Rubber flooring combines aesthetics and functionality for this bike park at Commercial Bay.

An end-of-trip facility provides bike parks, showers and changing rooms for those who choose to cycle, jog or walk to work. For the new PwC Tower at downtown Auckland’s Commercial Bay precinct, architects Warren and Mahoney brought a sophisticated look to this utilitarian space by choosing Neoflex 600 Series rubber flooring from Advance.

By contrasting warm greys with a dramatic orange highlight, the design combines the timeless look of classic terrazzo flooring with the proven practicality of rubber. Because the Neoflex 600 series is available in over 90 colourways, it gives architects a palette with which they can express their creativity in almost limitless ways, while adhering to the requirements of safety and durability.

The PwC Tower’s end-of-trip facility offers parking for 230 bikes, while the tower itself will house close to 10,000 workers. Sustaining such high traffic and heavy use required flooring that would safely withstand incoming moisture and dirt, to reduce both wear and maintenance. For Warren and Mahoney, rubber provided the ideal solution. It is resistant to stains, mould and mildew, and easy to clean; and its natural elasticity typically far exceeds the minimum standard of the ‘coefficient of friction’, making it highly slip-resistant. Rubber also has excellent acoustic properties and will absorb 13 dB at a thickness of 4mm – at increasing thicknesses it will absorb even more.

Made entirely from EPDM rubber, the Neoflex 600 series is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, and for transitional zones in between. For the designers of the end-of-trip facility at PwC Tower, the ability to combine the necessary practical qualities while offering a design aesthetic that encouraged creativity made rubber the best choice.

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CREDITS

Project: PwC Tower, Commercial Bay

Architect: Warren and Mahoney

Product: Neoflex 600 series

• 600-020 - Dark Grey
• 600-101 - Orange
• 600-107 - Light Grey

Photographer: Mark Scowen

Writer: Folio

Installer: Flooring Junction