When administrators at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, in Wilmington, Delaware, selected furnishings and finishes for the hospital’s 450,000-square-foot expansion, they took to heart the many opinions and wishes that families, children and caregivers shared with them. The result is a hospital designed for and planned by children and families that promotes emotional, and physical healing, featuring noraplan environcare™ and noraplan® sentica in corridors, patient rooms, work stations, clinical spaces and waiting rooms.

Opened last October, the world renowned, full-service children’s hospital sees 7,000 people through its outpatient doors and 5,000 individuals through its inpatient doors on a daily basis. Highlights of the expansion include 144 single-patient rooms, an expanded emergency and pediatric intensive care unit, the soaring five-story Anthony N. Fusco, Sr., Atrium, a rooftop healing garden and the interactive Discovery Zone presented by duPont.

When it came to selecting a floor covering that supports the family-centered design, administrators turned to nora flooring for a variety of reasons, among them slip resistance. “When we look at the rubber flooring, it does give us a much steadier surface,” said Kay Holbrook, associate administrator at Nemours. “Knowing there is a slip resistance there is a real plus. Putting that in our building was a pro-active step we could take.”

The floor’s acoustic properties were equally important. Colleen Davis, director of special projects at Nemours, recalled being part of the construction of the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit in 2007. “We selected nora flooring for that very reason—acoustics. It does absorb noises, and that’s very important for patients, who are trying to sleep and get better.”

Administrators also appreciate the floor’s simple maintenance regimen, which is especially important in a facility that operates 24/7. “In a children’s hospital with full occupancy, we don’t have opportunities to wax and then remove the wax material,” said Arthur Brinkworth, construction project manager. The absence of wax, strippers and other harsh cleaning products contributes to improved indoor air quality. “We really like the maintenance-free aspects of nora.”

“And from an infection control standpoint, the single flooring tiles can be heat-welded, so there are no cracks or crevasses that bacteria can get into and contribute to an unsafe environment,” added Davis.

According to Holbrook, “The environment really matters to a family, because a hospital room represents their home. So what that environment looks like, how it feels, how it comes together, how thoughtful it is really can make the difference for a family. We’ve received great feedback. Our patient satisfaction scores have gone up as a result of the environment, and the flooring is part of that environment.”

To view a brief video about the use of rubber flooring in the hospital, visit the nora website at www.nora.com/us/. A written project brief describing the project in greater detail is also available on the website.