ceramic tiles.Altro Wood adhesive-free creates maximum impact with minimum downtime providing a safe, durable and decorative solution for busy spaces.Altro Suprema is a non-sparkle, low-gloss safety flooring with superior stain, abrasion and scratch resistance suitable for very heavy commercial use, foot and wheeled traffic.Altro Orchestra provides 15dB sound reduction and comfort underfoot in a wide choice of colours and five designs.

Hydrotherapy has always been on the agenda at Vranch House, but this vital treatment has recently been given a new lease of life with a completely refurbished state-of-the-art indoor heated swimming pool, including Altro Whiterock hygienic wall sheet. “The walling choices were integral to this vision. Altro was a key partner on the project because they were sympathetic to the broader picture and what we wanted to achieve for the children. Their level of experience and understanding helped us to find a solution that delivered across the board; on quality, safety, aesthetics and durability.

IssueSheffield Olympic Legacy Park Stadium was created after a collaboration of key institutions decided to deliver an Olympic legacy through the four themes of sport, community, environment and economy. The park has an ethos to achieve physical and mental health and wellbeing by providing world-class facilities for community sports, from grassroots up to elite levels.ApproachWith the need to provide inspirational interiors for aspiring Olympians, Alex Parojcic, Architect at Whittam Cox knew that a high-end design, complemented by technical performance and ease of maintenance was required for the new changing areas, showers and physiotherapy suite. “Ceramic tiles had originally been specified for the showers and changing rooms, but we switched to Altro Tegulis when we realised the installation would be quicker, give a fantastic look and feel to the areas,and provide the cleanliness and hygiene standards required for such busy areas.”Joe Richardson of Richardsons Cladding who completed the installation, added “Altro Tegulis was a quick and easy install which assisted with the contractor’s tight programme. If this had been done in the ceramic tiles it would have impacted the programme massively.”SolutionAltro Tegulis, partnered by Altro Aquarius were specified for the showers, providing safety from slips in shoes and barefoot. For the changing rooms, where traffic from football studs, sports shoe spikes and bumps/knocks from sports bags and equipment would be experienced, Altro Atlas 40 was specified. Altro Wood provided a less clinical finish in the physiotherapy suite.Altro Tegulis tile-effect wall panels offer the ideal alternative to traditional tiles for wet rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and retail spaces. With a range of tile-effect patterns offering a grout-free alternative to tiles, Altro Tegulis offers a more familiar feeling than traditional wall panel sheets.Altro Atlas is well suited to areas where the risk of a slip is high, including heavy duty industrial use and sports changing rooms. Hard wearing, stable, and resistant to mechanical damage and chemicals, Altro Atlas 40 provides long term durability and slip resistance, and is easy to clean and maintain.Altro Aquarius is a specialist solution for combined wet and dry, shoe and barefoot areas. Keeps you safe with common contaminants such as shampoo and conditioner.Altro Wood is a general purpose 2mm wood-effect vinyl safety flooring available in a range of designs with different plank sizes.

Inspirational interiors for award-winning stadiumIssueSheffield Olympic Legacy Park Stadium was created after a collaboration of key institutions decided to deliver an Olympic legacy through the four themes of sport, community, environment and economy. The park has an ethos to achieve physical and mental health and wellbeing by providing world-class facilities for community sports, from grassroots up to elite levels.ApproachWith the need to provide inspirational interiors for aspiring Olympians, Alex Parojcic, Architect at Whittam Cox knew that a high-end design, complemented by technical performance and ease of maintenance was required for the new changing areas, showers and physiotherapy suite. “Ceramic tiles had originally been specified for the showers and changing rooms, but we switched to Altro Tegulis when we realised the installation would be quicker, give a fantastic look and feel to the areas,and provide the cleanliness and hygiene standards required for such busy areas.”Joe Richardson of Richardsons Cladding who completed the installation, added “Altro Tegulis was a quick and easy install which assisted with the contractor’s tight programme. If this had been done in the ceramic tiles it would have impacted the programme massively.”SolutionAltro Tegulis, partnered by Altro Aquarius were specified for the showers, providing safety from slips in shoes and barefoot. For the changing rooms, where traffic from football studs, sports shoe spikes and bumps/knocks from sports bags and equipment would be experienced, Altro Atlas 40 was specified. Altro Wood provided a less clinical finish in the physiotherapy suite.Altro Tegulis tile-effect wall panels offer the ideal alternative to traditional tiles for wet rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and retail spaces. With a range of tile-effect patterns offering a grout-free alternative to tiles, Altro Tegulis offers a more familiar feeling than traditional wall panel sheets.Altro Atlas is well suited to areas where the risk of a slip is high, including heavy duty industrial use and sports changing rooms. Hard wearing, stable, and resistant to mechanical damage and chemicals, Altro Atlas 40 provides long term durability and slip resistance, and is easy to clean and maintain.Altro Aquarius is a specialist solution for combined wet and dry, shoe and barefoot areas. Keeps you safe with common contaminants such as shampoo and conditioner.Altro Wood is a general purpose 2mm wood-effect vinyl safety flooring available in a range of designs with different plank sizes.

