Because of the many choices available, the selection of which floor surface material to install in an area used for sports and recreation can be a confusing exercise. This was also the challenge for the designers of the Health and Wellness facility in Vancouver's new Central Y.W.C.A. Building. By describing the project, the factors considered and the sport surfaces used, we hope to be of assistance to others in their decision making process.
In 1990 the Y.W.C.A. negotiated an agreement with the Bentall Property Corporation to sell their strategic corner property in the business district of downtown Vancouver for twelve million dollars. In addition to the money the Y.W.C.A. would also receive a new central facility worth approximately nine million dollars. The new facility is part of a high rise complex that was built on a site already owned by the developer.
The Y.W.C.A. is five stories in height with a basement level containing service spaces. The entrance level has a lobby/reception area, change rooms, a 25 - metre - 6 lane pool, a twenty person whirlpool and a steam room. The second level is a partial floor with massage and physiotherapy facilities overlooking the pool plus additional change rooms. Four aerobic studios, two fitness equipment areas and a fitness evaluation centre are on the third level. Administration offices, a women's resource centre, and meeting facilities make up the fourth level. The fifth level is the roof top garden, play area and daycare.
It is usual for the floor-sub-strate to influence the surfacing decisions. What is not usual, is for the floor surfacing and the activity it accommodates to influence the structural system, as it did at the Y.W.C.A. Research by the designers had revealed that a number of recreational facilities located in multi-floored buildings had encountered serious acoustic problems related to vibrational noise. Vibration due to rhythmic activity such as aerobics or dancing can be transmitted into the building's structural systems and reappear in many different areas of the building. At its worst, it can cause structural damage, but more commonly it becomes a serious acoustical annoyance. An activity such as aerobic jumping produces a rhythmic vibration and if its frequency is the same or close to the natural frequency of the structural system, then each cycle increases the amplitude of vibration and spreads the effect further throughout the structural system. It is very difficult and expensive to remedy this problem in a completed building. If anticipated, the structure can be designed by changes to column and beam sizes, spans and connections, to alter its natural frequency and eliminate the vibrational resonance that transmits the sound through the structure.
Once the sub-surface problems were resolved, the process of selecting floor surfacing material could proceed. In all, eight different flooring materials were used in the interior of the building and five exterior materials. We will deal here with only those finishes that are related to sports or recreational activities; ceramic tile, cushioned wood flooring and rubber compound flooring.
The criteria for selection of these finishes was similar to that used for all floor surfacing materials in the Y.W.C.A.
1) Economical in its initial and life cycle costs
2) Ease of maintenance and replacement
3) Performance capabilities appropriate to its intended initial and possible future uses
4) Compatible in its finish and appearance to surrounding materials and to the aesthetic environment of the building.
Above and beyond the basics however, these sports and recreation finishes have special concerns that must be considered to achieve a successful flooring system.
Tile was used in all aquatic, change and washroom areas for reasons of hygiene, moisture and chemical resistance, ease of maintenance and anti-slip capability. To maintain hygienic potential and ease of maintenance all intersections were coved to eliminate dirt traps. To prevent cracking problems from long term movement, it is necessary to have a system of control joints in tile. The sealants used in such joints all have mixed histories of success in their durability, therefore we tried to keep the number of control joints to a minimum. This meant careful work with the structural engineer to predict the amount of building movement that was anticipated and the minimal joint pattern that would accommodate that movement.
A key issue for any operator with tile floors is the inexorably joined concerns of slip resistance and ease of cleaning. We used the German DIN 51097 standard to establish the type of anti-slip resistance we needed. All pool and change rooms stairs were Group C, the highest slip resistance, decks and ramps were Group B, change and washrooms were Group A. The tiles meeting the slip resistance standards were then reviewed for ease of cleaning and maintenance before the selection was finalized.
Another concern was the type of sealer used on the tiles. In the Y.W.C.A., one tile type in the ladies change room was consuming a large amount of staff time to clean and it was only after the original sealer was stripped and a sealer that was compatible with the cleaning products used, was the problem solved.
Three aerobic studios, the multi-purpose aerobic studio and meeting room have a cushioned maple floor system. This system was selected for its performance characteristics, durability and ease of maintenance. The floor has Northern Hard Maple on two layers of kerfed plywood on EPDM isolator pads. Its performance characteristics of 70% shock absorption and 2.9mm deflection, when measured by DIN standards, are intended for dance and aerobics. These performance standards exceed what would be ideal for a performance sports gymnasium, but the fact that the Y.W.C.A.'s range of use is limited to aerobics, dance and other rhythmic exercise, enabled the use of a floor system that will reduce the potential for long term injuries by lessening impact forces. The system was also selected because it has a dampening effect on the transmission of rhythmic vibrations. In the end, our only problem with this concept was that changing user demands have resulted in the two smaller aerobic studios being changed into fitness equipment areas. With the use of floor protection pads the areas have transformed well into their new function.
We used two types of flooring material that utilize rubber in their composition. In all the fitness equipment areas we used a three coat liquid polyurethane on a granulated rubber base and for the roof top exterior play area we used a granulated rubber tile. Both systems were selected for their resistance to impact damage, durability, and ease of maintenance.
The liquid polyurethane/rubber was used throughout the fitness equipment area. In the free weight areas we used high density rubber mats, this enables the fitness area to evolve and change with time. The floor in use has maintained well and resisted impact cuts. It is important that the floor contact points of all equipment be checked. If they are few and loads are concentrated, indent damage will likely occur. Look for distributed loading or use protective mats.
The play areas rubber safety tiles were selected to meet the Canadian and U.S.A. guidelines for impact absorption. They were also checked for toxicity, in case a child ate a piece of the tile. The tiles are installed over an insulation and drainage system on a gravel and filter cloth base. The rubber safety tiles have performed well, they have allowed children to fall safely, they drain rapidly when it rains and although it is still early, they appear to be standing up to exterior exposure.
Mr. J. Terry Barkley is the Principal of J. T. Barkley Architects Inc., a firm specializing in the design of Recreation, Sports and Entertainment Facilities. He was the Co-ordinating Recreational Architect for the Vancouver Y.W.C.A.