Recycled Flooring Powers Eco-Credentials of Lakeside Energy

Contract interiors specialist Gradus has supplied loose lay vinyl flooring for an educational visitor centre, constructed as part of the innovative new Lakeside Energy from Waste plant at Colnbrook near Slough. The Lakeside Energy from Waste facility is expected to be receiving waste during the latter half of this year. The 410,000 tpa merchant plant is being developed by a joint venture between Grundon Waste Management and Viridor Waste Management – known as Lakeside Energy from Waste Ltd. The £120 million plant will burn the residual waste left over after recycling and composting, to generate 37 MegaWatts of renewable energy, which will be fed into the National Grid. LL300 loose lay vinyl in TT326 Slate Blue has been fitted throughout the stylish multi-purpose Lakeside Visitor & Education Centre, built on stilts in a nearby lake. Housing a 39-seat lecture theatre plus a permanent information display area, the Centre is being developed to educate and inform local schoolchildren, residents and interest groups on a range of environmental issues, including alternative energy sources and the full range of waste management options. It will also focus on the structure, function, operations and monitoring of the plant. Designed for heavy traffic areas, the LL300 range has an exceptionally high recycled content of 65%. The flooring is quick and easy to lay, as minimal floor preparation is required, and a specialist PUR surface treatment means it is easy to clean and maintain. Offering excellent dimensional stability, the flooring’s appearance is retained under pedestrian and wheeled traffic, making it an ideal choice for commercial and public premises. Says Alan Trueman, Lakeside’s Construction Manager and Client Representative: “The Visitor & Education Centre has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible. For example, the underfloor heating is powered by solar panels and the lecture theatre heating and ventilation is provided by heat pumps. The environmental credentials of Gradus’ loose lay vinyl fit perfectly with this concept and combined with its attractive aesthetics and durability, the flooring was an obvious choice.” The LL300 range offers tiles and planks that are easily fitted to the sub-floor with a loose tackifier, generating time and cost savings, and minimising disruption for end-users. The flooring is easy to lift and move, so any damaged sections can be quickly replaced, and its above average thickness provides a seamless join with any adjacent carpet tiles. Lynette Bowden of Gradus Floorcoverings adds: “The Lakeside Visitor & Education Centre is breaking the mould, through its energy efficient design and use of materials. Its picturesque location is also unusual. Our loose lay vinyl flooring fitted the bill, by supporting the centre’s environmental messages, whilst providing a hardwearing floorcovering solution that could withstand visitor footfall and which brings the exterior ‘inside’ through its attractive marine-inspired finish.” The loose lay tiles are available in 24 different woodgrain, granite and marble effects, while the planks are supplied in a choice of 8 authentic wood finishes. For further information on loose lay vinyl or the full range of floorcoverings available from Gradus, please contact Gradus Customer Support on 01625 428922.