In a secluded corner of the Northern Highlands lies Skibo Castle, home to the Carnegie Club, an exclusive members club offering the best of Scottish hospitality & grandeur. Gratte Brothers designed and installed the new kitchen with Gavin McDonald Flooring. As part of the design, Gratte Brothers selected a range of Altro floors and walls to meet the exacting standards of the brief. Altro floors and walls are Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) approved meet all current European Union (EU) Directives on health and hygiene, making them particularly suitable for use in commercial kitchens.

In a secluded corner of the Northern Highlands lies Skibo Castle, home to the Carnegie Club, an exclusive members club offering the best of Scottish hospitality & grandeur. Gratte Brothers designed and installed the new kitchen with Gavin McDonald Flooring. As part of the design, Gratte Brothers selected a range of Altro floors and walls to meet the exacting standards of the brief. Altro floors and walls are Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) approved meet all current European Union (EU) Directives on health and hygiene, making them particularly suitable for use in commercial kitchens.

Lanner Primary School is dedicated to promoting a caring ethos. The school is always looking for ways to make cost effective improvements for the safety and comfort of pupils and to enhance their learning and playing experiences. The school hall floor needed replacing, and had issues with sound reverberation and was an uncomfortable surface for students to sit on. Eden Flooring & Interiors suggested Altro Orchestra to increase comfort and improve acoustics . Specifying a comfort flooring option can improve the performance of space for children and those with hearing difficulties, and aid concentration, creating a more effective learning environment.

Altro’s patient-centred ethos boosts wellbeingIssueAltro revisited Hillingdon Hospital, London, to see the lasting impact of products used to create patient-centred, healing, safe and homely environments in several departments.ApproachHillingdon’s Stroke Unit was vastly improved thanks to input from architect and healthcare specialist interior designer Georgia Burt of GBS Health and Altro, with the refurbishment of a bed bay, and also of the gymnasium; the area where important assessment and rehabilitation work takes place. Altro Serenade acoustic smooth flooring was used, with large nature scenes reproduced on Altro Whiterock Digiclad to create a patient-centred biophilic design, to bring the outside in.Christopher Knight, Capital Projects Manager, Estates Department, at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has seen a real difference for patients and staff.SolutionAll the spaces have been transformed by the refurbishment in so many ways. Compared with how they looked before there really is no comparison; they have gone from dull and clinical to bright, light, colourful and comfortable, but still meet very strict guidelines for safety and infection control.Altro Serenade is ideal for spaces where comfort underfoot and impact sound reduction are paramount for patients. It is 3.9mm thick and has 19dB impact sound reduction. Along the walls of the gym is an image of a bluebell wood, in Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom). In the Stroke unit bed bays, a wildflower meadow runs along the entire wall above the bedheads.

The proven cost and time saving credentials of award-winning Altro XpressLay safety flooring led it to being selected for installation in 27 new schools being built in the North East of England.

