Dawn Willey, Facility Manager

Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island

Jerry Scully, Project Manager
Edward Clinton, Architect, Clinton Design Associate

ISSUES

• Creating a sterile, low-maintenance environment around all sink, counter and “wet” areas in the hospital.
• Designing an appealing patient room and bathroom that is open and user-friendly to both the patients and staff.
• Keeping installation and maintenance costs of materials used in all facility renovations on budget while meeting the performance and aesthetic goals.

CHALLENGES

• Laminate countertops around sinks kept peeling due to standing water left by each user, making them difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Tile with grout is difficult and time consuming to keep clean and requires maintenance work every 3–5 years.
• Infection control with any material in hospital applications is critical.

SOLUTIONS

• Undermount sinks and countertops made of Corian^® provide a durable, cost-effective alternative to porcelain sinks and laminate.
• Corian^® provides a beautiful, low-maintenance wall cladding option in the patient bathroom/shower areas. The walls are virtually seamless and can be easily and repeatedly washed and disinfected with no deterioration to the surface.
• Nonporous Corian^® is resistant to water degradation and does not support the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. There are no seam gaps or grout to trap moisture and soil.

BENEFITS

• It costs only 5% more to install Corian^® versus cheaper competitive surfacing materials yet it will save much more than that each year in reduced maintenance costs.
• Corian^® is durable and renewable, helping to eliminate the inconvenience of ongoing repairs.
• Corian^® is solid all the way through. It resists chips, stains, cracks and scratches unlike less expensive surfaces. Corian^® will remain looking as clean and new as the day it was installed with proper care and cleaning.