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Crosby Leisure Centre is an excellent example of ceramic tile specification.
Longevity of product availability is key when specifying ceramic tiles for local authority refurbishments or when creating additional tiled areas in hospitals, schools, leisure centres and other local authority buildings.
Key to the specification is that the products will be available for many years so that any damage inflicted on the tile will not mean that the whole scheme has to be replaced putting the local authority at unnecessary expense. The facilities manager, surveyor or architect will increasingly be looking for much more in their tiling than its initial capital cost.
Longevity of supply is applicable for a range of local authority projects that utilise a range of different styles and coloured tiles such as textured, slip resistant floor tiles and colourful wall tiles. An example of tile specification under a local authority initiated PFI (Private Funding Initiative) is Crosby Leisure Centre in Liverpool. It was one of the first ever leisure centres to be constructed under a PFI and houses 2204m² of Johnson ceramic tiles.
Whether a project is large or small, the correct tile specification is key and Crosby is a perfect example of the varied criteria that the tile ranges had to meet before they were considered perfect for the detailed specification. |
Designed by Architects John Lewis Associates, and constructed on behalf of Parkwood PPI Projects by main contractors G&J Seddon, the £7 million facility comprises a 25m swimming pool, a childrens learner pool and large changing facilities.
The large swimming pool utilised 484m² of Johnsons architectural range in white and racing lines in sapphire blue, creating both an attractive and functional finish for visitors and staff.
For the internal walls of the changing areas the Prismatics range was installed, creating an aesthetically calming and cleansed environment.
The specification also included Kerastar Diamond tiles, offering a slip resistant finish to the floors of the changing rooms, ensuring safety for its users.
To meet the stringent PFI criteria, great attention to quality and durability of the tiles was required in order to ensure that not only would the ceramic tiles stand the test of time but that the product lines would also be available in years time should replacements be necessary.
The architect on the project, John Lewis of Architects John Lewis Associates commented: The Crosby project required tiled surfaces that were attractive, hygienic, durable and resistant to aggressive water and atmospheric conditions, with the appropriate level of slip resistance. Johnsons tile range offered all of these qualities, making them the ideal choice for the Crosby development. | |