Discover the inspiring winners of Life Floor’s 2024 Make a SPLASH! Grant Program, transforming splash pads nationwide with safety and accessibility.
Yas Waterworld Unveils Refreshed Waterpark and Splash Pad
The 2024 renovation at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, led by WhiteWater, showcases a newly designed splash pad and an updated waterpark area with over 13,000 square feet of Life Floor surfacing. This revitalized water experience, equipped with vibrant Life Floor Inlays, brings a fresh aesthetic and added functionality to the park.
Splash Pad Design: Adding Inlays and Games
The vibrant splash pad uses the surface as a key thematic feature. A striking blue river courses down the pattern's center, bordered by sandy shores and thriving greenery. Bright pops of color are interspersed via Inlays from our Pond and Outdoor Exploration sets to enhance the attraction's theme and add a fun search-and-find style game. A hopscotch board designed into the Life Floor surface provides more traditional play opportunities and expands the possibilities for different play styles.
Marah Fortress: RainFortress by WhiteWater
At Marah Fortress, WhiteWater's RainFortress structure offers guests an immersive experience with desert palace-inspired theming that aligns beautifully with the local landscape. The design features geometric paneling on the platforms that resemble stained glass and strategically placed boulders to add elevated natural elements. Beneath the RainFortress, a Life Floor pattern starts at the center with a sand-colored island motif and radiates outward with teal tones rippling like waves.
A larger-than-life turtle graphic was designed into the Life Floor surface as a navigational tool, guiding guests on where to stand when the thrilling dump bucket is about to be released.
Nearby, a prominent 7-meter dolphin reflects a similar visual signal as an area where families with children can relax and engage with quieter ground sprays. Smaller standard Inlays encourage movement, such as the brightly colored fish leading away from slide exits and back to the entry point to keep the fun going all day.
DURABILITY MADE FOR THE SCORCHING HEAT
Imagine the hottest conditions on earth. Standing on the equator in peak summer UV, during a solstice, in full sunlight. Then, stay there for 750 hours straight. That’s the rigorous testing our tiles withstand as they’re certified for UV Resistance in accordance with NSF/ANSI/CAN 50. And that’s not all - they also have to pass slip-resistance and impact absorption testing after UV tests are complete.
“Life Floor brings a wow factor to the area, which helps better area utilization even in those corners where there are less features on the structure as the guests would relax on the floor and probably not even need sunbeds.”
Life Floor: Enhancing Guest Experience
According to Lijo Jose of WhiteWater, Life Floor has transformed the space by maximizing guest interaction and comfort, even in quieter corners of the waterpark where features may be fewer. The soft, inviting Life Floor surface encourages guests to relax directly on the flooring, making it an integral part of the waterpark experience.
Aquatics is for everyone regardless of age, ability, or play style. We hear from venues all the time that guests stay longer and rave about the amenities where Life Floor is installed. Caretakers feel invited to get on their kids’ level with our cushioned tiles and truly feel like they can play too.
Whether its sitting and relaxing while surrounded by small floor jets or frolicking through dueling water cannons - our surfaces promote positive experiences and people can play boundlessly as they were meant to do.
The 2024 renovation at Yas Waterworld, with Marah Fortress and the revitalized Splash Pad, celebrates the regional culture and innovative play, making it a must-visit attraction in Abu Dhabi.
To discover how Life Floor can refresh your venue and skyrocket guest experience, ask us for a complementary design rendering and get started on your project!
2023 Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest Inclusive Design Winner: Morgan's Inspiration Island
In 2023, we hosted our fourth annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest to award two deserving organizations in the United States an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. One award was for a facility that exemplified inclusive design principles, and the other was need-based for a deserving community that met specific benchmark criteria.
We received some incredible applications and out of many impactful entries, one rose to the front. Today, we’re proud to showcase the Inclusive Design Award winner’s installation: Morgan’s Wonderland for Will’s Hang 10 Harbor located at Morgan’s Inspiration Island in San Antonio, Texas.
What stood out most to our team was the thoughtful and holistic approach to inclusivity. Their Ultra-Accessible™ waterpark considers all abilities so that entire families can play and be together for the whole experience from start to finish.
“Morgan’s Wonderland is a magical place for those with special needs and disabilities and those without to come together in environments that promote Ultra-Accessibility™ and inclusion. It became the world’s first Ultra-Accessible™, fully-inclusive theme park in 2010. Our entirely wheelchair-accessible park features more than 25 elements, including rides, playgrounds, and other attractions. Among the most popular are our colorful carousel, the Whirling Wonder Ferris Wheel, the Sensory Village of storefronts encouraging imaginative play, the Wonderland Express train that travels for almost a mile around our 8-acres, catch-and-release fishing lake, and playscapes with multiple types of swings, including out exceedingly popular wheelchair swings. While we recognize the exceptional qualities of these one-of-a-kind features, it is the outcome of priceless memories and a feeling of belonging that we are most proud of. Families of individuals with special needs interviewed during the creation of Morgan’s Wonderland Park shared that not only would a park be fun and exciting, but most importantly, they wanted a space to enjoy TOGETHER.
The tremendous success of nonprofit Morgan’s Wonderland led to the addition of Ultra-Accessible™ Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park in 2017. Morgan’s Inspiration Island at Morgan’s Wonderland is the one and only Ultra-Accessible™ Splash Park located in San Antonio, Texas. In keeping with Morgan’s Wonderland’s mission of inclusion and the desire to enable everyone to play, Morgan’s Inspiration Island is like a tropical paradise with five colorful splash pads, a River Boat Adventure Ride, and revolutionary waterproof wheelchairs. Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island Splash Park has welcomed over 2 million guests form 122 countries. Today, Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park continues to welcome the most guests compared to the rest of the season.””
When asked what winning this grant would mean to their facility, Brooke Kearney who serves as the Special Project Officer at Morgan’s Wonderland said,
“Winning this grant would maintain our mission to provide a fun, clean, and beautiful environment free of physical and economic barriers that all individuals can come to an enjoy regardless of age or ability. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs do not have access to facilities that enable them to enjoy outdoor recreation fully. Nonprofit Morgan’s Wonderland is changing that everyday. Since its inception in 2010, anyone with a special need has been admitted free of charge, no questions asked. Hence, the majority of funding support received from the community underwrites the cost to admit our target population of individuals with special needs and disabilities for free, leaving limited funding to support major capital improvement projects. By winning this grant, Life Floor will contribute to impacting over 100,000 individuals annually through inclusive and Ultra-Accessible™ play.”
Our 2023 entrants chose from 6 pre-designed themes that would be tailored to fit their project scope, but we were so moved by this story that we decided to do something more. Our Design Studio created a themed beach motif with a custom Murals element, life-sized custom surfboard Inlays, and other standard Inlays from our Marine set to complement the narrative at the splash pad.
Designed and Copyrighted by Life Floor Studio.
Before: Pour-in-Place Bonded Rubber
After: Life Floor
We can’t wait to hear the stories of how this project will continue to uplift the ways people with all abilities play at Will’s Hang 10 Harbor in San Antonio, Texas. Thank you to Morgan’s Wonderland for entering our contest and for trusting us to surface your Ultra-Accessible™ splash pad!
About the Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest
The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest is one of our team’s favorite annual events. We love giving back to our communities across the United States and seeing the difference our surfaces make. Through this grant contest, our goal is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful and accessible splash pad surfaces that enhance positive memories for years to come.
THE 5TH ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST IS
OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Don’t miss these two opportunities to win free Life Floor surfacing for your splash pad!
Life Floor Wins 3 Leading Edge Awards from the World Waterpark Association
We’re honored to win three Leading Edge Awards from the World Waterpark Association for our work on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Meryal Waterpark, and Blue Surf Bay Waterpark! These projects show the elevated design aesthetic that can be achieved with our triangle gradients.
Keep reading to learn more about each of these award-winning destinations.
Photo provided courtesy of Royal Caribbean.
ICON OF THE SEAS
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
Our surfaces enhance 7,961 sq ft (740 sq m) of space across four amenities onboard Icon of the Seas. Vibrant triangle gradients complement the colors on play structures and contribute to elevated theming across the vessel. This project marks the 14th Royal Caribbean destination Life Floor surfaces.
This iconic vessel features our key partners Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering and FlowRider.
Meryal Waterpark
Qatar, Doha
This record-breaking waterpark created by WhiteWater, in collaboration with Qetaifan Projects and Water Technology, Inc., boasts many firsts. A blue toned triangle gradient creates an oasis motif complementing the surrounding arid landscape. This thematic amenity provides a pleasant space for families to cool off in the hot Qatar sun.