Innovative technology firm chooses Altro for its new HQChallengeTriton Systems Inc. are a global product venturing and investment company, developing innovative ideas from concept stages to commercial fruition. In order to accommodate their rapid growth and expand production capabilities, Triton needed to relocate its facilities and headquarters to a newly renovated space. The remodelled site includes a host of upgraded amenities, such as new laboratories and development centres, to enable a full spectrum of in-house operations ranging from chemistry and biology to machining, testing and virtual reality.ApproachLocal design firm Fishbrook Design Studio, collaborated with Triton to create the ideal interior for their new site. In the laboratory areas, the studio specified Altro Walkway 20 safety flooring to promote employee safety and achieve the desired aesthetic.Solution“We were looking for attractive flooring solutions that offered safe environments, cleanliness, low maintenance and durability,” explained Kristin Naumann, Director of Design, Fishbrook Design Studio. “For my renovation projects, Altro products offer a great looking, durable way to upgrade hightraffic areas such as common areas and workspaces.”

A complex project with a sympathetic renovation for its usersIssueThe North Tyneside Area Command Headquarters in Wallsend, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was a new £23m development incorporating office facilities, custody suite and police HQ serving the local community on this 6-acre site.ApproachConsiderable effort was made to ensure that all requirements were met in terms of durability, performance requirements and design. Bespoke blends and colours were developed to ensure that the finishes matched both DDA requirements and those set by home office guidelines as well as matching the concept of such a modern building from a design and colour perspective.SolutionThe colours selected by the designers create a stunning, bright, clean environment for those in custody. The building’s focal point, the central atrium, is spherical in shape which allows a large degree of natural light within the building, whilst other areas are designed to be functional and yet modern. High ceilings and wide width corridors also provide a significant feeling of openness and space.Altro Proof™ eliminated delay in the programme by tolerating damp, difficult surfaces and suppressing moisture on all the internal surfaces. This allowed subsequent full opacity coverage with a single coat of special Altro Tect further reducing project cost and time.Altro Seal reduced the gloss levels to provide the necessary diffused light reflectance and low glare to facilitate the necessary CCTV operation.Altro Screed™ 4mm variant and Altro Screed™ 3mm vertical variant were provided in standard and bespoke colour-ways for the flooring and rendered surfaces to meet the particular regulatory and design needs.The Altro Proof collection gives you the ultimate in easy-to-apply damp-proof membranes. An effective single coat application provides protection across a range of moisture contents from relative humidity of more than 75% to 97% wet, (surface dry).Altro Tect is a solvent-free high-build epoxy resin and offers a robust gloss finish. Available in a wide variety of colours, it gives good chemical and abrasion resistance.Altro Seal water-based matt variant is a resin seal that is easy to apply and provides a cosmetic clear matt finish when used over Altro Flow, Altro Screed and Altro Mosaic.Altro Screed is a solvent-free epoxy resin system providing a good level of chemical resistance.Altro Flexiflow can handle impact yet be flexible enough to move with your building.

A lightning-fast flooring solutionIssueYuuki, a commercial flooring installer in Japan, wanted to try the adhesive-free floor concept for themselves before recommending it to their customers. With the opening of a new office and store, and needing the opening to be completed quickly, installation of an adhesive-free floor posed a good option. Yuuki also wanted to demonstrate adhesive-free floors to customers, helping them to understand the concept and the benefits.ApproachPresident Oshima of Yuuki Flooring said: “When I first heard about adhesive-free floors I was surprised. This is a new concept in Japan to have flooring without adhesives. However, I was very curious to see how it would install, and what the outcome would be. The installation was very fast, and I thought this floor is an amazing solution for me and my customers. This floor is easy to install even in busy areas and has great potential. It’s been more than six months since the installation, and we have not experienced any problems with the floor.”SolutionYuuki flooring wanted to open their new flooring store as soon as possible, and without compromising on design. Yuuki decided to use Altro Wood adhesive-free due to the speed of installation, minimal downtime and the wide range of wood designs."The installation was very fast, and I thought this floor was an amazing solution for me and my customers. This floor is easy to install even in busy areas."  President Oshima Yuuki Office"It’s been more than six months since the installation, and we have not experienced any problems with the floor." President Oshima Yuuki Office

