The idea

Previously slated for demolition, the University of Auckland’s 50-year-old Building B201 was instead completely refurbished in one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most sustainable, low-carbon redevelopments. For this world-leading exemplar of low-carbon design, Global Green Tag certified Shuttle Entrance Matting from Advance Flooring provided a solid choice.

Designed by Jasmax, the project received 6 Green Stars for Design, earning the most points awarded to any building by the New Zealand Green Building Council to date. "The Green Star rating was a critical consideration for them when choosing Shuttle," says Advance’s Product Manager, Lincoln McIntyre, "but it also gave them the high-performance entry matting system they needed."

The design: A unique grid system to protect from all directions

Shuttle is a multi-directional system designed by Advance to handle high foot traffic and heavy rolling loads.

"The building has a number of large wind lobbies that have entry and exit points on all sides," says Lincoln. "Shuttle is ideal for handling multi-directional traffic in those large spaces — in all, the project used 113 square metres of the Shuttle system, with the biggest mat being over 30 square metres."

Manufactured in New Zealand from 100% recycled aluminium, Shuttle traps moisture, soil, and debris from all directions, preventing it from being spread through the building, reducing maintenance costs, and helping protect and prolong the life of the other floor coverings. "We also offer a take-back and disassembly process at the end of life so that the aluminium can then be recycled again," says Lincoln, "which I know was important to Jasmax and the client."

The outcome: Contributing to a world-leading development

Shuttle brings a stylish and highly functional design to the state-of-the-art academic environment of the refurbished Building B201, which in the words of the University’s Chief Property Officer, Simon Neale, is "a truly world-leading, innovative building."

"Advance supplies about 70% of the commercial entry matting in New Zealand. Of course, there are alternative options out there, but there’s nothing quite like Shuttle. We designed it to be unique, and it still is."