August 2008

burmatex - the UK’s leading innovator in carpet tile design – has recently completed an 18,000 square metre carpet tile and vinyl installation at the University of Birmingham’s state of the art Mason Student Residences.

Mason Student Residences is a ground-breaking development in student accommodation for the University of Birmingham. Consisting of six buildings that house six-bedroom self-contained student flats and some double bedroom studios, it will be home to almost 900 students. The University of Birmingham’s brief was to create a flooring scheme that was stylish, safe, comfortable and durable, thereby increasing maintenance cycles at the accommodation.

burmatex’s luxurious, contemporary cut pile tufted carpet tile, Origin, was specified in ‘granite’ for the bedroom areas and in ‘redwood’ for the communal corridor and lounge areas. Its elegant, commercial vinyl flooring range Mode, which is available in both planks and tiles, was used in the apartments’ communal kitchens in ‘special oak’ planks.

Origin is made from 100 per cent R-performance solution dyed nylon, and is ideal for highlights, breakout areas, boardrooms, reception areas and most commercial spaces. Comprising 27 core colours, three metallics and six accent shades, Origin carpet tiles boast superior wear characteristics while maintaining a luxurious appearance and finish that is soft underfoot.

Mode’s slip resistant finish was a deciding factor for the University when specifying it for the shared kitchen areas. It is available in 13 realistic wood effects and seven natural stone effects. Both products form part of burmatex’s definitive offering a holistic solution for all commercial interiors, schools, public buildings, residential schemes and design and build projects.

Clive Speight, director of contract sales at burmatex said: “The University of Birmingham has approached burmatex to design and install innovative flooring schemes for its buildings in the past, so they knew we’d be able to deliver for Mason Student Residences, where comfort and longevity were key. Origin, for example, looks like a broadloom carpet, but with all the benefits of a tile. If a particular tile is damaged it is far easier, cheaper and time efficient to replace an individual tile than laying a whole new floor.

"Flooring is playing an ever increasing role in defining interiors, and burmatex is pioneering this change with sophisticated, striking, and hard-wearing designs."

Roy Highfield, head of capital programme at the University of Birmingham Estates Office, said: "We were actively looking for a flooring manufacturer that could deliver an extremely durable, quality product yet still maintaining a domestic feel. burmatex hit the mark at every stage. The ability to be able to replace individual tiles is critical to our operation but I was particularly impressed with the broadloom effect of the product."

For more information on burmatex’s new product portfolio, visit www.burmatex.co.uk. To order samples call 01924 262525.

Notes to editors:
One of the UK’s leading innovators in carpet tile design, burmatex manufactures an extensive product range of contract carpets and carpet tiles designed for a breadth of environments. Its stylish product portfolio includes structure and fibre bonded and tufted carpet in sheet and tile, specialist barrier and entrance matting products and luxury vinyl tiles

burmatex and Ryalux are brands of AIREA PLC, the design-led specialist flooring company

AIREA PLC is at the forefront of flooring innovation, delivering high quality, original products and outstanding service

burmatex is based in Ossett, West Yorkshire, and employs 150 people

Press contacts: Gemma Gore or Katie Burbidge @ Tangerine PR.
Tel: 0161 817 6600
Email: gemma@tangerinepr.com / katie@tangerinepr.com