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56 | OCTOBER 2015 Raised Access Floors The Next Level M Many office building developers and owners are turn- ing to raised access floors to improve energy efficiency and lower costs over the long term. Compared to in- ceiling systems, these modular underfoot structures make it much easier to reconfigure office spaces according to the requirements of the occupants. They also deliver the right level of heating and cooling pre- cisely where it's needed; creating comfortable and pro- ductive workspaces. The shift from overhead to underfloor access infra- structure has been in process for the past 10 years or so here in Canada, according to Domenic Santaguida, president of BILDTEC Building Systems Inc. This mar- ket move is money-driven; builders and developers find raised access floors more cost-effective for tenant fit outs and changeovers. "You can reroute your wires and ventilation much more easily," Santaguida says. "It's a matter of logistics. Even if you have to change your layout because of staff- ing or business changes, the retrofit is very simple." BILDTEC sees a growing market for raised access floors that go well beyond functional. Increasingly, its customers want floors that meet both design and per- formance criteria. "We're offering a higher-end office or lobby finish with our panels," Santaguida says. "We insert our porcelain and ceramic tiles into the raised- floor format, so our clients can dress up their lobbies or any part of the office space." BILDTEC offers more than 150 finishes – and if a client wants something BILDTEC has never done before, Santaguida and his team can make it happen. BILDTEC isn't the only company to notice a need for high-performing and stylish raised access floors. Manufacturer Tate Access Floors Inc. also sees increased use of its products in commercial office environments. As such, a sizable portion of this company's customer base wants floor panels that suit interior office designs, especially for areas where a designer, builder or build- ing owner wants something other than carpet. Tony Kranidis, executive VP at Camino Modular Systems Inc. agrees, adding that raised access floors are becoming the norm in the commercial construction sector. "Designers and owners are seeing cost savings as far as energy and constructability," says Kranidis. Toronto-based Camino Modular Systems manufac- tures a composite core and a wood core access floor system. The company also manufactures all of the underfloor air distribution as well as all the modular wiring, making them a one-stop-shop. "As far as new construction, the access flooring is combined with underfloor air distribution and modu- lar wiring to create a more flexible space for the life of the building. It allows the building to evolve and change according to requirements," says Kranidis. Camino Modular Systems has been involved in a number of major projects across Canada, including the TELUS Garden project in Vancouver, The Bow in Calgary and a number of high-rise towers in downtown Toronto including One York Street. "All brand new tow- ers are now using the access floor and underfloor air distribution system, and we believe this trend for turn- key underfloor air distribution solutions will continue, not just here in Canada, but across North America," says Kranidis. Earlier this year, Tate unveiled a new range of panels that come factory laminated with a variety of finishes including VersaTile Porcelain, terrazzo, hard- wood, concrete, linoleum and cork. VersaTile Porcelain is available in 16 different colours and two panel sizes. Both panels are removable to maintain accessibility to the underfloor area while offering designers freedom to create a unique look. Tate also recently refined the process for laminat- ing soft tiles to include an edge banding and a smoother substrate. This change improves the installed esthetic of the access floor system, particularly in areas with extensive side lighting. "The bottom line is factory lam- ination enables Tate to provide panels that are ready to install; a single contractor can install the floor and the finish at the same time speeding up construction, while remaining cost competitive with field applied alternatives," says Scott Alwine, marketing manager at Tate Access Floors. Another raised access floor provider offers two more options that match performance with esthetics. Haworth presents TecCrete and Tecnika as attractive and functional floor systems. TecCrete is a concrete raised f loor system that you can leave bare to create a modern, minimalist look, or cover with modular carpet or tile. Haworth says TecCrete flexes 50 per cent less than steel access f loors, which makes this product particularly good for clients that prefer the solid feel of concrete under- foot. The underside of each TecCrete panel is flat, so it's easier to create a fully sealed underfloor plenum divider for improved air conditioning, eliminating waste due to air leakage. And the flat underside sim- plifies pedestal placement, which streamlines the task of supporting partial panels situated near walls and columns. Tecnika is the second Haworth option. This prod- uct combines the beauty of terrazzo with the utility of raised access floors. Designed for entryways, atria and other building focal points, Tecnika integrates seamlessly with TecCrete, so you can marry the sharp terrazzo look with other flooring materials such as hardwood and carpet. Tecnika panels are made with marble cement and steel netting for stylish durability. Raised access floors bring style and energy savings by STEFAN DUBOWSKI Gridd system from FreeAxez; + Neoscape + TecCrete raised flooring from Haworth Inc.

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