Blue Surf Bay Waterpark
Blue Springs, Missouri, USA
Blue Surf Bay Waterpark is a stunning indoor and outdoor facility constructed as an expansion to the Blue Springs, Missouri Fieldhouse in 2024. From a year-round indoor space to seasonal outdoor offerings, this comprehensive aquatic center has something for everyone to enjoy!
This meaningful project highlights many of our partners and industry friends including Water Technology, Inc., SFS Architecture, Landmark Aquatic, LLC., McCownGordon Construction, Waterplay, NinjaCross, and Splashtacular, LLC.
Plus, congrats to our partner, WhiteWater, for their award for The Rise of Icarus at Mt. Olympus Waterpark!
MT. OLYMPUS WATERPARK
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, USA
Mt. Olympus Waterpark immerses guests with a Greek mythology theme complete with elements like colonnades, Greek iconography, and tailored attraction names. June 2024 marked the completion of the outdoor kids’ area which boasts America’s tallest waterslide, The Rise of Icarus, designed and built by WhiteWater.
To learn how to get Life Floor’s award-winning surfaces specified and installed at your project, start a conversation with our team. We would love to collaborate with you to make your dream into a reality.
Experience at Every Scale with Jesse Muller of Perry-Becker Design
We’re excited to share an interview with Jesse Muller, ASLA, AZA, TEA of Perry-Becker Design where we talked about what storytelling means to him. Jesse currently serves as the firm’s Marketing Manager/Design Associate and has been on the team for the last 9 years. He has worked on a variety of projects from Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort to the Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant (reopening Fall 2024).
Tell us about one of your favorite stories. It could be fiction, non-fiction, or any story.
“Davy Crockett was, for me, a character that I latched onto right away when I was young because of the time period that he lived in, figuring his way out in the frontier, living off of the land, and I've always been a very passionate kid about nature and the environment.
If you give me a choice between a million-dollar suite in the city, watching a sports game, or just being in the forest listening to a creek going by, I'll choose the creek every time because there's something that's special about just being in nature and having that deep connection with it.”
Was there a specific story or adventure that stands out?
“The time period before he became governor and became involved in politics and was more of the Frontiersman living in the wilderness and helping out his neighbors and just kind of doing his own thing in his own way, has always been a really cool, fun memory for me.
I had the (faux) raccoon skin cap, the moccasins, leather-fringe jacket, the toy rifle from Disneyland (when they used to sell toy guns). I wanted to be Davy Crockett. Everyone wanted to be Davy Crockett. I still today sometimes want to be him, but an equally impactful story that stands out, is the one in which we use landscape architecture in the themed entertainment industry, to create environments for people to go into and feel like THEY are Davy Crockett.”
Polynesian Resort water feature, photo provided by Jesse Muller
What would you consider to be the greatest success in a themed space? What would make a themed space successful, in your opinion, with storytelling?
“If we're strictly talking about themed experiences and thematic design, it’s giving people the chance to suspend their beliefs, venture into another galaxy or another world, be immersed in that experience, follow along with the characters that they love, feel like they're part of a story, and then come back and appreciate all the exciting things that they got to do that day. We sometimes get to go and visit the parks and see people's reactions when a new attraction opens.
For me, it’s sitting on a bench watching families excitedly run by. Most of the work that we do is in the background. If you think about landscape architecture, it's the paving that you're walking on, it's the curbs, it's the railing that you're holding on to when you're going up the stairs, it's all the plants everywhere around you. It's the way that when it rains, it drains to a drain, it doesn't flood. All of those things are so ancillary that they’re not really the focus of someone's attention. If they're having fun at an attraction or if they're having fun in a space, part of the reason is because of the work that we've done, and the environment they're stepping into.”
ZooTampa Stingray Shores - Stairs into Pool, photo provided by Jesse Muller
Disney's Animal Kingdom Kangaroo Barrier, photo provided by Jesse Muller
“I would give a second example of a zoological related scenario where, if you design a habitat correctly and successfully, you're giving guests the ability to make an impactful connection with wildlife that leads them towards feeling this sense of stewardship, with belonging and responsibility to protect wildlife. What a lot of zoos are trying to do with all their new exhibits they're developing is create immersive experiences that are not only beautiful and fun to engage with and be surrounded by, but also something that gives you a feeling of connection and encourages citizen science. Then, when these guests go home, they're able to then still connect with what they saw that day, look up virtual cams or be part of an online game or whatever it is, there are ways they can participate then act towards conservation - that's a huge success for us.
Another person that we admire from a storytelling perspective is Steve Irwin. The stories that he told when he was filming documentaries, and the passion in his voice when he explained things or he saw something scurry by and he’d go run after it. It didn’t matter how many times he got bit, he got people to feel the same way that he did about what he saw through storytelling.”
“The most impactful stories for me are stories that make you think differently. ”
Toy Story Land, photo provided by Jesse Muller
Toy Story Land, photo provided by Jesse Muller
Shade at Toy Story Land Queue, photo provided by Jesse Muller
Can you talk about a project that's centered around a strong story and what made that story come to life?
“A recent project we worked on was Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. The story there is that you're in Andy's backyard, and all the toys are life size - so they're huge, and you’re the size of an ant, and you're walking through all these places. And the design team figured out how to design benches that are made up of popsicle sticks or dominoes. Or shade structures that are things that Andy would have found around the house that he just stuck in the ground in the yard to play and become one with his own imagination. The story was reinforced by all of the props that are being developed by Disney and put out into that space. We were able to help navigate how the guests are moving through that space and where they're looking first and where they're looking second, and controlling those views so it doesn't feel overwhelming.
You can't just put up a pergola or a trellis and call it a day. You have to make it feel like it fits into the rest of the space. For shade, gameboards were used to make it look like Andy had constructed something for his toy set, and he just kind of put it in the backyard. It's now actually doubling as shade structures for the guests, so they're not always in the sun. We had to go through the process of using real reference imagery from the movies, references from actual toys that got developed (yes we played with blocks at work), and look at how we can manipulate these things so they fit in the story. It can’t detract from what's already there. Like the sign that says restrooms is made out of toy blocks. Each letter is kind of askew and placed on top of the building to let you know this is where the restrooms are. It's not just going to say ‘restrooms’' - it's going to do it in a fun way.
Those are the details that we fixate on, that we try to include in everything that we do, even when it's a resort or a multi-family project or if it's a pool amenity for a housing complex, we're thinking on the same level of detail like that. Like which way do the pavers run so that when you drive over them, when you come home, you feel a difference in the drive, the bumpiness of the drive, and it lets you know that you've arrived at home. Not everybody picks up on that, but the people that do pick up on it appreciate that, and then they can tell that story to someone else and maybe open up their eyes to something that they didn't notice before.”
Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, Site Plan Rendering provided by Jesse Muller
“We're working on a project right now down in Fort Lauderdale, the Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, which is a very historic restaurant down there. When you enter that site, you used to drive over these wood timbers that would rumble, they would rattle a little bit because they weren't fully attached to the ground. So, the feeling of rumbling underneath your car not only gave the driver an experience, but the people just adjacent to the road inside the bar could hear the rumbling. It kind of sounds like thunder. And then on the windows, there's this water effect where it looks like rain, so they're having an experience of this thunderstorm. You're having experience of driving over something that puts you in a place and sets the tone for what you're about to experience. Those kinds of details are what we try to incorporate into all stories that we tell through landscape architecture in any way that we can. From shade structures to a different type of paving - whatever it is - that's the kind of mentality that we're always trying to include in all of our projects.”
What was a clever detail or surprise that your team put together for a project?
“Another thing I'm passionate about is Polynesian culture. If you want to talk about storytelling, go to the Polynesian islands, because everything they do is based on storytelling.”
Polynesian symbols used at Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, provided by Jesse Muller
“For example, the Mai-Kai restaurant I just mentioned down in Fort Lauderdale. On the paving outside the main entrance, we are going to feature these three symbols. These Polynesian symbols are going to be sandblasted into the concrete so they're not right in your face. They're a secondary focal point. Those three symbols represent different aspects of the storytelling process for the Polynesian cultures.”
“One of them is Moana, the word represents ocean. That symbol represents harmony with nature. And there's Koru, which is a spiral, which represents regrowth and rebirth and rejuvenation. And then there's the fishhook, which is Hei Matau, which represents safe passage usually over water, but it's safe passage regardless of where you're going. Those three symbols connect with the project as people are walking up to the building, so it's encouraging people to safely travel from where they were to where they're going.
