The Department of Veterans Affairs and MasterCraft Flooring have worked together on multiple projects over the course of several years. Their track record of installation excellence served as proof that MasterCraft had the skills and standards necessary to complete a major flooring installation at that Veterans Rehabilitation Clinic in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Project: Veterans Affairs Michigan Rehabilitation Clinic
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contractor: MasterCraft Flooring
Background
The project spanned two floors, requiring a total of 31,000 square feet of flooring. With a plan for intricate patterns, colors and a broad scope of materials, VA designers teamed with interior designers from the Albert Kahn architectural firm to evoke the feeling of a welcoming hotel as opposed to a cold clinical facility. This meant evolving the 80s-era healthcare ambiance to a modern yet timeless design, using durable materials that were safe for patient care and wouldn't date the facility.
Contractor Addon/Brix awarded this VA flooring installation to MasterCraft. To be awarded a VA project, especially one of this size and complexity, MasterCraft had to demonstrate a superior track record of high standards and excellent results – the definition of INSTALL Warranty Contractor work. INSTALL, the International Standards and Training Alliance, operates the highest level of training and certification in the North American floorcovering industry. The quality of its programming is such that the Department of Veteran Affairs implemented INSTALL certification standards into its Section 09 68 00 Carpeting, Section 09 65 19 Resilient Tile Flooring and Section 09 68 21 Athletic Carpeting Master Specifications. This specification language underscores the Department of Veteran Affair’s determination that only a flooring contractor who employs an INSTALL certified workforce is qualified to perform work for the VA, the single largest government employer in the United States.
The Challenge
Adding to the complexities of completing a flooring installation in a healthcare environment, the design of the space called for a diverse mix of flooring material. Specified products included 1,300 square yards of Interface carpet tile, 11 different Armstrong resilient sheet vinyl products, five colors of flash cove and caps, 12,600 feet of vinyl plank and vinyl tile in three colors, 4,100 feet of rubber tile, 3,000 linear feet of millwork resilient base and 3,000 feet of standard vinyl base.
In healthcare settings, especially government ones, design teams tend to be more limited in material options due to infection control, maintenance and rigorous code standards. Due to these constraints, the walls must be practical and functional. As a result, floors become an opportunity for more creative expression – serving to break up long corridors and enrich overall design. In this case, the design called for intricate patterns such as leaves and flowers that could be accomplished only with highly skilled professional flooring labor. The patterning was also specifically designed to be used for wayfinding and navigation.
Patient needs played a large role in driving the direction of the design. With a predominantly older patient population and the need for a calm atmosphere of healing, the Clinic needed the flooring patterns to be subtle to the eye. And to allow hospital operations to continue uninterrupted, the project required logistical solutions including off-hour work and carefully planned areas of closure during construction.
Results
In projects as complex as the Ann Arbor Veterans Rehabilitation Clinic, it can be difficult to maintain the balance and integrity of the design. This is where MasterCraft, the VA and Albert Kahn made a great team.
“All parties were able to be flexible, understand each other and meet in the middle, which made for a good collaboration,” said Meaghan Short, interior designer at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. “MasterCraft was honest in workability and flexible to our needs. They even supported us in a last minute material change. We had originally spec’d a recycled rubber gym floor material, which is hard to clean, especially when patients are shuffling their feet. MasterCraft was instrumental in making the decision to change to a virgin rubber floor and being able to keep the exact same patterns with the new material.”
MasterCraft’s expertise and ability to produce results was largely due to its level of training and certification through INSTALL as well as the business opportunity afforded by being an INSTALL Warranty Contractor. As one of the most endorsed training programs in the United States, INSTALL provided MasterCraft installers the knowledge and experience to handle this level of intricacy as well as working knowledge of every type of material specified. As a result, the VA was extremely satisfied with the completed project.
INSTALL understands the importance of quality installation. You can renovate with confidence and exceed expectations with INSTALL as your flooring insurance. We provide our certified flooring installers with the training and expertise to deliver the floor as you designed it.
Contact: John T. McGrath, Jr.
Phone: 215-582-4108
Email: install@carpenters.org
Website: INSTALLfloors.org
Related Stories
| Feb 24, 2014
White Paper: Using social media to build your business
This white paper from Benjamin Moore provides practical guidance for building and sustaining an effective online presence, with the ultimate goal of helping your painting business become more successful.
| Feb 24, 2014
White Paper: The science of color and light
This white paper from Benjamin Moore provides an overview of the properties of color and light, along with practical guidance on how the relationship between the two affects design choices.
| Jan 29, 2014
Notre Dame to expand football stadium in largest project in school history
The $400 million Campus Crossroads Project will add more than 750,000 sf of academic, student life, and athletic space in three new buildings attached to the school's iconic football stadium.
| May 3, 2013
5 common failures in paints and coatings
As experienced designers, contractors, and owners know, most paint and coating problems are correctable, but some are especially stubborn to address. Here is a partial compendium of typical failure modes and methods for addressing the problem.
| Apr 10, 2013
23 things you need to know about charter schools
Charter schools are growing like Topsy. But don’t jump on board unless you know what you’re getting into.
| Jul 18, 2012
Legat & Kingscott relocates architecture/interior design office
Move enables the architecture/interior design firm to better serve its expanding clientele.
| Jun 7, 2012
Craig joins Cannon Design as associate principal
Craig will work closely with the firm's Corporate/Commercial Interiors leadership to help facilitate initiatives that strengthen awareness around workplace innovation and offer counsel on strategic workplace decisions.
| Jun 1, 2012
New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available
By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.
| Jun 1, 2012
Robert Wilson joins SmithGroupJJR
Wilson makes the move to SmithGroupJJR from VOA Associates, Inc., where he served as a senior vice president and technical director in its Chicago office.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
