Contract carpet manufacturer burmatex has recently completed its contribution to an £8 million extension of a Bradford school. The Yorkshire firm has worked with designers from SMC DTR:UK, a Manchester based architectural and interior design company, to create a dynamic performing arts centre at Parkside School, replacing the 1970’s teaching block previously occupying the site. burmatex products have been used throughout the school to create a positive learning environment and to assist the school in complying with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements.

burmatex’s Broadway, a fibre-bonded product designed for heavy contract use was specified in the main classrooms, whilst in the library, offices and reception, structure-bonded Lateral® tile was used in a combination of four colours and two tones to create a dynamic effect and assist navigation. One of the extensive range of entrance matting products available from burmatex was used for the main entry point.

Compliance with the accessibility guidelines set out by the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, is now a key consideration in all new designs for schools. Flooring is seen as one of the simplest yet most effective tools available to designers to improve the overall accessibility of a building. Key issues for the designers from SMC DTR:UK working at Parkside School were to improve users’ ability to move independently though the school and to aide navigation. By making the most of the flexibility of burmatex products such as Lateral®, and experimenting with texture, pattern and colour around doorways or close to walls, designers have created a school environment which is easy to navigate.

When choosing the company that would provide the carpets for the project, interior designer for SMC DTR: UK, John Brazier, said there was no contest. “burmatex carpets offer a well designed modern product in which the colour range and tile format can be utilised to create a unique interior at a very competitive price. The ranges are also ideally suited to help designers address the issues of accessibility in creative and effective ways.”

Darren Clanford, Design Director at burmatex said: “Flooring in a school, entrance matting in particular, tends to take a lot of punishment. It was very important to provide Parkside with a durable carpet, which is not only attractive and welcoming, but also robust and easy to maintain for the school.”

For further information on burmatex products call 01924 262525.