Interface has provided a sustainable modular flooring solution - installed using the company’s revolutionary glue-less TacTiles installation system – for the newly renovated Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) Innovation Centre.
TacTiles are small adhesive squares placed directly underneath carpet tiles to firmly attach them together. This creates a securely fastened ‘floating’ floor system which can be easily lifted, moved or replaced, without causing any permanent damage to the surface of the subfloor underneath.
The Innovation Centre provides a variety of adaptable workspaces from start-ups, to growing and established businesses - ranging from 400 to 4,000 sq/ft units. A professional and appealing design was needed to attract tenants to the space. Areas in the building include rented office spaces, communal breakout areas and a café.
Mervyn Watley, Director of Corporate Real Estate and Facilities at NISP, explained: “At the Innovation Centre, we cater for a range of companies from start-ups to blue chip organisations, and therefore we needed to create a professional-looking, flexible working space that could be adapted to suit a business’s size and requirements.
“TacTiles was the perfect installation method, as the space has a frequent change in occupants. This means office layouts and desk configurations are often altered, so having the flexibility to easily remove and replace damaged or worn carpet tiles quickly is a key benefit for us."
The system also virtually eliminates Volatile Organic Compounds and unpleasant odours within the space, improving indoor air quality and therefore the overall well-being of occupants in the building.
TacTiles were used on 11,000m2 of carpet tiles in the three-storey building to fit Interface’s Walk The Plank and Transformation collections. An attractive design for the space was created using Cyprus, Hickory, Beech and Ash colourways from the Walk The Plank range, and River from the Transformation range.
Kevin Carlin, Quantity Surveyor at Classique Flooring, who fitted the products, added: “The use of TacTiles really reduced the overall installation time for the project. It eliminated the need for standard tackifiers so there was no need to wait for adhesive to dry on one carpet tile before fitting the next.
“The Interface tiles can also be randomly laid, which reduced the amount of waste, and as there was no mess or residue to clean up, it meant a much quicker completion time for the job.”
Commenting on the end result, Mervyn Whatley concluded: “The finished result speaks for itself, creating a truly professional image for the Innovation Centre.”