This was a dilapidated building that closed in 2020 because the roof caved in. It's from the 1950s so it's old and falling apart, but this project is bringing it back to life of what it used to be. When I presented those three things at a Tiki convention last year, everybody went crazy because they were picking up on those subtleties that we included, and we did that intentionally, because we want the details to speak to the story, but not in an in-your-face kind of a way. To be honest with you, finding those symbols, realizing how they connect to the project, putting them in the ground so people can walk over them and see them and appreciate them was one of the best parts of that project.”
How do you think about surfacing in terms of incorporating the story into the surface?
The floor of a tropical rainforest is usually made up of decomposed natural earth and rotted wood; natural materials decomposing and breaking down. The World Famous San Diego Zoo demonstrates this exceptionally well when you're viewing the Orangutans and suddenly you walk onto this softer, spongy material you can feel under your feet. It feels great when you’ve walking around all day and you have a little break to rest. It puts you in that story that “I’m actually walking through a forest and I can feel it”. It's not always about what you're seeing, but it's what you're hearing, it's what you're smelling, and it's what you're feeling with your hands and your feet. Engaging the senses more into the materials that we're touching every day, I think would be a really good way to enhance storytelling in ways that it hasn't really been in the past.
You don't need guests to specifically identify, ‘hey, I feel better now because of A, B and C.’ Just to have them think, “I'm really enjoying this space” and then have them share with others who might experience it completely differently. Everyone's ultimately experiencing something good in a different way and that's an important story to tell right there. It's the same story, but we're all seeing or feeling it in different ways.
It doesn't matter what the subject matter is, if it's Davy Crockett or if it's Toy Story Land, if we're all able to appreciate the slowdown and not be thinking about ‘I have to go home later and do laundry,’ then you know it's a good experience for everyone. We aim to encourage more than just adding fun materials for their cool factor. While they enhance the visual appeal and support the story from an aesthetic standpoint, there's a deeper purpose. The goal is to create spaces that make people feel good when they experience what you've designed.”
Jesse Muller at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum feeding a porcupine, photo provided by Jesse Muller
We would love to extend a sincere thank you to Jesse Muller for sharing his experiences with us. It’s been an absolute joy to hear about the ways in which themed entertainment is tackled from a landscape architecture perspective and the unique ideas the Perry-Becker firm creates!
Perry-Becker Design is a Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Thematic Design firm located in Orlando, Florida. Their portfolio includes a breadth of work across the industries of hospitality and resort.
V3 Sports Center: Elevating North Minneapolis Aquatics
V3 Sports Center serves North Minneapolis, MN and has a mission to “elevate our community through wellness, fitness, and education.” North Minneapolis is a historically underinvested community. According to V3’s research, “In 2019, 54% of the population was Non-White and 20% of the population under the age of 18. In the immediate area of The V3 Center, young adults under 18 make up roughly 40% of the population.” The V3 Sports Center was built in a prominent location and can be seen from downtown Minneapolis and Interstate 94. It has bus line service to further increase accessibility of the facility for the neighborhood.
A generational lack of swimming skills can become a cyclical problem and the first step towards ending those cycles is to provide access. This facility chose to go beyond a simple space by creating a true community hub. With nearly 12,000 kids within walking distance, they implemented thoughtful resources and spaces to engage, transform, and elevate the lives of kids in North Minneapolis. Programs include the John W Hardeman III Boys and Girls Club, summer camps, swimming lessons, childcare, and more. Their aquatics department offers several programs: Swim 2 Learn, Swim 2 Earn, Pool Play, and Open Pool.
All windows looking into the pool area can be fully closed with blinds to allow for greater privacy. This serves populations such as Muslim women who need modesty accommodations to swim. V3 Sports Center provides specific times for Muslim women and others who need privacy to freely enjoy the pool amenities.
“I will say my favorite story is, since we opened June 22, when I was driving down Plymouth Avenue, and I saw the kids from the Northside Development Center, which is two blocks away from here during their summer camp, walking down to the V3 Center to do lessons. And this particular day, it was their celebration of finishing their six weeks of lessons. We celebrate them at the end of the six weeks. And with that being said, it was just such a good example of why we’re here. Being able to have a space and place in the community where the kids of Northside Development Center can walk here, get quality lessons in a world-class facility, celebrate, and be excited about what they’ve accomplished, all within their neighborhood. I think that was just a beautiful collaboration between our two organizations, which Northside Development Center is a part of Catholic Charities. Early on around aquatics, it’s all about the accessibility, the proximity, and the community collaborations that are happening to benefit people like Northside families.
”
Beyond the incredible activity programming, V3 Sports creates meaningful employment opportunities for residents. “While there are countless non-profit organizations working to create economic stability, job opportunities, education equality and neighborhood revitalization, the unemployment rate in North Minneapolis is twice the rate of the rest of the city, and even worse for Black men. While the poverty rate is 15% for the White community in North Minneapolis, it is 42% for the Black community.”
In an interview with us in August 2024, Malik Rucker, Executive Director, commented, “We're up to about 70 jobs. Just last year, we only had about 8. So, we went from 8 to 70 in a year, which is affecting families. It's providing careers right here in the neighborhood, and those are some of the things that I'm super excited about, and we're only in the first few months.”
“The Life Floor gives life to the pool and to the space. A lot of times when you see tile, it’s not as exciting, but having this with the pops of color has allowed us to not have to do as much on the walls. We let the floor lead the way and it’s a beautiful space. I haven’t seen anybody fall or slip, and we know people are going to run. The investment is worth it just by reducing the slips and when people do slip, they’re not hitting the ground as hard. It’s aesthetically pleasing, it definitely lightens up the space, and it works well with the natural light that’s coming in at the corner of Plymouth and Lyndale. The most input I get is just how beautiful it is. People notice it. They touch the ground and try to see how soft it is and if they’re gonna slip. It’s a beautiful addition. ”
“I’m just excited to continue to see families come together. It’s a family space. It’s a destination. There aren’t many spaces in North Minneapolis that the entire family can go to.”
The facility’s architect is LSE Architecture, a Black-owned architecture firm. For their work on this project, they were awarded alongside V3 Sports Center with the AIA Minnesota Merit Award and the Michael L. Schrock Award. Building was completed by RJM Construction.
On a granular level, this fitness center is a great example of a phased project approach. V3 Sports Center completed $26M phase 1 in 2024, prioritizing amenities that would best serve the community. Two selections included a 6 lane 25-meter pool and hydrotherapy pool with Life Floor surfaces. This center now has the first indoor lap pool serving North Minneapolis with multifunctional use for swimming lessons, exercise, and summer camps. Phase 2 will cost approximately $100M and will include an Olympic size 50-meter pool, STEAM programming, and a technology center.
We’re proud to be part of this incredible fitness center located just 4 miles from our U.S. Headquarters. A sincere thank you to the team at V3 Sports for bringing the V3 Sports Center to life and investing in our community. We look forward to your continued success elevating and transforming the lives of thousands.
2023 MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST NEED-BASED WINNER INSTALLATION: John Anderson Park
In 2023, we hosted our fourth annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest to award two deserving organizations in the United States an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. One award was for a facility that exemplified inclusive design principles and the other was need-based for a deserving community that met specific benchmark criteria.
We received an incredible number of thoughtful applications and out of so many deserving entries, one of the entries we received stood out.
Today, we’re proud to showcase the Need-Based Award winner’s installation: John Anderson Park Splash Pad in Grandview, Missouri.
When asked what winning this grant would mean to their community, Jared Elbert said,
“This would mean so much to the community. Grandview, MO, part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, is a minority majority community with a population of nearly 27,000. This is a very strong, tight knit community that is growing but also one with challenges. The median income of Grandview is $48,000/year which means free amenities such as splash pads and playgrounds are of upmost importance. John Anderson park and its splash pad are crucial to youths access to free and safe recreation opportunities.
It can be challenging to maintain the original excitement of a 14 year old splash park. In winning this grant it would allow the community to enhance safety, aesthetics, and bring excitement back to Grandview’s only free splash park. It would increase the quality of life for residents, mean the world to the neighborhoods within walking distance, as well as the community and visitors. ”
Before: Broom Finish Stained Concrete
After: Life Floor
“ It would significantly upgrade the safety of the site for guest by switching from concrete to the safer Life Floor, while also reducing liability concerns from a staff perspective. Guests will have a greater piece of mind when allowing their children to utilize the splash park and socialize. It would enhance the beautification and experience by bringing eye catching color and patterns to the park. ”
Existing Waterplay spray features from their High Seas Collection laid the groundwork for this immersive experience complete with a sailing ship, whale tail, and palm tree. Four sound sprays are interspersed throughout the amenity where children can activate and listen to different sounds including a whale, dolphin, penguin and seagull. Dynamic ground sprays encourage motion throughout the entire area and our tiles now weave between their features with a treasure hunt surface game designed to excite and inspire imagination.
