Case Study: Settle Group Shower and Changing Room Refurbishment

Settle is a social housing organisation with its head office based in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. Following the 2020-21 Covid-19 lockdowns, the business wanted to make some upgrades to their site to ensure their facilities were ready for staff returning to work in the office.

As well as investing in office bike racks, the group wanted to offer a showering and changing facility on the ground floor. After meeting with the client, we highlighted the potential use of space of a disused office. After agreeing a specification and time frame with Settle Group, we erected stud work to create an entrance area for seating, an area for lockers, and three spacious cubicles which would house 2 separate showers and a vanity and hand wash area. 

After putting together the stud frame work and routing mains water, sewage and electrics, we began the install of the new changing and shower space. Inside the cubicles, we laid Altro Aquarius vinyl safety flooring which boasts anti-slip properties in wet environments. Meanwhile, in the changing space and hallway we installed Altro Ensemble LVT flooring. The plasterboard wall surfaces were clad in Altro Whiterock to deliver a high performance, easy clean surface in this humid environment. The Whiterock comes from the Satins colour range and tied into Settle Group’s corporate colours very well. 

In the hand wash and vanity cubicle, we fitted a solid surface Corian moulded basin and a RAK mono block lever tap along with a new hand dryer. Within the two showering cubicles, each contained a shower tray, shower, and glass enclosure with the cubicles carrying an entrance style laminate door for complete privacy.

Lockers were supplied by the client, but we had them wrapped in a high impact, commercial grade vinyl film. This gave the lockers a new lease of life and also made them easy to clean and wipe down. This material was also used on the interior doors to deliver a seamless design aesthetic throughout the room. Overhead, we also took care of new ventilation, as well as sensor activated lighting and low energy LED light trays which fit into a 600x600 ceiling tile space. 

This project was carried out on time and on budget over three weeks in the early Covid lockdown of 2021. This shower and changing facility marks the beginning of a phased washroom renovation works for Settle Group and was highlighted to make sure there was a safe, clean and secure washroom facility for staff to return too. The space now facilitates employees cycling to work and freshening up, as well as serving them for onward engagements after work. Find out more about our changing room refurbishment service here.