Altro wall solutions support fight against COVID-19ChallengeNew Jersey’s Holy Name Medical Centre was at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, coping with an alarmingly high rate of new COVID case admissions. It became clear that for Holy Name Medical Centre to continue providing its patients with crucial life-saving care, their existing Intensive Care Unit (ICU) space would need to undergo an essential update.Approach“Our ICU was built in the 1960s and was in need of an upgrade,” stated Melissa Candela, Holy Name Medical Centre’s Manager of Design and Construction. “Our experience at the epicentre of New Jersey’s outbreak triggered an action plan to transition the outdated space to a unit with the highest technology, safety, and design standards, in addition to strong functionality.” The design of the unit needed to prioritise interiors that could endure frequent cleaning and disinfecting routines while helping to create a design-oriented space with a patient focus.SolutionHoly Name Medical Centre selected Altro Whiterock White and the decorative Altro Whiterock wall designs throughout the ICU to create a high design, hygienic space for patient treatment. Altro Whiterock is a hygienic walls system, providing smooth impact-resistant surfaces and leaving dirt and bacteria nowhere to hide. This is especially practical in the case of Holy Name Medical Centre’s ICU, where thorough cleaning is vital in promoting the safety of patients and staff alike. Altro Whiterock wall designs can be used alongside Altro Whiterock White to create a less clinical feel in patient areas.Altro Whiterock wall designs give elegance to interior walls while providing the durability you expect from an Altro Whiterock wall sheet.

Altro is at the birth of a new designIssueTwenty-five years since its last refurbishment, the maternity Delivery Suite at the Royal Cornwall Hospital was in need of a revamp. The new facility has been created to ensure mothers, babies and families have a home-fromhome experience, but in a clinical and psychologically safe environment. The maternity Delivery Suite comprises of nine delivery rooms and also includes a high dependency unit. With these very high traffic areas, robust, yet good looking interior design products were a must.ApproachThe team wanted to bring an essence of Cornwall into the space to evoke the calming influence of the sea and the natural world, but needed a solution with proven clinical credentials in safety, hygiene and maintenance.“Every staff member in the maternity department was asked to submit their ideas for the new space, their vision, both practically and visually,” said Zoe Nelson, Acute Maternity Matron at the hospital. “Our Estates Department Manager, Duncan Clift, recommended Altro, because he has used them before in the hospital with great success and trusts their products.”SolutionThe Royal Cornwall Hospital chose Altro Wood and Altro Pisces safety floors in colours to represent sand. For the walls, they selected Altro Whiterock Satins in ocean hues to mirror the sea, and Altro Fortis Titanium wall protection in Pearl and Battleship to replicate rocks. Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) was used to portray wall art of Cornish ocean scenes. The result is a beautiful environment that promotes a relaxing birthing experience for mother and baby.

Dynamic interior spaces created for flagship care homeIssue Quantum Care were launching their flagship care home, Mantles Court, and wanted an interior design that created a warm, welcoming and comfortable space. Quantum Care asked WHAT IF? Designs to create the interior spaces with a non-clinical feel, making the state of the art, 78-bed care facility feel like a home-from-home for residents. Approach WHAT IF? Designs looked at the flow of resident living spaces and the needs for each area. Communal spaces including lounges, dining and kitchen areas required floors that were easy to clean, looked fantastic and provided safety from slips. For the ensuite bathrooms, a softer, neutral coloured floor with slip resistance for both staff and residents was needed, while bedrooms called for a more homely, domestic feel, with comfort under foot as a priority. Solution Altro Wood was chosen for the dining room, bedrooms and the hair salon for its natural, homely, good looks. Altro Aquarius and Altro Pisces, with their wide colour palette and lifetime sustained slip resistance, were selected for the ensuite bathrooms, providing safety for shoe and barefoot users. And in the communal areas, Altro Ensemble was chosen for its flexibility and design choices as well as its noise reduction and comfort underfoot.