Our 2023 entrants chose from 6 pre-designed themes that would be tailored to fit their project scope. The city of Grandview chose the Treasure Hunt option which features a bright triangle gradient Pattern in a custom color palette of Bluebird, Turquoise, Seafoam, and Mojave. A mix of Sea Life, Marine, and Treasure Hunt Inlays can be seen across the splash pad in both neutral and complementing colors.
Designed and Copyrighted by Life Floor Studio.
We can’t wait to hear the stories of how this project will continue to uplift and transform the way families play at John Anderson Park in Grandview, Missouri. Thank you to the city of Grandview for entering our contest and for trusting us to surface your community’s splash pad!
Keep an eye out for our project showcase highlighting our Inclusive Design Award winner coming soon!
About the Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest
The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest is one of our team’s favorite annual events. We love giving back to our communities across the United States and seeing the difference our surfaces make. Through this grant contest, our goal is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful and accessible splash pad surfaces that enhance positive memories for years to come.
THE 5TH ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST IS
OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Don’t miss these two opportunities to win free Life Floor surfacing for your splash pad!
Life Floor is a Certified Autism Resource accredited by IBCCES
We’re thrilled to announce that Life Floor products are now accredited by IBCCES as a Certified Autism Resource! Our products meet one or more Areas of Autism Competency and can be used at Certified Autism Centers worldwide.
In alignment with our company’s core values, this significant step furthers our mission to make all aquatic spaces safe and beautiful for all ages and abilities.
WHAT IS IBCCES?
IBCCES is the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
“For more than 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for education, healthcare, corporate and travel & entertainment professionals around the globe. IBCCES provides evidence-based training and certification programs created in conjunction with its board of clinical and subject matter experts and autistic individuals to provide professionals with a better understanding of autism and other neurodivergencies.”
Why Does Certification Matter?
We believe that aquatic play is for everyone, and water play provides incredible health and wellness benefits. According to IBCCES, “1 out of 36 children are diagnosed with autism in the U.S.” which presents a significant need for autism-friendly venues. Utilizing certified resources and products creates inviting spaces for both staff and guests. Visitors can play freely and engage fully while facility owners and operators can trust that these products are third-party vetted and accredited.
Life Floor PRODUCT FEATURES
Our team at Life Floor values the spirit of continuous innovation and improvement. We’ve designed our products to go beyond simple flooring tiles. Our surfaces are features that everyone can engage with. Venues can implement our products in ways that adapt to the unique needs of their facilities and our in-house Studio is equipped to support projects from concept to reality.
Here are some key product features that contribute to Life Floor’s designation as a Certified Autism Resource:
Texture Changes for Non-Visual Signals
Varied textures around pool decks or prominent features improve accessibility by tactilely signaling that a depth of water or change in environment is present. These cues invite guests to use caution similar to how truncated domes function at the crosswalks of streets.
Life Floor offers different textures that can be paired to achieve non-visual signaling.
Visual Signals Integrated on the Surface
Visual signals are an important safety feature to show depth changes, the presence of features, and represent a changing landscape.
These types of signals are often shown as banded colors or safety messaging such as depth markers, no-diving symbols, “please walk” signs, and others.
Zoning Spaces with Colorful Surfacing
Colors can be used in design to indicate different areas tailored to different play styles. From gentle spray zones to fast-paced dueling jets, there’s something for everyone in aquatic play.
Proper zoning enables people of all abilities to play freely without experiencing unanticipated environments.
Cushioned and Slip-Resistant Tiles
Life Floor’s Ripple Texture is additionally certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 for slip-resistance and impact cushioning. This helps to prevent slips and protect inevitable falls.
Our surfaces invite play and foster positive experiences with water play at aquatic centers at over 3,000 aquatic centers worldwide.
To have Life Floor’s certified surfaces specified for your project, connect with us today! We’d love to work with you to make your dream become a reality.
LIFE FLOOR NAMED 2024 DREAM DESIGN SUPPLIER BY AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL
We're honored to be named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for four Dream Design Award-winning waterparks in 2024. These four facilities use our surfacing in distinctly thematic ways to engage their guests.
Congratulations to these aquatic centers and to all of our partners who collaborated to bring them to life!
2024 Dream Designs
Serengeti Springs at Hattiesburg Zoo
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
Life Floor surfaces nearly 18,000 sq ft (1,672 m²) beneath WhiteWater’s incredible Fusion Fortress that was designed and engineered by Martin Aquatic who acted as the consultant for this unique project. As Authorized Life Floor Designers, Martin Aquatic and WhiteWater collaborated to create visual zones throughout the space with our surfaces to complete the playful safari theming.
Aqua Nick at Nickelodeon™ Hotels and Resorts
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Designed by WhiteWater + WTI, Life Floor surfaces several activity zones at the resort including Bikini Bottom Beach and Paw Patrol Adventure Bay. Vibrant Bluebird, Aviator, and Iceberg colors are designed in a wave pattern throughout the park, which helps to create a consistent theme that compliments the features, while also providing added safety and comfort for guests of all ages.
Camp Barnabas
Purdy, Missouri, USA
Creating accessible spaces for all people is one of our passions and Life Floor is proud to surface three areas of the pool amenity including two splash pads and the transition for the zero-depth entry. These inclusive amenities provide more play value for campers with traction to prevent slips and cushioning to protect falls that keeps the fun going all day long.
A sincere thank you to Sunbelt Pools and Splashtacular for leading this project and coordinating with multiple industry partners with the goal to give Camp Barnabas's pool new life.
Echo Hollow Pool Replacement
Eugene, Oregon, USA
A Life Floor Landing Pad is featured under the diving board at Echo Hollow Pool, designed by Aquatic Design Group. Our Landing Pads provide increased cushioning for greater fall height protection with slip-resistance that is non-abrasive.
We celebrate these awards with all of the fellow teams who worked diligently to create these iconic facilities and elevate guest experiences worldwide.
In addition to the winners above, Life Floor contributed to the following projects and was awarded Dream Design Supplier designations by Aquatics International in previous years:
2023 DREAM DESIGNS
Studio City Waterpark
Macau, China
Life Floor is featured throughout the 5,000 sq ft indoor expansion of the waterpark.
University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Life Floor is featured throughout the indoor pool and splash pad.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark
Nassau, The Bahamas
Life Floor is featured under WhiteWater’s outdoor themed play structure.
2022 DREAM DESIGNS
Baha Bay at Baha Mar
Nassau, Bahamas
Life Floor is featured on Kid’s Island at Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove.
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Dubai, UAE
Life Floor surfaces multiple areas of Splasher’s Island including the newest Splasher’s Cove.
2021 DREAM DESIGNS
The St. James of Springfield, VA
Springfield, Virginia, USA
Life Floor’s blue surfacing creates a colorful backdrop in the play structure area of the facility.
2020 DREAM DESIGNS
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay
Little Stirrup, Bahamas
Bold, custom graphics energize Splashaway Bay while a beach design completes the theming at Captain Jill’s Galleon.
Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Cushioned and slip-resistant tiles brighten up the splash pad at Splash Island Waterpark.
We love collaborating to create iconic aquatic facility designs. For more information about these projects or to learn how you can purchase our award-winning surfacing for your facility, contact us.
Life Floor Australia + New Zealand Announces New South Wales Partner
Life Floor Australia + New Zealand Managing Director, Grant Burgess, has today announced the appointment of Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces, Australia as a Life Floor dealer representative and installer for New South Wales (NSW).
Reference project installed by Grassports Australia (QLD).
Burgess explained, “With the ever-increasing awareness and acceptance of Life Floor we are needing more local representation and technicians to swiftly attend to the volume of enquiries we are receiving. Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces, Australia has forged a very solid reputation and align perfectly with our target market. We feel their depth of experience and broad customer base will further drive the Life Floor brand throughout NSW.”
Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces Australia Managing Director Mark Cunningham said, “Finally, there is a product in the Aquatic Industry that works and is fit for purpose. I believe this is really the only product that should be used in aquatic flooring. With a vast number of colours and designs you can let your mind run wild with designs. Our team is looking forward to showcasing this amazing product”.
Jonathan Keller, Co-Founder and Global CEO of Life Floor, said, “We believe all aquatic spaces should be safe and beautiful. As an international brand, we rely on trusted, local partners to help deliver on our mission and uphold our values. We are excited about our new partnership with Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces Australia to further leverage the success we’ve witnessed in Australia.”
About Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces Australia
Synthetic Grass & Rubber Surfaces Australia Pty Ltd has earned a reputation as one of the leading artificial grass and rubber wetpour suppliers in Sydney, Australia. This reputation is based on high-quality products, professionalism, on-time installation, and care throughout and after the project’s completion.
For more than 30 years Managing Director, Mark Cunningham, and his team located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches have been working to bring the best synthetic grass and rubber flooring solutions for safety, sporting, and leisure requirements.
sales@syntheticgrass.com.au | +61 02 9986 1133
About Life Floor
Life Floor is transforming the aquatics industry by improving the safety, design, accessibility, and fun at facilities for all people. Life Floor is the first product certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 and is leading the revolutionary change to the industry in a call for safety servicing at aquatic facilities across the world. With virtually limitless design possibilities, Life Floor creates a uniquely beautiful experience for people of all ages and abilities.
solutions@lifefloor.com | 612.567.2813
About Life Floor (Australia and New Zealand)
Life Floor (ANZ) was appointed in 2016 as Life Floor’s principal dealer for Australia and New Zealand; and now has more than 90 installations throughout Australia and New Zealand. Life Floor is becoming the go-to surface when safety, design, functionality and value are seen as the key priorities.
grant.burgess@lifefloor.com.au | +61 (0) 459 169 769
Flooring is a Feature: Create Canvases of Fun
Did you know surfacing takes up 50-90% of the space at an aquatic center? That makes it the largest feature with the most potential for engagement. While spray fixtures and elevated structures add 3D elements that create depth, flooring provides visual interest and completes any thematic design in a variety of ways.
COMPLETE THEMED ENTERTAINMENT
Pirate Beach at LEGOLAND Discovery Cove - Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, USA
LEGOLAND Discovery Cove Pirate Beach centers their storytelling experience around pirates and island adventure. The triangle gradient design creates an island motif which complements the pirate theming and provides greater narrative immersion. Lighter zones under the main spray fixtures symbolize islands while surrounding blue tones create the impression of water and reach out across overspray areas. DUPLO blocks are spread across the splash pad and add an interactive element for younger children to engage under gentler water sprays.
These bright colors not only provide engagement for patrons, but they’re also eye-catching to visitors as they walk by through the mall’s courtyard area.
Before: Painted Concrete
After: Life Floor
SURFACE DESIGN that COMPLEMENTs use
Camp Margaritaville - Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA
Zero-depth entry pools, like this amenity at Camp Margaritaville, often provide a great way for a wide variety of guests to cool off during summer vacation. Visually, our surfaces add to this narrative by placing sand-colored tiles where the depth of water is shallowest with gradually darkening teal tones that match the increased depth of water.
These beautiful colors complement the overall palette of the structure and surrounding space which adds an aesthetically pleasing element to the venue. Beautiful spaces often prompt guests to take more photos and share them with friends and family which in turn expands word of mouth referrals.
Drains near the entry utilize Daldorado’s DalLUX Drainage System which provides greater safety and a continuous, pleasant visual experience.
Before: Concrete
After: Life Floor
IMAGINATIVE DESIGN ELEMENTS
Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park - Danielsville, Georgia, USA
Life Floor’s thematic Inlays are a popular design element used to inspire imagination while staying within budget. Inlays can be used as surfacing play features such as search-and-find games or hopping activities to encourage movement and engagement throughout different zones.
Before: Concrete
After: Life Floor
EYE-CATCHING PATTERNS FROM ANY LEVEL
Lakewood Camping Resort - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
Lakewood Camping Resort has an extensive background with over two decades of award-winning amenities. Life Floor was chosen as the safety surface at their splash pad to further set the resort apart from others with a beautiful design that elevates the visual impact from a variety of angles and floor levels. Guests with balconies overlooking the beach are welcomed with an attractive waypoint visual that would otherwise be blank concrete.
Before: Concrete
After: Life Floor
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS WITH STYLE
Northeast Family Branch YMCA - Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Northeast Family Brand YMCA showcases an example of zoning splash pads for different ages and abilities. The darker area features more adventurous dump buckets an engaging transition with bands of alternating colors area under spray rings that lead to the lighter area where calmer sprays are located. Zoning helps caregivers visually recognize areas where kids can play safely and enjoy fun activities during their visit.
Before: Painted Concrete
After: Life Floor
Games, shapes, and beautiful spaces
Anaheim Courtyard by Marriott - Anaheim, California, USA
With Life Floor’s custom cutting abilities, there are many options to include surface games such as hopscotch, “The Floor is Lava” style play, or search and find activities. Large custom Inlays like surfboards can enhance theming as well while providing imaginative elements that spark fun.
Guests with rooms that face this amenity are able to enjoy looking out over a vibrant courtyard that may otherwise resemble a concrete jungle.
Before: Concrete
After: Life Floor
STORYTELLING WITH LIFE FLOOR
Immersive designs and bold flooring graphics make facilities truly stand out. Our tiles can be custom cut to feature almost any type of theming, imagery, or patterning imaginable. For truly incredible storytelling with characters or more complex elements, explore our Murals product line to begin imagining one-of-a-kind experiences.
If you have a project in mind, contact us to begin exploring possibilities with our Studio Team’s complimentary design services.
In addition to providing facilities with beautiful designs, safety surfaces such as Life Floor will improve safety and increase inclusivity for all ages and abilities. Our products provide greater peace of mind to staff and guests with industry-leading safety certifications.
To learn more about Life Floor’s vibrant surfaces, begin a conversation with us and explore what’s possible for your facility with a free design rendering.
Introducing a New Standard for Pool Perimeter Surfaces
In 2024, NSF International published a new section within NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50 for surfaces around pool deck perimeters. This section details the criteria that surfacing products meet in order to become certified. Most notably, the standard recommends that pool perimeters should be slip-resistant to increase safety at aquatic facilities.
At Life Floor, we’re enthusiastically embracing this addition to NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50 and we’re proud to share that our Ripple texture is certified to this set of criteria for pool perimeter surfaces. From competitive swim schools to therapy pools, this standard brings positive change to our industry and we’re excited to further our mission of making all aquatic spaces safe and beautiful for all people through this opportunity.
The pool perimeter standard is similar to the version in NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 for splash pads, but the primary differences are that this variation does not require surfaces to be cushioned and the testing criteria only applies to non-concrete surfacing materials.
As part of the certification process for pool perimeter surfaces, our tiles are third-party tested to demonstrate high quality safety in real-world applications. They also show aquatic durability necessary for pool amenities. The 5 criteria include:
Slip-Resistance
Impermeability
Cleanability
UV Resistance
Chemical Resistance
Life Floor is certified to the standard and meets or exceeds all 5 requirements.
If you would like to learn more about Life Floor’s products, please contact us to see if Life Floor would be a good fit for your venue.
Life Floor Announces Major Expansion of U.S. Partner Network
Life Floor is thrilled to welcome seven new partners to our Registered Aquatic Partner program and Installer Network. This significant expansion enables us to better serve our customers through improved mobilization, tailored customer support, and reduced overall installation costs for our products.
In addition to our already established partnerships with Baynum Amusement Solutions and Fischer Brothers, LLC., we’d like to extend a warm welcome to Concrete Science, Full Sail Marine, Headwater Construction Group, Horizon Commercial Pools, Landmark Aquatic, Norberto Construction, and Safe Slide Restoration. Continue reading to learn more about each of our new partners.
Concrete Science
Concrete Science is a 120 person Concrete and Coatings Construction company based out of Minneapolis MN. They were started in 1973 and are a family owned start up, formerly Hicks Concrete. They have 4 Divisions: Commercial Concrete, Decorative Concrete, Industrial/ Residential Coatings, and Aquatics. They are highly diverse, but also highly specialized. They have crews that travel year-round as well specializing in waterpark flooring. Their second office is in Fort Myers, Florida.
FULL SAIL MARINE
Founded in 2017, Full Sail Marine, LLC is a leading maritime maintenance service provider of specialized services to the marine industry. Their comprehensive offerings include turnkey solutions for waterpark structure & finish repair and refurbishment and repair, whirlpool supply & repair, and ADA access equipment supply, installation, and maintenance. Catering primarily to major cruise lines, they specialize in the supply of repelling teams for high-risk access work areas. With an overriding commitment to excellence, innovation and safety, Full Sail Marine, LLC continues to be a trusted partner in enhancing onboard maintenance standards.
