Two products from Altro Flooring and Walling were specified for the busy corridors of a Northwest London school for multiple reasons including aesthetics, durability and ease of maintenance.
Founded in 1934 by the Dominican Sisters, St James’ Catholic High School is a sixth-form entry, co-educational secondary school for children aged 11-18.
According to school business manager Sean McGovern, the previous floor had lino tiles that had not been replaced since the 1970s and was becoming increasingly difficult to keep clean.
“We chose Altro Orchestra for its aesthetic appeal, and it would be relatively easy to clean and maintain. As a school, we need to find the right balance of durability whilst providing a pleasant and impressive environment for students, staff and visitors. Altro Orchestra, we feel, achieves that balance.”
Two Altro Orchestra designs – Urban and Bassoon – were used to create visual interest in the corridor. Urban was used on the floor, with a border of Bassoon.
“In the design process, we explored two-tone flooring with a border of a contrasting colour and ultimately plumped for that design. This has given a really high-end look to the floor. The installation process went smoothly and was completed on time. It certainly had the wow factor when staff and students returned from the school holidays.”
Altro Orchestra vinyl flooring is engineered to deliver both comfort and sound reduction, creating the ideal environment for learning. It offers comfort underfoot, making it easier for students as well as staff who are constantly on the move.
Altro Orchestra’s palette of 40 colours and designs varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature to vibrant shades, allows you to create the right atmosphere every time.
For the St James’ Catholic High School installation, Altro Orchestra has been combined with Altro Fortis Titanium wall protection.
Altro Fortis Titanium has been specifically designed to provide protection from bags, feet, equipment and trolleys that take their toll on walls in busy public areas. The lightly textured surface camouflages scuffs, keeping the wall area looking better for longer.
“In addition to the floor, we also updated the walls with Altro Fortis. This product was also installed very efficiently and neatly and has provided an incredibly durable surface that really prevents marking from students where they line up along the corridor. Previously the painted walls would easily mark or be scratched by bags and equipment.
“There are various colour options available and we were able to select a colour that matched well with the floor and walls.”
