LAN Services were instructed by Wiltshire’s Matravers School to refurbish some existing washrooms, changing the internal layout and transforming them into a bright unisex washroom with a large, fully compliant disabled cubicle.

The washroom in the secondary school suffered from underlying issues with vandalism and was difficult to monitor due to a complicated interior layout. Durability and greater visibility were key requirements of the refurbishment as well as the facilities being easy to clean and maintain.

After removing all the internal walls, screed flooring was laid to overcome the discrepancies in the uneven floor, which we then covered in vinyl anti-slip safety flooring. IPS ducting was used to house and conceal all the cisterns and services along with full height solid grade laminate cubicles, a key component in creating a unisex washroom.

The male and female cubicles were distinguished by blue and pink laminate doors and separated by a custom solid surface vanity unit with recessed wash basins and non concussive taps, which can’t be left on accidentally.

LAN Services were able to create a much more spacious disabled washroom fitted with an internal wash basin, grab rails and emergency pull cord. We also laminated the large disabled room door to tie it in with the cubicles and vanity unit.   

Overhead, we installed a suspended ceiling to cover up the existing bare iron roof and fitted new lighting, as well as a ventilation system that serviced every cubicle. Walls were clad in thermo formed Whiterock, which made the room extremely easy to clean.

The decision to create a unisex washroom can help significantly with vandalism and washroom congregation in schools. With the installation of full height cubicles, we were able fit large format windows to the right of the entry doors increasing visibility to the communal hand wash area.

Due to tight time constraints, this full service renovation was carried out over the final week of summer holidays and the first weeks of autumn term 2017. Our DBS checked staff carefully managed deliveries and works to cause minimal disruption to the daily operations of the busy school.