Relcross revisit washroom refurbishment 18 months on

17 December 2009

Late in 2007, the Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton decided that their washrooms were in need of refurbishment to maintain their high standards.

They have four main washrooms plus disabled facilities and initially they decided to stagger the refurbishments into 2 phases to spread both the cost and the disruption. Architect Simon Moore designed a scheme to improve the accessibility and durability of the washrooms while enhancing their overall appearance.

Specifications for cubicles and wash basins were quickly agreed based on Simons' past experience and preferred design styles. Airblade dryers were specified for up to date hygienic effectiveness. However, Simon was well aware that flooring and walls were a critical part of the spec. Frequently insufficient attention is given to these aspects in such schemes yet they can have an enormous impact on the ongoing durability and appearance of the whole area. Having previously specified Alloc flooring in a shopping centre in Norwich with great success he returned to the company’s range for Churchill Square.

At this point he became aware of their new wall system, Wall & Water, which is a fast fit panel system, now distributed by Relcross in the UK. The speed and ease of installation gives it significant advantages over traditional systems and the durable, wipe clean finish makes it ideal for areas such as public washrooms. Using the Alloc design tool on their web site, he co-ordinated his colour and specification choices for both the floor and walls to complement and harmonise the visual impact.

The contract was then put out to tender and Chartwell Facilities Management were appointed for the installation. However, when all the costs were collated it became apparent that the new Alloc Wall and Water System was so cost effective that the two phases of the refurbishment could be combined into one and the whole project finished much quicker. In consequence all four washrooms at Churchill Square were completely re-furbished in the Spring of 2008 and the overall effect was stunning.

Bill de Jong, MD of Chartwell, said;

"The installation went very smoothly with few problems. We found it very easy to learn how to use the Alloc Wall and Water system and it’s very quick to install, particularly as there’s no need for a membrane."

However, the real proof of a new system is not just how well the installation goes and how good it looks on day one. The acid test is how does it look after a sustained period of heavy use and, on occasions, abuse? So to check that out Simon Moore made a return visit to Churchill Square in August 2009 accompanied by a photographer. He was delighted with what he found and nearly 18 months later the washrooms look as good as new.

Churchill Square Operations Manager Anne Marie Docherty concurred;

"Our washrooms really look as if they’ve just been installed. The Alloc finish is just wipe clean, so any graffiti comes straight off and that helps tremendously in maintaining the quality appearance. In fact we’ve found that because the washrooms look so good they get treated better by users so I’m confident they will stay looking good even longer."

Relcross Sales and Marketing Director Stuart McMaster is also very pleased;

"We introduced the Alloc Wall and Water System into our range here in the UK earlier this year because we were so impressed with the system. It offers so many advantages to our washroom customers and co-ordinates excellently with our existing Bradley washroom fittings and Hadrian steel toilet cubicles. And it’s great to see our faith was justified when you look at one of their earliest UK installations and see just how good it still looks 18 months on."

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Relcross revisit washroom refurbishment 18 months on

17 December 2009

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