IssueSaxen's 7,000 sq ft showroom, based in a renovated lace mill, displays a selection of some of the most innovative, contemporary, and stylish commercial furniture and accessories from across Europe. The showroom, boardroom, corridor, and breakout area needed a new floor which would create a perfect blend of design and style, aligning with the fashionable interior of the building which showcases modern furniture. ApproachEach adjacent area needed a unique design creating a natural flow through the building. As the areas are subject to high footfall from visiting customers and staff, the floor also needed to be durable, easy to clean and provide comfort underfoot with noise reduction. SolutionAltro Ensemble, an award-winning modular flooring system luxury vinyl tile was specified for each of the public-facing areas. With the ability to create unique designs, Altro Ensemble planks in colours Greige Rustic Oak and Anthracite Limed Harmonious Oak were laid in a herringbone pattern in the corridor, and block tiles in colours Anthracite Concrete and Fossil Stone through the showroom, boardroom and breakout area.

Canadian hospital chooses Altro for new MRI suiteIssueThe Centre Hospitalier Hôtel-Dieu D’Amos short-term hospital in Quebec, is part of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Abitibi-Temiscamingue. The hospital is a designated regional trauma centre and its main regional vocations are orthopaedics and vascular, plastic and maxilo-facial surgery.Since 2001, the region had an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service via a mobile unit that moved from centre to centre, that reached the end of its useful life a few years ago. In 2021, the hospital became the home to the region’s first fixed MRI scanner.ApproachMaterials in the room must not interfere with the powerful electromagnets, while also being aesthetically pleasing, as the procedures performed could be quite stressful for many patients.As the region’s only fixed MRI, capable of performing 6,000 exams per year, this project required protective wall cladding with superior and long-lasting durability. Materials had to be non-porous, hygienic and easy-to-clean. Due to frequent wheelchair and stretcher traffic, a high impact-resistant surface was also a very important criterion.SolutionMLS Architects selected Altro Whiterock wall designs. The hospital was familiar with Altro Whiterock, having used it in other areas of the hospital. They especially liked that Altro Whiterock wall designs combine the durability, hygiene and resilience of Altro Whiterock wall cladding, with natural looking patterns. These helped enormously with the warm and comforting ambiance that they desired. The Altro walls system easily replaces the typical laminated particle board typically used in applications such as this, all while offering a more durable surface finish and a longer lasting product guarantee. Altro Whiterock Satins in Mint was used in the bathroom and changing area.

Calm and non-clinical environment for busy ICUChallengeHospital environments are created to heal; yet supporting both physical and mental health needs in clinical environments can be challenging. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Harrogate District Hospital required a refurbishment to its walls and wanted a non-clinical design, but with hygienic properties. Approach The unit had different areas with different functions – it needed to have hygienic, clean, wipe down walls which were also robust and could withstand bumps and scuffs. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the refurbishment needed to be completed quickly with minimum downtime to ICU. The team also wanted the unit to have a non-clinical feel. Solution Altro Whiterock White, Altro Whiterock Chameleon, and Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) were selected for the walls in the ICU. The hospital’s paediatric unit had Altro hygienic wall sheets installed previously and knew they were robust and trusted products. The ICU staff and project design team took time to select artwork of cherry blossom branches that would be cheerful yet calming for patients, as well as inspiring and uplifting for hardworking staff. The images were printed to create the Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) wall sheets.

The Milton Keynes Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department was undergoing a refurbishment. The overall aim was to create a child-friendly environment that would appeal to children of all ages.AD Architects designed the new unit and chose Altro Orchestra to create two colourful, reception play areas. The variety of different shades and textures gave scope for an enchanted woodland forest theme to be created using Altro Orchestra throughout. Altro Suprema safety flooring was also fitted in the new unit’s observation areas, treatment bays and examination rooms. The new unit was built by Parias Commercial Interiors, and the Altro flooring fitted by Total Flooring. Altro Orchestra flooring helped to transform the Paediatric Emergency Department to a wonderfully bright, colourful area that children love to play in. Altro Orchestra offers comfort underfoot making life easier on the feet for staff and visitors, and with a palette of 40 colours and designs — varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature to vibrant shades — it creates the right atmosphere every time. The Altro Suprema flooring provides a great, practical flooring which is ultrasafe, but also very stylish and it really adds to the environment. The hospital staff are thrilled with the result.

