Located in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter, The Spine is the northern home of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and is one of the healthiest buildings in the UK, adhering to the ethos and principles of the WELL Building Standard. Supporting this commitment to health, partitioning expert Style worked with AHR architects, and main contractor, Overbury to install 10 Dorma Huppe semi-automatic Variflex moveable walls over 3 floors, creating adaptable space that encourages collaborative working amongst RCP staff.
Furthermore, Variflex walls hold both a Health Product Declaration, detailing the health effects of all the elements of the system, as well as an Environmental Product Declaration, which provides verified information on the environmental impact of the product across its lifecycle. “We were incredibly proud to have been specified to deliver flexible space in this pioneering new building,” said Andy Gibson, Style’s director for the North. “We were also delighted to work with AHR architects and Overbury, who gave our team 9.6 out of 10 for our work on site, reporting that the Style team was ‘excellent and really helpful’ and that Overbury’s project team was ‘very happy with Style and would highly recommend us’.”
Offering the option to open up the floor space, or to create individual rooms based upon requirements, the Variflex moveable walls not only offer flexibility but also provide exceptional privacy thanks to their impressive 57dB acoustic integrity. “The semi-automatic operation option of the Variflex walls ensures that the acoustic seals are applied to exactly the right pressure for optimum acoustic performance, every time,” explains Gibson. “This means meetings and gatherings can take place undisturbed once the walls are in place, with the integrated pass doors allowing ease of movement between rooms.”
The walls were finished in a chic laminate, with those on the 13th floor of the RCP featuring additional graphics to create a highly stylish interior. The Spine has been built as a beacon of excellence, bringing together local communities, improving the wellbeing of its occupants and operating in a sustainable way. The floors belonging to the RCP have recently been WELL Certified™ at the Platinum level, by the International WELL Building Institute.