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We successfully won the tendering process to refurbish the washrooms on four floors of our client's head office building, adhering to a list of key objectives and outcomes specified by the client. The washrooms needed to be highly durable, but strike a clean and sophisticated modern finish while simultaneously being energy and water efficient, easy to clean and maintain.
On the ground floor, an expansive washing facility included three individual showering areas, a communal changing area, and a disabled wash and shower room. Altro Whitrock was used to clad all wall surfaces, boasting strong hygiene credentials. This material leaves no grout lines like tiles and is incredibly easy to deep clean and sanitise. The flooring in the disabled room was Altro Aquarius, lending anti-slip properties when both dry and wet. A full close-coupled Doc-M toilet pack was fitted to each floor, including grab rails offering a contrasting colour to help users with visual impairments. Within this room a disabled shower kit was installed that also complies with Document-M of Building Regulations.
The doors to the three private shower rooms were wrapped in a water-resistant vinyl, showcasing a slick aquatic graphic. Within the toilet rooms new floor gullies were fitted, along with a RADA V10 shower packs. Altro Aquarius anti-slip safety flooring was used in this wet environment, which coves up the wall to meet the Whiterock wall cladding. Known as a "Marine joint", this method ensures the room is fully protected, making it easier and more efficient to deep clean the floor.
A small changing bench was supplied inside the shower spaces, allowing employees to change and keep dry clothes off the floor. Within the ground floor facilities, a drying room is located to place damp towels, cycling gear or motorcycle leathers from rainy or intense commutes.
New suspended ceilings were installed throughout the washrooms, housing low energy LED lighting, controlled by a PIR sensor. This meant that the lights were automatically activated when a user enters the room and deactivated on a timer.
Minimising touchpoints in the new washrooms was of utmost importance. Automatic door openers had been fitted, and the toilet flushes and taps were also sensor operated. This significantly reduces the spread of bacteria through the workplace, and also means less physical wear and tear on the fittings.
The washrooms across the other floors followed a particular format. Each floor consisted of a disabled washroom, fully compliant with Document-M, as well as both a male and female washroom. In these washrooms a large grey format 600x600 porcelain floor tile was chosen, tied into the Whiterock wall cladding with a matching skirting tile. Full height DUCT panel and frame sets were used to create a thin service void in which to locate new plumbing and toilet cisterns. This left a smart, flush finish at the back of the urinals and toilet cubicles which were all built full-height to deliver maximum privacy, but also a luxe, high-end finish. Extra thick flush fronted cubicle doors and panels added to this contemporary finish, which concealed a discreet, overhead hydraulic system so that the large doors open and close easily and softly. These toilet cubicles also benefit from an extensive 15-year warranty.
In keeping with the high hygiene credentials, Armitage Shanks Concept toilets with Aquablade technology and Ideal Standard rimless Jasper Morrison urinals were used, while the hand wash area was fitted with Alavo integrated mirror systems. This is a wall-mounted mirror unit that has integral sensor-activated soap dispenser and water as well as a pull-down paper towel dispenser. Strong aesthetics are delivered through this unit, as well as continued usability and easy clean benefits from non-touch operation.
Beneath these units were Corian grey solid surface wash troughs, which were fitted with a removable plinth to cover the waste trap which can be removed easily for cleaning and maintenance purposes. paper towels can be discarded using the bin chutes positioned within the sides of the trough, with removable waste paper bins located inside the underframe doors.
These sophisticated and luxurious office washrooms were well met by the client and its employees. Completed on budget and on time, the client plans to continue this washroom finish to its other buildings.