An integrated package of Altro floors, walls and ceilings have been installed in a brand new flagship Spinal Injury Centre in Dorset, run by disability charity Livability, creating a homely, design-led unit with a high level of aesthetic appeal. Livability Holton Lee has recently undergone a total refurbishment, carried out by main contractor Stepnell Ltd, transforming the existing care home into a well-being discovery centre and purpose-built Spinal Injury Centre.

Altro flooring keeping school a step aheadIssueJapan’s school lunch program is a step ahead of others around the world where school children are provided lunch every day. Each day chefs cook nutritious meals for students usually consisting of carbohydrates, lean protein, vegetables and a dessert. The meals are sent to the classroom where a group of rostered students serve up the meals. They then enjoy the meal together including the teacher.This helps children to get a real world experience and to learn about nutrition, portion control, community, and an appreciation for healthy locally made food.ApproachBeing a food production area the meal centres need to provide a high level of hygiene and safety. A kitchen can be a danger zone. With oil and food scraps falling on the floor slip and trip risks are at an all-time high. It is important to provide a high level of slip resistance and cleanability. That’s why Altro was chosen.SolutionAltro’s safety flooring provides lasting slip resistance, durability and abrasion resistance, along with additional comfort underfoot. It is the ideal slip-resistant tough flooring for busy catering areas, where potential for spills and safety is a major factor.Altro Reliance 25 offers a choice of 27 colours, to create one solution for your tough areas. It can cope with high levels of foot and wheeled traffic without compromising on slip resistance and provides additional comfort underfoot. It achieves PTV ≥ 36 on the pendulum test giving sustained slip resistance throughout the lifetime of the product. Combine with Altro Fortis wall protection system for your toughest areas."Altro had an advantage over the competitor products due to its high reputation, slip resistance, the wide colour range, easy maintenance and project references." ABC Trading Co., Ltd."The combination of customer service and product value won us the project." ABC Trading Co., Ltd.

Calm and non-clinical environment for busy Intensive Care UnitChallengeHospital environments are created to heal; yet supporting both physical and mental health needs in clinical environments can be challenging. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Harrogate District Hospital required a refurbishment to its walls and wanted a non-clinical design, but with hygienic properties.ApproachThe unit had different areas with different functions – it needed to have hygienic, clean, wipe down walls which were also robust and could withstand bumps and scuffs. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the refurbishment needed to be completed quickly with minimum downtime to ICU. The team also wanted the unit to have a non-clinical feel.SolutionAltro Whiterock White, Altro Whiterock Chameleon, and Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) were selected for the walls in the ICU. The hospital’s paediatric unit had Altro hygienic wall sheets installed previously and knew they were robust and trusted products. The ICU staff and project design team took time to select artwork of cherry blossom branches that would be cheerful yet calming for patients, as well as inspiring and uplifting for hardworking staff. The images were printed to create the Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) wall sheets.

IssueWavendon Community Hub has been created and designed to provide local residents with a place to meet and take part in physical and social activities. In keeping with surrounding properties, Wavendon Community Hub is constructed in red/buff brick, with pitched tiled roofs. The building comprises two separate halves: a community side with a vaulted hall space and a separate, large multi-purpose area with changing facilities. The floors needed to perform for different needs and uses, providing robust durability, safety from slips, but still provide welcoming good looks.ApproachThe project was designed by W E Architecture Ltd and the build was completed by Borras Construction Ltd, with flooring installed throughout by HC Coverings Ltd, using Mapei floor preparation products.SolutionResilient flooring was specified throughout the centre and installed over underfloor heating. Designs specified throughout the 500 square metre area included Altro Wood in the communal areas, Altro Aquarius in the toilets, showers and changing rooms and Altro Walkway 20 in corridors and back-of-house areas.

