Terrazzo has been a material of choice for the flooring buildings of all types, serving different purposes. Known to fit flexible and elegant designs and requirements, its seamless and non-porous finish makes it the best choice for hospitals requiring constant disinfecting and maintenance on flooring. Terrazzo tiles can be easily laid out for construction projects requiring fast turnaround as well, making it the top choice for construction companies offering solutions to healthcare organizations.
Before considering Terrazzo for medical facilities, below are some tips to help both the management of the medical organization and the construction partner decide on and approve the design for their flooring requirements.
- Review the brand and aim for consistency – Many construction companies tend to propose designs based on their past experiences on similar projects. Coming into the room with the management of the medical organization and proposing designs based on “experience” may not usually be the best approach. In fact, it is best if the management and the construction team can review the brand of the organization to at least get the mood and theme to carry out. Is the medical facility aiming to be positioned as a premium brand, providing high-quality medical services? Perhaps an elegant terrazzo color at the lobby to highlight the Brand Signage could complement this branding, instead of just a plain white or grey color, typical for medical facilities.
- Choose colors aside from single or plain hues – Following the first tip on reviewing the brand, matching colors with the logo isn’t always a requirement. In fact, selecting complementary colors to the brand is one of the more difficult tasks for the terrazzo supplier. Going beyond the color guidelines is a bold but worthy move if you’re you choose Terrazzo flooring because Terrazzo offers a lot of color options. Choose two to three complementary colors close to the branding of the organization.
- Maximize for wayfinding – One of the missed opportunities when terrazzo is used for flooring is maximizing the design to support wayfinding. One of the most common questions to medical staff is “Where’s the bathroom?” Or “Where’s the café in the building?” While clear signage can help, flooring designs can usually support and make this conversation much easier. “Go down the hall towards the ‘blue area’ to find the cafeteria” is much easier than describing door numbers or the vending machine leading to the same facility. This is useful to clearly separate sections of the building such as the Emergency Area, Lobby, Café, Lounge, Quiet spaces, etc.
- Align with other “branches”, if existing – Another common item overlooked during the construction is whether this facility is a standalone facility or if it has to be aligned with a pre-existing facility. It is important to align the design with the other pre-existing structures, if any. Depending on the preference / approval of building management, this tip is good to keep in mind and include in the discussions for laying out the terrazzo flooring.
- Plan and design for expansion
Another key point to remember is to make sure that the terrazzo flooring design is “ready” for future facilities expansion. Technical requirements, fluidity, and replacements should be considered if, in the future, the building management decides to expand the area, requiring the flooring to either be partially deconstructed or replaced.
For more information on how you can maximize terrazzo flooring for medical and healthcare facilities, best to consult the top terrazzo supplier.