Headwater Construction Group
Founded in 1993 as Air-Tech Systems, Inc., Headwater Construction Group began its journey as a specialized gunite and pool construction company under the leadership of Steven Jones. Originating with residential projects in New Jersey, the company steadily expanded its expertise and geographical reach, evolving into a nationwide commercial builder with services including commercial construction, renovation, service, design, consultation, and equipment sales. Over the years, Headwater Construction Group has become renowned for its excellence in the aquatic recreation industry, undertaking diverse projects ranging from small-scale municipal splash pads to design-build of multi-million-dollar waterparks across the United States.
HORIZON COMMERCIAL POOLS
Horizon Commercial Pools is a leading provider of commercial swimming pool service, equipment, chemicals, and renovations. Founded in 1991, Horizon maintains local operations across Minnesota and Wisconsin while serving the broader Midwest market. The company prides itself on delivering aquatic joy and education to customers by supplying the industry’s highest-quality products and solutions.
LANDMARK AQUATIC
By leveraging the experience and history of three commercial aquatics industry leaders – Progressive Commercial Aquatics, Westport Pools, and Spear Corporation – Landmark Aquatic offers a comprehensive range of aquatic facility services, including design and engineering, construction, maintenance, renovation, and chemical supply to customers across the country. The combination has created a full-service aquatic services provider with the unique ability to work with engineers, architects, general contractors, and owners to provide the “wow factor” that guests expect while balancing cost, function, form, efficiency, and ease of operations. Going forward, Landmark Aquatic will continue to serve municipal, education, and private club clients, and the consolidated enterprise is supported by a workforce of highly skilled, well-trained professionals committed to safety and best-in-class service.
NORBERTO CONSTRUCTION
The Norberto Family is a leader in the commercial and residential pool building industry, working with the owners, engineers, architects, general contractors and sub-contractors in all aspects of swimming pool design, construction and services. They cater to all aquatic needs, large or small. Norberto Construction is based out of New York and is fully licensed and bonded in Nassau and Suffolk counties and New York City.
SAFE SLIDE RESTORATION
With over 30 years in fiberglass repair, and 15 years of expertise in the aquatics industry, Safe Slide Restoration is a trusted partner for comprehensive aquatic solutions. Their goal is to protect their partners' guests and investments, and they are now excited to offer Life Floor surfacing solutions for increased safety in every park. From waterslide installation to specialty coatings, they’ve been trusted to deliver consistent restoration and protected partnerships, making aquatic adventures worry-free for all.
Thank you to each of our new partners for believing in our mission and joining us to make all aquatic spaces safe, beautiful, and accessible. We’ll be sharing more as each of these partners complete training and become Certified Life Floor Installers.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our team.
Life Floor Australia + New Zealand Announces Grassports Australia as New Partner
Life Floor (Australia and New Zealand) Managing Director, Grant Burgess, has announced the appointment of Grassports Australia as Life Floor dealer representative and installer for Victoria and Queensland.
Announcing the partnership, Burgess stated, “five years ago Grassports in Queensland partnered with Life Floor (ANZ) as they saw it as an exciting new product to present to their customers in local government, education, theme parks and hotels.
That decision has proved to be a success with Grassports Queensland accomplishing over 20 Life Floor installations. Some of those installations included Wet’n’Wild, Dreamworld, Sugarworld Adventure Park, ULTIQA Beach Haven Resort, and Emmanuel College, Carrara.”
Burgess noted that now, “I am very confident Grassports in Victoria will emulate their Queensland team’s outstanding success. The unique properties of Life Floor foam-rubber surfacing system keep people safer when barefoot in an aquatic environment and that’s being recognised more now with Life Floor becoming the go-to surface when safety, design, functionality, and value are seen as the key priorities.”
Grassports Managing Director, Bernard Evans commented, “we have watched our Queensland team rollout Life Floor during the last few years and the improvement Life Floor has made to not only refurbished aquatic facilities, but also new facilities like community pools and splash parks. It’s now time the Victorian operation follows, so we will now be adding Life Floor to our product portfolio.
We are very well known in the education market and feel Life Floor will resonate with those customers who are seeking to refurbish their aquatic facilities and changerooms as it offers significant safety and hygiene benefits with its slip-resistance, cushioning, impermeability, and assortment of inspiring colours and shapes.”
Jonathan Keller, co-founder and Global Chief Executive Officer of Life Floor, added, “we believe all aquatic spaces should be safe and beautiful. As an international brand, we rely on trusted, local partners to help deliver on our mission and uphold our values.
“We are excited about our partnership with Grassports now expanding into Victoria to further leverage the success we've witnessed in Australia.”
About Grassports
For over 50 years, Grassports Australia have been industry leaders in the creation and delivery of quality artificial sports surfaces. The recreational environments we create connect people through the provision of healthy, safe and colourful spaces, available for the enjoyment of active children, families, sports people and performance athletes alike.
info@grassports.com.au | 03 9792 0622
About Life Floor
Life Floor is transforming the aquatics industry by improving the safety, design, accessibility, and fun at facilities for all people. Life Floor is the first product certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 and is leading the revolutionary change to the industry in a call for safety servicing at aquatic facilities across the world. With virtually limitless design possibilities, Life Floor creates a uniquely beautiful experience for people of all ages and abilities.
solutions@lifefloor.com | 612.567.2813
About Life Floor (Australia and New Zealand)
Life Floor (ANZ) was appointed in 2016 as Life Floor’s principal dealer for Australia and New Zealand with more than 80 installations.
grant.burgess@lifefloor.com.au | +61 (0) 459 169 769
Storytelling in Aquatics
When people think of themed entertainment and attractions that tell strong stories, they often picture immersive lands and the iconic dark rides of traditional theme parks. Aquatic attractions are occasionally designed with themed elements in the foreground, but they're usually treated as spaces to gather rather than to explore.
Some of the most successful waterparks function like theme parks with flowing narratives and creative details that spark imagination and bring stories to life.
Photo Credit: Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Take Disney’s Blizzard Beach for example where an unexpected snowstorm landed in central Florida leading to the state’s first ski resort. Or Universal’s Volcano Bay with its backstory rooted in the Waturi discovering a new island to call home. Similar to traditional theme parks, these aquatic spaces benefit greatly from imaginative storytelling and cohesive design elements.
Photo Credit: Universal’s Runamukka Reef
While Life Floor functions primarily as an aquatic surfacing solution, our projects are often featured within a broader context and designed to match specific themes, stories, or aesthetics. These installations are found on cruise ships, within water parks, at resorts, and at municipal facilities worldwide.
As each of these projects come to life, we consider the stories our floors tell. We think about how they contribute to theming, how they can add dimensionality to create a more immersive environment, and how specialty elements add play opportunities for guests. Throughout each of these design exercises, we contemplate the overarching role of storytelling in aquatic environments.
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Adding a story or a theme to a space creates an immersive experience that transports guests to a different world. While the vast majority of aquatic spaces trend toward underwater or beach themes, the diversity of design potential is endless. From forest-themed splash pads to outer space-inspired waterparks, we’ve witnessed spectacular ideas come to life.
Themed elements inspire imaginative play and create engaging experiences for guests. Starting with an overarching narrative, intentional design decisions can be made to truly create an environment that aligns with any vision.
So how exactly do designers of aquatic spaces execute on a story or a theme? Large 3D elements are often the main focal points. Spray features, play structures, slides, and sculptures draw guests’ attention immediately. Curated considerations like furniture, landscaping, and rockwork tie into these elements as well. Surface designers craft the appearance of signage, vertical panels on play structures, themed walls, and artwork around facilities to create enhanced visuals throughout. Sound and lighting bring an environment to life by creating an ambiance keyed into the senses to illuminate storytelling details. Setting the scene with the right tone is critical to completing an atmosphere and achieving the right effect.
From a flooring perspective, stories are told through themed Inlays, life-sized objects, game boards, and even character IP. Sometimes it involves including a certain color palette or geometric element that ties a design together or evokes a certain environment. We always look for ways to create a thematic scene or blend our floor into the rest of the aquatic setting. Together, all of these design considerations have the potential to tell a story at each facility, no matter the scale.
Throughout the coming year, we look forward to exploring these elements in further detail. We’ll feature stories that take a peek behind the curtain to describe the design and engineering processes of iconic projects. We’ll also illuminate the ways that other suppliers and designers consider storytelling when specifying certain components to craft these themed spaces. Exploring this topic within the aquatics industry wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the actual stories of many of the key leaders within this space. Overall, we look forward to engaging with the larger community and sharing more about how our partners continue to innovate as they design these themed aquatic attractions.