IssueThe Woodland Village is a purpose-built facility within Sherwood Forest Center Parcs. The concept has been developed over several years across all Center Parcs villages providing a guest attraction dripping in the magic of Christmas from start to finish, offering more than just a “meet and greet” with Santa. The lights, music, animations, and the occasional elf, guide visitors on a journey through the Woodland Village and on to Santa’s Woodland Workshop.As a multi-functional facility, set in a forest, Santa’s Woodland Workshop needed a floor that could withstand all the “muck and mud” of the wilderness, trudged in by the rangers and their little helpers. The floor design would also need to be suitable when the village operates as a Christmas retail outlet providing welcoming aesthetics and having the durability to cope with heavy foot traffic.ApproachAltro floors have a proven history within Center Parcs having been successfully installed at Center Parcs villages across the UK and Ireland. Floors that matched the internal Woodland Village ‘earthy’ design, the corporate branding of the Rangers’ Hut and Christmas shop, providing safety from slips together with easy cleaning were required.SolutionWith PTV >36 slip resistance, Altro EasyClean Technology and a 10-year guarantee Altro Illustra was specified for the Rangers Hut, providing a naturally safe, clean, simple yet effective design. Able to cope with medium to heavy traffic with sustained slip resistance, Altro Wood was specified for Santa’s Woodland Workshop bringing a forest feel to the busy guest attraction.Of course, only families visiting Santa are allowed to see inside the Woodland Workshop and view the festive floors, “You see, Santa really does exist” said lead designer, Darren Binney of Jackson Design Associates Ltd.

IssueHutchesons’ Grammar School is a co-educational, independent school in the southside of Glasgow. Founded in 1641, the school has a long-held record of academic achievement and offers pupils an unrivalled choice of extra-curricular activities at its primary and secondary schools. The kitchen, serving area and coffee/dining hall ‘The Bistro’ were being modernised to bring the facilities up to date and in keeping with the school’s standards of excellence.ApproachAfter a visit with an Altro Specification Consultant and considering the need to keep project timescales as short as possible, the installation needed a quick to lay, robust solution for the floors. With a unique blue and grey colour scheme tying into the school’s brand and emblem, the floor design needed to match this.SolutionAltro Wood adhesive-free in colours Soft Maple and Vintage Oak were installed in the dining hall and kitchen servery, helping to reduce the installation time by 50%, quickly returning the area to use.Altro Ensemble was installed in the Coffee/Bistro area in a diagonal, mixed pattern of colours Greige Rustic Oak, Medium Grey Harmonious Oak, Barrel Oak and Tobacco Limed Striking Oak.Altro Stronghold in colour Monsoon was installed in the kitchen, providing safety from slips and comfort underfoot for the busy staff.

Bringing natural, simple and light aesthetics to busy campusIssueThe Aarhus University campus is easily recognisable with its long yellow brick buildings rising between trees, mature plants, lakes and paths in a park close to the city centre. The architecture of The Skou Building, which was named after Nobel Prize winner Jens-Christian Skou and is home to the Institute of Biomedicine, needed to be retained, while modernised.ApproachArchitect company CUBO Arkitekter designed the space, which was opened in 2018 and won the City Architects Award in 2019, with a focus on reinterpreting the campus architecture. The building is designed as two staggered lengths that meet in a central atrium. Glass slits have been inserted vertically throughout the building, affording wonderful views of the external spaces and the local cathedral.Inside there has been an emphasis on reducing the number of different materials used, to create a simple, bright and natural look throughout. At the same time, some of the organic, natural shapes in the green spaces outside are drawn into the building, promoting the biophilic design.SolutionThe first two levels of The Skou Building now feature white walls, oak interiors and large glass sections, continuing the biophilic feel. To provide safety throughout the 9000 m2 of corridors and laboratories on the top six floors, Altro Walkway 20 in Cloud has been used, reducing the risk of slipping to one in a million. In addition, 750 m2 of Altro Walkway 20 SD static dissipative flooring in Fog has been used in laboratories which had specific safety requirements. To complete the biophilic design, works of art have been used throughout the building to bring the outside in.

Impact Group has been on site at the brand new purpose built Little Pioneers Nursery & Preschool in Warwick, where we've supplied and installed ImpactPRO Hygienic Wall Cladding to specified areas.We've also prepped, latex'd and laid new Altro safety flooring throughout the space.

