CARPET tiles, luxury vinyl tiles and heterogeneous vinyl floors by IVC Commercial have been used in the conversion of a former halls of residence for Liverpool’s students into a Radisson RED hotel.
In a project that has seen a once-derelict halls of residence turned into a glamorous hotel, returning grandeur to a Grade II Listed building that was once a British Transport Hotel, IVC Commercial’s reported ability to go across categories has seen a range of its flooring solutions specified.

Across Creative Spark carpet tiles, LayRed 55 engineered acoustic vinyl, Moduleo and Studio Moods luxury vinyl tiles, and Optimise 70 and Isafe 70 heterogeneous vinyl; more than 6,100sq m of IVC Commercial flooring has been specified by KonceptID.

Radisson RED Liverpool was once North Western Hall, neighbouring Liverpool’s Lime Street railway station. The building was designed by Alfred Waterhouse as a hotel in the 1800s and became student accommodation in the 1990s, after a long period of dereliction. Now, extensive renovation works, including 792 hours spent on the building’s grand sandstone staircase, have once again turned it into a destination hotel with a grand interior.

The design team at KonceptID, explains more: ‘Our lead designer, Paul Scott, was actually a former resident of the student halls, so had an excellent understanding of the fabric and history of the building. This was key to developing a scheme that was sympathetic to the extensive restoration of the building yet that also met the modern design demands of a city centre hotel.

‘When it came to the flooring, we wanted to present a range of materials that reflected the heritage of the site but that would also be cost-effective, easy to maintain and hardwearing. For example, using herringbone LVT let us mirror the heritage of this smart new hotel, but also ensured a cost-effective, durable and easy to look after floor.’

For the hotel’s 201 bedrooms – adapted from the old halls of residence – IVC Commercial’s LayRed 55 engineered acoustic vinyl is said to have proved ideal. Says the company: ‘Fast to install over the imperfect subfloors and with the ability to soak up the sound of footsteps, the floor provides a smart yet welcoming look in Classic Oak. In the ensuite bathrooms of standard guestrooms, the concrete look of Pinnacles from the Optimise 70 collection brings a water-resistant finish that’s quiet and comfortable underfoot. ‘With its classical architectural features and grand sandstone staircase, the impressive reception features Moduleo Country Oak in a herringbone plank. The floor’s oak grain and rich colour is warm and inviting and the herringbone plank gives a timeless look, while a high-performance 0.55mm wearlayer with enhanced scratch protection and easy cleaning provides a floor capable of withstanding the busy area.

’In adjoining passageways and entrances of the conference suites, the stone look of Moduleo Azuriet creates ‘a distinct division, its smart look complementing the area’s grey walls and its natural effect reflecting the building’s architectural materials’.

Meeting rooms see another herringbone plank, this time from Studio Moods in Blackjack Oak, a grey oak design that complements the neutral schemes. Adds the company: ‘In back-of-house offices, the cost-competitive and versatile Creative Spark carpet tile has been utilised, with the slip-resistance of Sabbia from the Isafe 70 safety floor range used in store areas.’

‘The ability to use luxury vinyl tiles, carpet tiles and sheet vinyl floors from one brand helped greatly in creating a flooring specification that met our design and performance needs,’ continues the team at KonceptID. ‘IVC Commercial’s choice, value and performance across a wide range of flooring options allowed us to deliver a floor that met with the hotel’s strong design ethos, while prioritising functionality and performance that just isn’t achievable with natural wood or stone finishes.’

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