We’d love to hear from other creatives within the industry. If you’d like to join in on the conversation, please email our VP of Design, Kelsi Goss, to get involved!
Life Floor's Top 13 projects of 2023
2023 was filled with incredible projects ranging in complexity, size, and theme. Collaboration and excellence from some of our top partners, installers, and customers made all of these facilities possible. To celebrate 2023 as we enter into our 13th year in business, we’ve chosen to highlight these 13 installations that stood out among the hundreds of projects installed across the year.
MOST UNIQUE GEOMETRIC DESIGN
Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre
Location: Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Install Date: August 2023
Area: 3,281 sq ft (355 m²)
Main Colors: Seafoam, Limelight, Lilypad, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Architect: Warren and Mahoney Architects
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Mauer Construction Tiling
With a unique palette and layout of colored bands, the creative approach for the flooring design of this project was a highlight for our team.
FIRST AQUAFORMS12 SPLASH PAD
Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 13,308 sq ft (1,236 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Aviator, Bluebird, Sunshine
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designers: WhiteWater + Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was the host facility for WhiteWater’s new AquaForms12 structure which won the 2023 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Product under $2 Million.
MOST ACCESSIBLE AQUATIC AMENITIES
Camp Barnabas
Location: Purdy, Missouri, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 2,983 sq ft (277 m²) across 3 areas
Main Colors: Ocean, Kingfisher (discontinued), Iceberg, Turquoise, Aqua, Ivory, Heron, Evergreen, Olive, and Limelight
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Specifier: Sunbelt Pools
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Baynum Solutions
Photo Credit: Splashtacular, LLC.
Given the facility’s mission, Camp Barnabas stands out as a project designed to create even more accessible aquatics for all guests. This facility received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA.
best interactive theming
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth, Pirate Beach
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Bluebird, Aviator, Aqua, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
With islands, LEGO features, and themed structures on site, this splash pad really stood out for its pirate theming.
Most Uniquely Themed Facility
Studio City Water Park
Location: Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, China
Install Date: April 2023
Area: 5,479 sq ft (509 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Mojave, Sandbar, Tiki
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater and WTI
This flowing curve design is custom cut from Life Floor tiles and provides subtle visual paths leading from one attraction to the next. These custom elements perfectly tailor to Studio City’s space travel theme. The combination of WTI's design and engineering, WhiteWater’s industry-leading features, and the comfort, safety, and durability of Life Floor’s surfacing creates a world-class indoor facility at the Studio City Water Park.
Studio City Water Park received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was named a 2023 Dream Design by Aquatics International.
MOST PLAY VALUE OPPORTUNITIES
Forest Park Aquatic Center
Location: Forest Park, Illinois, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 3,268 sq ft (304 m²)
Main Colors: Aviator, Pomegranate, Goldfish, Sunshine, Limelight, Ocean, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Hitchcock Design Group (Naperville)
Drains: Daldorado
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Photography Credit: The Park District of Forest Park and Bridget Deatrick with Hitchcock Design Group
Designed as a giant game board, Forest Park Aquatic Center brought play value to a large scale at their splash pad.
BEST ZERO-DEPTH ENTRY POOL THEME
Camp Margaritaville, Northgate Property
Location: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Turquoise, Seafoam, Aqua, Sandstone, Gobi
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Partner: Daldorado Drains
Fixture Manufacturer and Photo Credit: InterActive Play
With a beach-themed triangle gradient and integrated Daldorado DALlux drains, Camp Margaritaville brought the tropics to this zero-depth entry pool.
FIRST LIFE FLOOR PROJECT IN CROATIA
Maistra Rovinj Croatia Resort
Location: Rovinj, Croatia
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 1,034 sq ft (96 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aqua
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Amica
Bright diagonals of blue really make this splash pad pop at our first installation in Croatia.
NEWEST CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP
Carnival Jubilee Waterworks
Location: Carnival Cruise Ship
Install Date: December 2023
Area: 5,324 ft² (495 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Aviator, Iceberg
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater + Carnival Cruise Line
Installer: FMC Design
Life Floor surfaces every ship in the Carnival Fleet so the installation on Jubilee in several areas, including Waterworks shown above, is exciting to see.
2022 MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST WINNER
Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park
Location: Danielsville, Georgia, USA
Install Date: March 2023
Area: 2,055 sq ft (191 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator, Turquoise, Seafoam
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
In 2022, we co-hosted our third annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent with this contest is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Our 2022 winner, Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park, was installed in March 2023.
FACILITY MOST FULLY SURFACED WITH LIFE FLOOR
Rapid River Lodge
Location: Baxter, Minnesota, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 9,408 sq ft (874 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Sandbar, Iceberg, Pomegranate, Lilypad, Iris, Sepia
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Waterplay
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Fischer Brothers, LLC
With Life Floor surfacing the pool deck, stairs, zero-depth entry, and pool coping, almost all of Rapid River Lodge is covered with our tiles! We always love to see such a comprehensive safety surface approach.
FIRST LIFE FLOOR PROJECT IN EGYPT
Marassi Water World
Location: El Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 6,426 sq ft (597 m²)
Main Colors: Lilypad, Limelight, Sandbar, Porcelain, Iceberg, Aviator, and Bluebird
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater
Installer: Raymond Sport, LLC
Island and beach theming designed by WhiteWater added an immersive backdrop to their interactive AquaPlay structure on this expansive splash pad.
MOST CREATIVE USE OF PIXEL THEMING IN A DESIGN
Imperial Meadows Park
Location: Coalhurst, Alberta, Canada
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 3,367 sq ft (313 m²)
Main Colors: Evergreen, Lilypad, Ocean, Turquoise, Iceberg, Bluebird, Iris, Platypus, Goldfish, Ivory, Sunshine Transition Strips
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Prairie Surfaces
A vibrant color palette of square tiles brought a bright design to this splash pad in Canada.
Thank you to all of our partners and customers for making these projects possible. We look forward to all of the unique installations to come in 2024!
Happy Holidays from the Life Floor Team!
2023 has been a year of innovation and fun. From new partnerships to thrilling projects across the world, we look forward to 2024 with excitement. I want to take this opportunity to thank you personally for being part of the Life Floor story, and for your commitment to making the aquatics industry even more inviting for people of all ages and abilities.
This year, our team celebrated the following top highlights:
2023 started on a tropical note with a team cruise in the Caribbean for our January planning meetings. We were able to visit several Life Floor installations: Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Baha Bay at Baha Mar.
We celebrated our 2022 Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest winner at the grand re-opening of Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park in Danielsville, Georgia this Summer.
For the first time ever, we expanded the 4th annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest co-hosted by Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, announcing two facilities as winners. The Need-Based Award was granted to John Anderson Splash Pad in Grandview, MO. The Inclusive Design Award was granted to Morgan’s Wonderland, Will’s Hang 10 Harbor in San Antonio, Texas. This Grant Contest enables us to give back to deserving communities in need of safety surfacing.
A new Matching Funds Grant Program launched with a rolling application cycle available for facilities to enter throughout the year.
We launched a new product line, Murals. These innovative tiles were a finalist for IAAPA’s Brass Ring Awards in the category for Best New Product under $2 Million.
Our team received four Leading Edge awards from WWA for:
Studio City Waterpark - Macau, China
Island Waterpark at Showboat - Atlantic City, NJ, USA
Pirate’s Cove Aquapark - MSC Cruise
Camp Barnabas - Purdy, MO, USA
Life Floor was named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for three Dream Design Award-winning facilities in 2023 at:
Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark - Nassau, The Bahamas
University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute - Omaha, NE, USA
Studio City Waterpark - Macau, China
We established a new partnership with STS to expand our global reach into Saudi Arabia.
Members of our team led and engaged in educational speaking sessions at IAAPA, NRPA, URPA, AOAP, WAHC, USA Swimming, NYSRPS, PRPS, and FRPA trade shows with topics surrounding design, safety, establishing best practices, and accessibility.
NSF International finalized a new pool perimeters standard for safety surfacing as part of NSF/ANSI/CAN 50. The updated standard will be live in early 2024.
Numerous partners represented Life Floor in their trade show booths this year including: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering, Waterplay, WhiteWater, Paddock, Daldorado, Aquatic Design Group, Rain Drop Products, Prairie Surfaces, Raymond Sport, Westport Pools, and AquaShield Products. Thank you to all for recommending our safety surfacing.
We published our new Lookbook Volume 10 this fall.
The list of countries featuring Life Floor grew including our first installations in Russia, Croatia, Egypt, Anguilla, and the Czech Republic.
