Cardrona Alpine Resort

Architectural gateway redefines the visitor journey

Recycled EPDM rubber is arguably the best flooring solution for ski resorts. With excellent grip, give and acoustics, it stands up to hundreds of thousands of users each year.

Designed by Warren and Mahoney, the main entry and ticketing building at the Cardrona Alpine Resort greets visitors and skiers with its striking architectural profile. Also housing gear hire, it forms the start of a redesigned customer journey and spatial sequence through the site, the outcome of a five-year master planning project.

Winter-ready sustainable flooring

The environmental strategy included reusing existing buildings – building new only where necessary – and choosing environmentally driven materials.

Approached from the car park, a set of wide stairs and a ramp lead guests up to ticketing or rentals, or directly to the ski field via a weather-protected expressway. As it is the main threshold and portal to the base village, shedding snow, ice and mud from footwear was a major consideration for flooring design.

An exterior concrete plinth is the first surface that guests walk across before they reach a metal grate at the main doors. Snow, ice and mud are shed at each footfall as people cross the entry grate. Inside, Advance’s aluminium and carpet strip ExtraTread mat traps further moisture and dirt – 37% more than comparable systems.

Addressing ice and mud challenges

For any ice and mud still clinging to boots, the interior flooring needed to provide the best slip resistance possible, stand up to the high wear and scuffing, and be easy to clean at the end of each day. Warren and Mahoney specified Neoflex™ Reco recycled EPDM rubber, both for its ability to meet these requirements and for its high recycled content.

To camouflage tracked-in mud, a highly patterned product was chosen instead of plain black, ensuring it looks tidy throughout the day and is easy to clean each night.