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applications, case studies & best practices Products Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, in Hollywood, Florida, unveiled a new patient- and family centered expan- sion that brought the facil- ity to 180,000 square feet and increased its capacity to 204 patient beds. One of the challenges was to select a fl ooring that provided quiet, comfort and safety for young patients and staf , while requiring little maintenance and of ering long-term durabil- ity. The solution was nora rub- ber fl ooring. Products selected were noraplan environcare and norament grano. Key advantag- es of the fl ooring include: > A quiet environment aids in the healing process of young patients. > Nurses experience less foot and leg pain, thanks to the fl oor's added cushion. > Signifi cant time savings and healthier custodial staf result from dramatically reduced maintenance requirements. > The fl oor's durable surface stands up to heavy 24/7 use, making it a smart, long-term investment. The fl ooring covers a major- ity of the hospital's interior space. "The quiet the fl ooring provides is paramount to the recovery of the children we care for," says Jesus Sardinas, direc- tor of facilities. Selected in large part for the quiet it contributes to the healing process, nora fl ooring also of ers added cushion underfoot, an important consideration for nursing staf who work around the clock on their feet. "The rubber is softer to walk on," says Sardinas. In addition to meeting acoustic and underfoot comfort needs, nora fl ooring also met safety, maintenance and dura- bility needs of the project. "nora is tremendously ad- vantageous in terms of time sav- ings, safety and the reduction of chemicals used in the building," adds William Lubin, director of environmental services. "It's safer, as it doesn't re- quire any coatings or strippers. That's because stepping on a fl oor covered with a stripping agent can easily result in a fall," he continues. "We are also able to better utilize our mainte- nance team's time, allowing them to focus on tasks other than caring for the fl oors." Sardinas and Lubin both em- phasize the signifi cance of not having to close of areas of the hospital for cleaning, thanks to the elimination of harsh chemi- cals and the laborious time-con- suming cleaning regimens often associated with traditional vinyl fl ooring. "We've had staf and patients in the past who expe- rienced allergic reactions to the chemicals we had to use. We don't have that challenge any longer with nora," says Lubin. "The product is a little more expensive," continues Lubin. "But, when you consider the long-term cost savings it deliv- ers, the fl oor of ers good value. You save in time, labor, chemi- cals, costs, etc." Adds Sardinas, "You just mop and you are on your way." Visit nora.com/us. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital of ers vibrant design, quiet healing FLOORING nora fl ooring coverings at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital provide a quiet environment that aids in the healing process of young patients. High- Performance Support Back, foot and leg fatigue for nurses working around the clock on their feet is minimized with nora fl ooring. 60 Medical Construction & Design | M AY/ J U N E 2016 | MCDM AG.COM