"Water Cube" in Beijing Features nora(R) Floor Coverings
Floor's Sustainability and Safety Features Important to Olympic Aquatic Center
LAWRENCE, MA--(Marketwire - August 8, 2008) - The National Aquatics Center or "Water Cube,"
a landmark of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, features floor coverings from
nora systems, Inc. More than
107,000 square feet of noraplan® mega covers corridors and high traffic
areas throughout the center, offering comfort underfoot as well as safety,
maintenance and wear-resistant properties important to athletes and
visitors to the site.
Located inside the Beijing Olympic Green, the Water Cube is part of the
National Stadium complex and serves as the venue for swimming, diving,
synchronized swimming and water polo competition. The work of a consortium
consisting of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China State
Construction International (Shenzhen) Design Co. Ltd., PTW Architects and
Ove Arup, the building features a unique prototype cladding which allows
high levels of natural daylight into the building to heat the interior as
well as the pool water. The award-winning design is expected to reduce
energy consumption by 30 percent as it meets requirements for
sustainability and safety.
The aesthetic and performance characteristics of noraplan mega make it the
ideal choice for the aquatic venue. noraplan mega's soothing
three-dimensional pattern enhances the interior design and offers excellent
wear and slip resistance -- extremely important for a venue expecting
17,000+ visitors during the 2008 Olympic Games alone. Like all nora
products, the floor covering's unique, dense, nonporous surface resists
dirt and stains and never needs waxing or sealing. As a result, the floor
covering ensures easy cleaning with low maintenance costs.
nora products, including noraplan mega, also offer fire-resistant
properties that are important to building owners. The flooring coverings do
not contain any PVC or halogens. This means that in the event of fire, no
hazardous hydrogen-chloride gases, toxic dioxins or furans are produced.
The floor covering is also GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®,
GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified for Children and Schools™ and
California 01350 compliant, contributing to healthier indoor air and
supporting the aquatic center as a model of green design.
In addition to important performance properties, noraplan mega delivers
attractive design elements to the center. Flecks and clusters of color in
the floor covering create a three dimensional pattern that is available in
20 colors. The floor's smooth nonglare surface delivers the same
aesthetically soothing effect throughout the Water Cube that it brings to a
variety of U.S. installations, including Gaston Memorial Hospital,
Gastonia, N.C., Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, and Monroe Carell
Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tenn.
nora systems, Inc. has been located in the United States for more than 30
years. It is the U.S. headquarters of German-based nora systems GmbH, the
world's largest manufacturer of commercial rubber floor covering systems.
The company has been designing and manufacturing nora rubber flooring for
more than 50 years, meeting a wide range of functional performance
requirements while paying close attention to the aesthetic aspects of
interior design. For additional information, contact nora systems, Inc. at
1-800-332-NORA or visit the company's web site at www.norarubber.com.
Contact Information: Contact:
Carol Fudge
nora systems, Inc.
1-800-332-NORA
Sam Wells
717-393-3831