Welsh Slate is helping students at a world-class music and drama school get their first feet on the career ladder.
More than 500m² of the company's flooring products have been used throughout the public areas at Milton Court, the new £89million addition to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, rated the Number 1 specialist institution in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2013/2014.
Linear paving tiles measuring 600x125x18mm in the colour Penrhyn Heather Red that was flame textured with sawn edges were complemented by the same colour skirting and by 43 stair treads and risers with a detailed front edge.
They were specified by RHWL Arts Team to satisfy the client's requirement for a hardworking, world-class building.
Associate director Simon Smith said: "We selected slate as a hardworking natural material which responds to the existing engineering brick floors found throughout the Barbican complex. They support the overall concept and respond to the high quality specification. The project achieves a BREEAM "Very Good" rating due to the use of use local materials which keeps the carbon footprint low and supports local business."
He added: "RHWL specified the use of slate and Welsh slate responded to the specification and assisted the project with their knowledge and skill."
Milton Court includes new performance venues, rehearsal rooms and teaching accommodation, as well as technical facilities of the highest specification which will help provide the school's students with the very best training for careers in the performing arts. Audiences will be able to enjoy the new 608-seat concert hall, 223-seat theatre and studio theatre as well as spacious, light-filled foyers and public spaces.
All of these are arranged around a central atrium at the heart of the building and all embrace a monochromatic, black and white colour palette.
The 2,500m² state-of-the-art building, on the site of a fire station built to service the Barbican, took three years to build by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine. The Welsh Slate flooring was fitted by specialist sub-contractor Dyson Briggs.
