Commercial Architecture April 2017 - 22

PROJECT

flooring

Reading HealthPlex has 24 surgical suites,
including six hybrid operating rooms using
noraplan eco with nora nTx flooring.

Providing Healthcare Underfoot

Rubber flooring accelerates schedules and enhances care at Reading Hospital.

I

n 2014, Reading Hospital, West Reading, PA, em-

layer that minimizes prep work and eliminates drying

tion management. "We believe that the time saved

barked on a $354-million expansion project, adding

protocols, saving time and money. The product is re-

with the application of the nora nTx floor covering was

476,000 sq. ft. to the 147-yr.-old hospital. The goal

sistant to high moisture-vapor emissions and has ex-

about two months in our construction schedule."

was to replace and relocate operating rooms spread

tensive pH limits, which eliminates the need for mois-

Hutwelker said the selection of noraplan eco with

across four buildings and provide 150 new private pa-

ture testing and remediation before installation.

nora nTx offered two important advantages from a

tient rooms. Today, Seventh Street Tower, or Reading

Engineered to reduce installation time by as much as

construction standpoint. First, the floor significantly

HealthPlex for Advanced Surgical and Patient Care,

50% when compared with standard PVC sheet instal-

reduced installation time. "Secondly, we had one com-

as the new nine-story addition is called, welcomes

lation, linoleum, and rubber, the installation system

pany providing all of the warranty for the flooring,

patients and visitors to a facility that features priva-

lowers the total cost of a construction project. With

which is pretty much unheard of on other projects.

cy, flexibility, and the latest technology available to

the ability to be installed over existing flooring in ren-

We're getting one warranty from one supplier on the

healthcare professionals and their patients. Running

ovation projects, further timesaving is realized.

project, which is very helpful."

throughout most of the facility, which includes five

"Nora nTx was very important to us from a sched-

floors of private patient rooms; 24 surgical suites, in-

ule and cost standpoint, because it did not require a

EASY MAINTENANCE

cluding six hybrid operating rooms; eight minor-pro-

moisture-mitigation system to be installed prior to the

Others involved in the project point to additional ad-

cedure rooms; reception and recovery areas; and an

floor going down, which represents a savings in not

vantages the flooring offers. David Major, director of fa-

expanded trauma area; is noraplan eco with nora nTx,

only dollars, but also in time," said Jeff Hutwelker,

cilities and construction at Reading Health System, was

both from Nora Systems Inc., Salem, NH.

project executive with LF Driscoll Co. LLC, the Bala

impressed with the floor's simple maintenance regimen.

Cynwyd, PA-based company that provided construc-

"Maintenance of the product is greatly enhanced in the

Nora nTx is a pre-applied, solvent-free, self-adhesive
22

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

APRIL 2017

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