The 6,500m2 three-storey building was manufactured offsite by McAvoy using the latest offsite technology to minimise disruption to patient care and to reduce the build programme by half to less than 12 months. An extension from the main hospital, the project will be completed in three phases. The first phase of the development saw the completion of a dedicated facility for ambulatory care on the first floor, which will allow up to 150 patients to be treated on the same day across four specialisms – medicine, surgery, gynaecology and orthopaedics – without the need for hospital admissions.
Steve Hatcher, Associate at P+HS Architects, said: “As experts in healthcare projects, we have used Forbo’s Marmoleum for many schemes over the years and we are particularly interested in the product because of its naturally bacteriostatic properties and environmental credentials. Historically, linoleum is also very hardwearing so we knew that recommending Marmoleum would be the perfect choice for the Cramlington hospital extension.”
Made from 97% natural raw materials and now produced CO2 neutral (cradle to gate), Marmoleum has the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, including MRSA and it contains no phthalates, plasticisers or mineral oil. An inherent property of the product, the anti-bacterial qualities of Marmoleum won't diminish over time, giving peace of mind and constant protection from the moment it is installed.
Marmoleum Concrete in Blue Shimmer
Steve continued: “The Marmoleum collection offers a wealth of colour and design options, which enabled us to incorporate multiple but simple colour schemes that suited the Trust’s brand. The Ambulatory Care unit is split into various zones, so we were therefore able to use the flooring as a tool to aid wayfinding and to help distinguish the different areas. This is particularly important when designing healthcare environments so that patients and visitors can easily identify where they are and where they should be. This also helps people with dementia, to assist them in navigating through the hospital as safely as possible.”
The accent colours within the Marmoleum Concrete collection are specially designed to be combined with their shimmer counterpart. The Blue Shimmer colourway was used in the Treatment areas with its matching accent colour, Blue Glow, running around the edges. Purple Shimmer was then used in the Gynaecology areas, with Purple Glow running around the edges and finally the Green Shimmer colourway was used in the staff areas with Green Glow around the edges. With the various matching visuals, P+HS Architects were able to create stunning floor designs for the Ambulatory Care unit.
Approved by Allergy UK, thanks to its smooth surface, Marmoleum does not harbour house dust mites and is suitable for people with asthmatic allergies. What’s more, its unique Topshield high performance UV-finish reduces soiling and prevents staining, scuffing and scratching for lasting appearance retention, which will provide easy cleaning and maintenance at lower intervals for the Northumbria NHS Trust.
Dr Eliot Sykes, Business Unit Director for Surgery at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The new ambulatory care unit has already made a huge difference to our patients and feedback has been extremely positive. Forbo’s Marmoleum has unique benefits and we are pleased how it has been incorporated throughout the design; the durability and hygienic properties of the floor covering made it the ideal solution for all areas within our healthcare facility.”
Martin O’Neill, Contracts Director at The McAvoy Group, commented: “We are really proud of what our team and partners have achieved on this project. It demonstrates very well how offsite construction can deliver a highly complex acute hospital building to a very short programme, to the most stringent quality standards, and generating exceptional value for money for the Trust. No departments in the hospital were adversely affected by the construction process and the finished building is performing well.”
For more information on Forbo’s work in the healthcare sector, please visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/healthcare
