Forbo Flooring
Systems’ versatile floor coverings have played a significant role in the
reimagination of Your Space, a mindful co-working environment housed within the
Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford, South London.
Home to the Stephen
Lawrence Charitable Trust (SLCT), the centre has been running for over 10 years
and the latest refit builds on its wider goal to support people from
under-represented backgrounds to become architects.
In the largest
pro-bono project of its kind, design firm Gensler, fit-out specialists BW:
Workplace Experts and branding agency LBA, worked together to deliver Your
Space, opening up the area to create a feeling of networking, collaboration and
flexibility.
The new space
represents progression; aiding the Trust in its vision and its work to secure
Stephen’s legacy.
Speaking about the
design of Your Space, Chris Crawford, Lead Designer at Gensler explained: “The
Trust wanted to create a thriving and creative co-working space designed to
inspire and empower the next generation of architects, designers and creatives.
"Alumni, students
and graduates from the SLCT programme participated in various exercises where
they reimagined what the centre could be. We took elements from their entries,
where natural light and colours proved very popular, and used some of their
ideas to form part of our design.
"We wanted to
create a bright and positive interior that reflected the Trust’s mission whilst
being sensitive to anything related to Stephen’s memorial and retaining the
spatial purity created in the original design.”
Forbo’s Sarlon Uni, in
the Apricot colourway, was used on each of the floors, in corridors, staircases
and working areas within The Lounge, The Studio and Residence Space. The
seamless flows of orange spread from the ceilings, down the walls and finally onto
the floors, connecting the different spaces together and bringing them to life.
The acoustic vinyl offers a truly unique flooring solution combining high
acoustic performance of up to 19dB with optimal resistance to indentation,
ideal for high traffic areas.
Chris said: “Orange,
Stephen Lawrence’s favourite colour, forms part of the Trust’s brand colours so
it was inevitable that we used this vibrant hue throughout the space. The
bursts of orange throughout the interior adds a real sense of energy, fuelling collaboration
and connectivity. Forbo’s Sarlon Uni in Apricot was perfect for this not only
for the colour, but also because of its acoustic elements and performance
properties.”
Furthermore, Allura
Flex Stone Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) in Grigio Concrete were installed
throughout the top floor of the building in The Forum, a lecture space for
learning. The natural stone aesthetic combined with the warm feeling underfoot
of the loose lay vinyl tiles creates a comfortable, attractive and solid floor
for its users. Thanks to the strong glass fleece carrier and multiple
calendared layers, Allura Flex is unprecedented in strength, performance and
quality.
Fitted in the entrance
area, Coral Classic in the Anthracite colourway was used to ensure that the
Your Space building remains safe and hygienic under all weather conditions. The
entrance flooring system helps to create a welcoming environment, as dirt and
moisture is left outside. What’s more, by
stopping up to 95% of walked-in dirt and moisture from tracking into interior
floor coverings, Coral can also reduce cleaning bills by up to 65% and prolong
the life of interior floor finishes and coverings.
Steve Elliott, CEO of
BW: Workplace Experts comments: “It has been a privilege to have joined
forces with Gensler and LBA to deliver this project for the Stephen Lawrence
Charitable Trust. I have no doubt that this co-working space will support and inspire
the next generation in a very practical way.”
Sonia Watson, Chief
Executive of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust said: “The development and
refurbishment of Your Space at the Stephen Lawrence Centre has paved the way
for the next 25 years. It is difficult to adequately convey our thanks to Forbo
for joining the collective effort by supplying the beautiful flooring products
used throughout. The space is being utilised as never before by organisations,
communities and schools for workshops, events and as a co-working space for
young people and those employed in the built environment, a prospect which was
not possible before the refurbishment.”
