As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the U.S., national, state and local governments partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to convert 250,000 square feet of the Miami Beach Convention Center – nearly the size of five football fields – into a temporary field hospital. The $22.5 million project led by USACE, alongside RLF Architecture Engineering Interiors and construction firm Robins & Morton, involved the renovation of existing convention space into a 450-bed COVID-19 facility, freeing up hospital space across the state of Florida.

For this sizeable and urgent project, RLF selected nora® by Interface premium rubber flooring due to its inherent properties well-suited for healthcare spaces including durability, seamless installation and ability to mitigate infection control issues, as well as for Interface’s commitment to delivering product within an abbreviated timeframe.

Rapid Delivery and Installation

Managing the logistics to rapidly secure products is one of the challenges in building a temporary hospital within 15 days. Interface understood the urgent need and leveraged its global distribution capabilities to deliver 50,000 square feet of noraplan environcare™ rubber flooring for this urgent project.

“Knowing the importance of this flooring, we ensured that the shipment was prioritized as a critical medical need for a rapid response,” said Tom Hume, Interface vice president healthcare & education in market segment sales. “We were able to deliver materials on time despite challenges in the transportation industry, which is working tirelessly to deliver essential goods across the country. This project was truly a group effort, and we are honored to be involved in the creation of a facility that will serve so many during this time of uncertainty.”

Flooring Ideal for Healthcare Facilities

The temporary hospital will support patients and healthcare professionals on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project team selected nora rubber flooring because of its many advantages in healthcare facilities. The extremely dense closed surface of the product is resistant to micro-organism activity, so it does not encourage bacteria growth or propagation. This makes nora ideal for use in high-risk areas that must be sanitized frequently, including recovery rooms, intensive care units, operating rooms, and isolation areas. 

“In our work designing high-performance environments, we often specify Interface flooring due to its design and performance, and the company’s overall commitment to sustainability, wellness, and serving the healthcare industry,” explains Miriam Ganesh, Director of Interior Design, RLF Architecture Engineering Interiors. “Building materials are essential in effectively reducing the transmission of hospital-acquired infections, and safe, hygienic solutions, such as nora rubber flooring, are critical elements of our design process. We knew immediately that nora was the best choice for this facility to provide the ideal environment for treatment and recovery.”

Project Completed in 15 Days

In addition to USACE and RLF, the project’s construction is led by general contractor Robins & Morton, with flooring contractor O’Neill Brothers providing support for the nora product installation. This collaboration facilitated noraplan environcare to be installed in patient areas and isolation bays within the temporary facility.

 To learn more about nora rubber flooring visit https://www.interface.com/US/en-US/products/rubber/nora-rubber-en_US.