Harlequin Liberty Sprung Floor Panels and Maple Floors

Laban is one of Europe's leading institutions for dance artist training and the spectacular new building at Deptford Creekside in London is both dramatic and colourful thanks to an exciting collaboration between award-winning Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and internationally acclaimed artist Michael Craig-Martin. Within this vibrant, purpose-built, state-of-the-art new building, dancers can rest assured that their rehearsal work in the studios and their performances in the theatre will all take place using the same tried and tested Harlequin dance floors they will experience in studios and dance stages worldwide.

The Requirement

Before moving from their existing facility at New Cross, London, Laban already enjoyed a long-standing relationship with British Harlequin plc. But for the new building they wanted sprung floors in all the main studios and to be sure that they made the right choice conducted a practical evaluation. Before the final specification for the sprung floors was confirmed, two dancers from Laban flew to Natick near Boston to test out a similar floor for themselves, at an installation completed by American Harlequin. Their verdict was the final seal of approval for the selection of Harlequin's Liberty floor.

The Solution

Before the Harlequin Liberty panel system was approved, testing was conducted in conjunction with Wirsbo, manufacturers of the under-floor heating system - where water pipes are buried in the screed - to ensure that sufficient heat passed through the floor without detriment to the floor and vinyl surface and that a specified heat value was achieved at the floor surface. As sole suppliers and installers of the 'Timber and Vinyl' tender sub-contract within the construction project, the Contract Division of British Harlequin worked closely with main contractors, Ballast plc., to supply and install the floors, comprising 1,762 m2 of Harlequin Liberty sprung floor panels and Harlequin Studio vinyl floors in all 13 main rehearsal studios and the DMT clinic.
• Matching colour vinyl skirting fitted in all main studios.
• 138 m2 unsprung maple floor installed in the Pilates studio.
• 200 m2 sprung maple floor for the stage of the 300 seat theatre.
• 66m2 unsprung maple floor in the wings of the theatre.
• 536m2 of a specially constructed plywood floor in Laban's library and archive, based on a stepped and ramped sub floor resting on 50mm blocks and designed to permit forced ventilation under the entire floor area.
• Rectangles of Harlequin Cascade vinyl for the pianos to stand on in all studios.

The Results

Stephen Munn, Head of Theater Programme at Laban, commented: "We have had a long relationship with Harlequin and we are delighted that this has been continued into our new building project. The floors that have been installed are of the highest standard and we have heard nothing but praise from both our staff and students".

About The Maple Floors

Premium grade maple is laid in accordance with architectural specification to a sub-floor structure using tongue and groove interlocking with expansion joints at regular intervals to allow for movement. The final treatment comprises sanding, followed by four coats of matt sealer to bring out the full richness of the wood.

The Results

Liberty by Harlequin is a 'floating' floor system - used at Laban in the permanent dance studio version. (Other versions are available for touring use). Panels are formed from multiple layers of birch, bonded with waterproof phenolic resins to form an 18mm thick and stable substructure for the vinyl surface. Each full size panel has 45 dual density elastomer blocks spaced at regular centres, which absorb impact and give a consistently even energy return over the entire surface of the floor. Harlequin Liberty sprung floor panels combine consistent shock absorption and uniform suspension across the whole floor, with no hard spots at the joints. To find out more about Harlequin Liberty click here.

PDF Case Study 3 - Laban, London.