Matalan

A range of floor coverings from Forbo Flooring Systems’ integrated and comprehensive product portfolio have been specified and installed throughout Maro Developments’ prestigious bespoke new office headquarters for Matalan at Knowsley, as part of a major relocation project for the leading clothing and homeware retailer.

Maro Developments Limited appointed Manchester-based project architect Fletcher Rae to design the new building’s appearance to reflect Matalan’s high quality but cost effective values. For the flooring element, developer Maro, main contractor Morgan Sindall, Fletcher Rae and Forbo worked collaboratively to progress and agree the final specification.

Fletcher Rae Associate Craig Gill, explains more about the brief in terms of the flooring: “Forbo’s range is ideal for office spaces. For the back of house areas that required clean, crisp and safe flooring finishes, we specified from its extensive standard safety vinyl range. For the more public spaces and common front of house areas, the team wanted to create a more prestigious feel so used Forbo’s Marmoleum.

“However, the office areas, which form the bulk of the floor space, required a slightly different look. The brief from Maro was to deliver a high-quality finish with a real ‘wow factor."

In terms of the product itself he goes on to say: “Create Space adhered to the requirements and more. It met both the construction and performance demands but the design flexibility and quality delivered a better finish overall than other products we had considered.”

Other Forbo products featured include linoleum from its Marmoleum Piano and Fresco collections. These were installed in some of the stairwells and tech rooms, which had a requirement for a durable, resilient floor finish.

Slip resistant Surestep and Safestep vinyls were installed in the shower rooms, back of house areas and kitchen areas. Demonstrating that its luxury vinyl tile offers best value for money for the performance required, Forbo’s Allura LVT now features in an oak wood effect throughout the staff canteen.

Commenting on Forbo’s products and service, John Schofield, Morgan Sindall Senior Design Manager, said: “The Forbo materials met Maro’s brief in terms of quality, life expectancy plus ease of maintenance and cleaning requirements. Forbo put a lot of time and effort into the project in terms of providing numerous samples and alternative colours.