Mar 11 2005
The newly refurbished Forum Leisure, Wythenshawe, designed by Ellis Williams Architects on behalf of Manchester City Council and constructed by main contractors Laing O’Rourke, has made extensive use of ceramic tiles from leading manufacturer H&R Johnson.
Having in excess of 2100m2 of ceramic tiles, Forum Leisure Centre offers an extensive programme of leisure activities including a 25m swimming pool, an impressive fitness studio, a large sports hall and a health suite consisting of a sauna and steam room, all of which were tiled by ATM Tiling of Preston, Lancashire. The large swimming pool utilised 500m2 of H & R Johnson’s Architectural range in both Orient and Dark Blue and featured slip resistant Discface Kerastar in Priamus, creating both an attractive and functional finish for visitors and staff.
The impressive concourse entrance area of Forum Leisure also utilised over 1100 m2 of Kerastar (300 x 300mm) in Cronos and Athena, providing a warm welcome for visitors. For the internal walls of the changing areas the Prismatics range in Satin White and Spearmint Gloss were installed, creating an aesthetically calming and clean environment.
The specification also included Kerastar Discface tiles offering a slip resistant finish to the floors of the changing rooms, ensuring safety for its users. Forum Leisure, part of Manchester City Council’s ‘Manchester Leisure’, is responsible for the city’s parks and sport development and is committed to a greater focus on sport for all and a continuous programme of regeneration to improve facilities and services to the community.
Providing the local community with exceptional leisure facilities, greater attention to quality and durability were required to ensure that all ceramics utilised would stand the test of time. Robert Plant of Ellis Williams Architects commented: “The Forum Leisure project required tiled surfaces that were attractive, hygienic, durable and resistant to aggressive water and atmospheric conditions, with the appropriate level of slip resistance. H & R Johnson’s tile range offered all of these qualities, making them the ideal choice for this development.”