With use of the company’s primers, floor smoothing compounds and adhesives, a floorcovering installation at the new Christ Church School in Frome proved to be a master class from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. The subfloors were prepared by applying Stopgap P131 primer, followed by Stopgap Green Bag fast setting smoothing underlayment. Heckmondwike Hippo carpeting was then installed in the entrance area using Styccobond F3 Flooring Adhesive. Flotex carpet was laid in classrooms, secured by Styccobond F44 Acrylic Flooring Adhesive, which was also used to install Altro Walkway vinyl floorcovering in community areas and toilets...

Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS vinyl adhesive has been used to install a luxury vinyl tile floor finish at the Pavilion Bar on Norfolk’s Cromer Pier ahead of BBC television programme ‘Antiques Roadshow’ shooting an episode from the pier. Contractors took up worn carpet tiles and securely screwed down plywood sheets over the boardwalk subfloor, prior to installing Altro Wood Safety LVT’s. Styccobond F49 was applied prior to the installation of LVTs. Unlike other water-based adhesives, Styccobond F49 is resistant to water, making it the ideal choice for an installation such as this situated directly above the sea.

F. Ball products including Styccobond F48 PLUS fibre-reinforced high temperature grade vinyl adhesive, have helped transform a disused agricultural building into a new state-of-the-art distillery and visitor centre at Treggudick Manor, Cornwall.Flooring contractors installed a variety of floorcoverings, including vinyl sheet and tiles, wood and carpet tiles, throughout the 620m2 space at the English Spirit Distillery.The installation began by mechanically grinding the building’s recently installed power floated concrete screed to create a ‘key’ for subsequently applied subfloor preparation products. Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane was then applied to create a barrier to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and floorcoverings, potentially leading to floor failure.Following this, contractors primed the surface using Stopgap P141 primer, and once dry Stopgap 300 HD levelling compound was applied in the kitchen that serves the café. Elsewhere, Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance levelling compound was used to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings.Styccobond F48 PLUS was chosen to install Altro Ensemble wood-effect Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) in the restaurant and shop, each comprising an area of approximately 100m2.In the kitchen, Altro Stronghold ‘Dolphin’ grey vinyl safety flooring was adhered with Styccobond F73 PLUS one-part, moisture-curing heavy-duty adhesive and in the offices, Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier created a permanently tacky film to hold Heckmondwike flint grey carpet tiles firmly in place when subject to normal foot traffic but enable them to be lifted and replaced should they become worn or damaged.

Bostik has supplied a host of subfloor preparation and flooring adhesive products for use on the refurbishment of the Arts & Design Building at the University of Suffolk. The products, combined with Bostik’s expert advice, enabled a faultless installation of the new floor coverings in the building.Ipswich-based Top Floors was appointed by main contractor RG Carter to strip out the two-storey centre’s rubber stud tiles, which were installed when it was built in the early 1990s, and replace them with 700m² Altro Walkway vinyl and 500m2 of Burmatex Tivoli carpet tiles as well as new nosings for the staircases.To ensure that the subfloors were prepared correctly, and that the new floor coverings were bonded as effectively and efficiently as possible, Top Floors approached Bostik for its specialist guidance and market-leading products.

Accessible toileting facilities are crucial in public spaces to meet the diverse needs of individuals. Changing Places toilets, such as the modular Care Capsule™, provide a portable and adaptable solution for those with disabilities, ensuring they can enjoy their outings comfortably. A recent project with the Sussex Wildlife Trust exemplifies the effectiveness of Care Capsule™ in upgrading existing facilities. Despite space constraints in the visitors and education centres, a modular unit was swiftly installed adjacent to the main building, offering accessibility without the need for extensive construction within pre-existing structures.The project, initiated in January 2023, aimed for completion by the end of March 2023. The tight timeline was met through efficient processes, including a prompt site survey, proposal acceptance, and swift groundworks. Overcoming challenges like relocating a power cable, the team successfully hoisted the Care Capsule™ into place. The exterior was clad in local chestnut timber to harmonize with the surroundings, while interior features like Altro non-slip vinyl flooring, White Rock welded wall finishes, and height-adjustable units ensured both functionality and aesthetic coherence.