The addition of rounded architectural shapes, vivid colors and varied textures provided a space that functions on a therapeutic level and creates a warm, welcoming environment.

Color is everywhere – in furnishings, on walls and in the nora rubber flooring that runs throughout the building. “We tried to create different vistas in each corridor by angling and curving walls and introducing different floor patterns,” explained Bob Cohoon, director of operations and technical director for interiors at the Chicago office of Perkins + Will design firm. ”In some areas, we used floors with sweeping curves that intersect and interact in different ways. But you can go around a corner and find a solid floor that incorporates carefully spaced geometric dots and dashes.”

According to Cohoon, these dots and dashes serve both an aesthetic and a functional purpose. “They make an attractive floor pattern. But for therapists, the dots and dashes are milestones that measure the progress of children as they walk down the hallway.”

noraplan plus and noraplan uni lend themselves well to this environment. “The color palette nora rubber flooring offered as well as its ability to provide a comfortable, low-impact, slip-resistant surface that is easy to keep clean, served us both aesthetically and functionally,” Cohoon said. “We were able to use one product that meets performance requirements well and allows us, by changing colors and patterns, to dramatically define the four different areas of the building. Additionally, it offers the durability and longevity so important to a non-profit organization.”