Gradus and GradPad - A Class Act

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Opened in September 2012, this postgraduate only property is the ideal accommodation for anyone seeking comfort, style and great design. Offering 606 self-contained en-suite studios of varying configurations and outstanding communal areas, Gradpad Wood Lane Studios really is the epitome of outstanding postgraduate accommodation.

Times Square and Skyline carpet, primary and secondary barrier matting and PVCu Hardnose® stair edgings from Gradus have been installed in the newly built building, helping to create a modern and vibrant environment.

Installed within the main entrance at GradPad, Esplanade 1500 in Calculus (grey) offers excellent appearance retention properties, providing an effective surface for the removal of dirt and moisture and is ideal for use in interior locations that are subject to medium to heavy foot and wheeled traffic.  Removing heavy soiling and moisture ingress at the point of entry can help to reduce maintenance costs, maintain the lifecycle of surrounding floorcoverings and increase safety for the many students and visitors using the building, helping to reduce the number of slip, trip and fall accidents. To provide a co-ordinated system, the side entrances were fitted with Boulevard 1500 secondary barrier matting, also in Calculus (grey).

Gradus’ Times Square carpet tiles in Grey and Natural were installed in the common room and breakout area, in order to create a smart and easy-to-maintain interior. The bold design of Times Square complements the modern contemporary interior, whilst its excellent acoustic properties make it the perfect choice to create a relaxing, welcoming environment for both students and visitors. Gradus Times Square carpet tiles offer versatility and creativity, whilst being hardwearing and durable enough to cope with large volumes of foot and wheeled traffic.

Times Square is designed to be installed randomly on the floor reducing installation time and wastage and allowing easy replacement of individual tiles as no pattern matching is required. The range also benefits from being awarded the green guide ‘A’ rating for schools under the BRE’s Global environmental profile scheme, a 12 year wear warranty, and a lifetime anti-static warranty.

Chosen to complement the surrounding interior by providing a stylish, welcoming and relaxing ‘home from home’ environment for students and visitors, Gradus Skyline carpet tiles in Trinity (beige) and Empire (grey) were installed in the corridors leading to the bedrooms, providing a hardwearing flooring surface that can withstand the high levels of pedestrian traffic, without compromising on the aesthetics of the building. The Skyline range features an attractive loop pile linear design and is particularly suitable for busy environments. It also benefits from being awarded the green guide ‘A’ rating for schools under the BRE’s Global environmental profile scheme.

To ensure the safety of all users circulating between floors, Gradus RNRC511 PVCu Hardnose stair edgings were installed to the main staircase to create a hardwearing solution. Black interior grained inserts were selected to help reduce the risk of slips on the stairs and to define the step edge by providing a suitable colour contrast with the concrete steps, helping to achieve an inclusive environment in line with guidelines in BS8300:2009+A1:2010 and Approved Document M of The Buildings Regulations 2000. RNRC profiles feature an extended insert design to provide additional slip resistance around the leading edge, which ensures that foot contact is always made with the slip-resistant element of the stair edging.

Steven Dykes, Co-Founding Partner of Voreda Capital LLP, who own the GradPad building, said: “We’re really pleased with the products installed at the new GradPad Wood Lane Studios. Not only are they in keeping with the venue’s modern style, they are also durable enough to cope with heavy everyday use. The matting, carpet and stair edgings from Gradus not only perform an important safety function but also help to maintain the appearance of the surrounding floor, creating a cleaner environment.”