We officially welcomed three new hires onto our team:
Michelle Henderson - Senior Vice President, Sales
Blake Brant - Installation Specialist
Justin “Mac” McLaughlin - Process Engineer
We manufactured over 175,000 Life Floor tiles across all facilities in 2023. (700,000 sq ft/65,032 sqm)
As we move into the new year, keep an eye out for milestone projects, new partnerships, and product updates!
Thank you to all of our vendors, partners, and customers for working alongside us in 2023. We look forward to collaborating with you again next year as we further our mission to enhance safety, design, and accessibility for all people at aquatic facilities around the world.
Warmly,
Jonathan Keller | CEO of Life Floor
This year we hosted an ugly sweater competition! Some members of our team dressed up to show their holiday spirit and we just had to share them!
Life Floor's 2024 Project Highlights
Life Floor announced a new product line called Murals and a selection of new projects coming soon in 2024 at an IAAPA Expo press conference in November 2023. Continue reading for a recap of the event.
UPCOMING PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2024
Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Jubilee - Carnival Cruise Line
Jubilee will feature Life Floor onboard the Waterworks amenity with large intersecting circle designs. This project will continue Life Floor’s installation on each Carnival vessel.
Mt. Olympus Waterpark - Wisconsin, USA
In partnership with WhiteWater, Mt. Olympus Waterpark will feature a triangle gradient design with subtle zoning elements. Spray fixtures are positioned in the beach-tone areas while slides exit near the darker teal-tone areas. This theming will complement the venue’s new aesthetic, creating a cohesive design throughout.
Camp Fimfo - New York, USA
Camp Fimfo in New York will feature a 3-color Surf Theme across their activity zone. This project marks the next installment of Life Floor across Northgate Resort properties.
Photo Credit: WhiteWater
Meryal Waterpark - Qatar
Meryal Waterpark in Qatar takes zoning aquatic amenities to new heights. In partnership with WhiteWater, a splash play area is surfaced with Life Floor and zoned into three distinct areas. Two main areas with water features are divided by a distinct guided pathway running through the space. Walkways and overspray areas will be composed of tans and play areas are surfaced with blue tones.
V3 Center - Minnesota, USA
The V3 Center in Minneapolis, MN “is designed to be a beacon of hope as well as a focal point bridging the Northside to Downtown. Most importantly, the building will serve as a hub for the community to gather and grow together.” This project will transform the landscape of competitive swim in the Twin Cities metro area.
2023 Make a SPLASH! Grant Winner, Inclusive Design Award
For the fourth year, Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces have partnered to provide free splash pad surfacing to deserving communities. The winner of the 2023 Make a SPLASH! Inclusive Design Grant Award is Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, TX, USA. Life Floor will be installed at Will’s Hang 10 Harbor attraction in Spring 2024.
2023 Make a SPLASH! Grant Winner, Need-Based Award
With the expansion of the Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest, two awards were given out for the first time ever. The winner of the Need-Based Grant Award is John Anderson Splash Pad in Grandview, MO, USA. Life Floor will be installed at this location in Spring 2024.
New Product: Murals
As the aquatics industry continues to shift towards highly thematic surface design, Life Floor is thrilled to announce its newest product release: Murals.
With this new line of tiles, designs and patterns that were once too complex to install as aquatic safety surfacing are now a reality. Murals empower brands that dream of creating iconic, highly immersive, themed aquatic environments from the ground up. This innovative flooring tile product tailors custom design with highly intricate details that delight guests of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. In addition to their limitless design potential, Murals utilize Life Floor’s industry-leading proprietary safety surfacing for positive guest experiences.
Questions? Connect with Life Floor Experts
Gwen
Schlotte
VP, Specification +
Strategic
Partnerships
Holden
Bigler-Johnson
Regional Account Executive, West Coast, AK, and HI
Lindsay
Fetzer
Strategic + Cruise Line Sales, Midwest Account Executive
MaryAnn
Eifert
Regional Account Executive,
East Coast
Engaging Zero-Depth Entry Pool at Camp Margaritaville
Camp Margaritaville in Breaux Bridge, LA features nearly 4,000 sq ft (370 sq m) of Life Floor at the zero-depth entry pool in an elegant triangle gradient pattern.
VISUAL SIGNALS FOR INCLUSIVE AQUATICS
When state codes allow submerged applications to feature colors on the pool bottoms, zero-depth entries can incorporate visual signals for accessibility that show the depth of water is increasing.
At this location, sandy colors symbolize the beach and water tones gradually darken as the depth increases. This design choice is aesthetically pleasing while helping guests navigate the space more confidently.
HIDDEN DRAINS
A Life Floor DalLUX Drainage System by Daldorado is located at the amenity’s entry point to provide both design continuity and added safety. This type of drain positioned within a design has channels that run along the surface with strips of Life Floor adhered to them. Drainage isn’t impeded and tiles can incorporate custom elements even over the drains themselves.
Life Floor’s heat dispersion is especially useful in the Louisiana climate where temperatures reach over 90°F (32°C). Destinations with high UV Indexes often find that metal drain grates can cause burns due to heating up when not submerged. Our product integration partnership with Daldorado ensures that guests are better protected in comparison to traditional metal drains.
The photo below shows the drainage system exposed prior to Life Floor installation.
Playful FEATURES
The aquatic play structure and pool floor boast InterActive Play features that promote social engagement. From friendly water battles to collaborative play opportunities that produce thrilling water effects, interactive elements create opportunities for connection and shared experiences. Engineered with beloved kid-friendly technology, such as light-up bars indicating a feature’s “charging status,” buttons, pull ropes, touch sensors, and more, these features captivate guests longer than conventional open water flow designs.
curating THEMATIC FUN
Beach-inspired designs with bright, tropical elements are becoming increasingly popular in the aquatics industry. Many vacation-goers directly associate beaches and ocean vistas with relaxation, but importing sand isn’t sustainable and presents a challenge for filtration systems.
By using Life Floor to intone colors and gradients on the surface, venues can spark imaginations and create a space that reflects a relaxing day at the beach.
To learn how you can elevate the look and feel of your facility’s zero-depth entry amenity, begin a conversation with one of our account executives today. We can help you navigate your state’s code requirements for aquatic surfacing and support you in enhancing the safety, design, and accessibility at your facility.
Introducing Murals: Revolutionizing Iconic Design in Aquatics
Life Floor creates engaging aquatic experiences through imaginative design and standardized safety surfacing. Innovation is core to the company as its tiles shape highly immersive and thematic vacation destinations while pushing the limits of design.
Since Life Floor’s inception in 2011, intentionally designed surfacing has been rapidly adopted a feature in aquatic facilities worldwide. Blank slabs of concrete as well as other traditionally unsafe flooring options are losing favor as safety standards recommend materials with slip-resistance and cushioning for aquatic play.
Life Floor already offers a high degree of design capabilities such as logos, surfacing play features, and unique concepts that engage guests. As a result, innumerable stories demonstrate how beautiful design draws visitors in while safety surfaces lengthen guest stays. Together these benefits create accessible and inclusive spaces, while encouraging repeat visits and popularizing facilities.
Immersive Theming
Integrated Games
Imaginative Inlays
Hopping Activities
Elegant Designs
Guided Pathways
As the aquatic industry continues to shift towards highly thematic surface design, Life Floor is thrilled to announce its newest product release: Murals.
With this new line of tiles, designs and patterns that were once too complex to install as aquatic safety surfacing are now a reality. Murals empower brands that dream of creating iconic, highly immersive, themed aquatic environments from the ground up. This innovative flooring tile product tailors custom design with highly intricate details that delight guests of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. In addition to their limitless design potential, Murals utilize Life Floor’s industry-leading proprietary safety surfacing for positive guest experiences.
CURATING ICONIC DESTINATIONS
Each Mural tile comes custom cut and pre-assembled as a 24”x24” square, maintaining the integrity of the graphics while streamlining installation.
Surfaces cover between 50-90% of any aquatic facility. Reimagining the floor as a detailed design feature transforms that canvas into an engaging, playful, and imaginative space. Mural tiles can be combined with our normal products or can be selected to comprise an entire installation.
MODULAR DESIGN
Just like Life Floor’s standard products, every color seen on a Mural is a different piece of tile. Nothing is ever painted, coated, or applied to create the custom imagery.
Modular tiles facilitate easy installation, eliminating the need to piece together small custom cut shapes on site. They also streamline replacement, if ever needed. Since every tile comes as a 24” square, operators won’t ever need to deal with tiny custom parts and pieces. Attic stock Murals can be pre-ordered when desired.
HAND-CRAFTED QUALITY
All Murals have precision cut pieces that are then assembled and quality checked by human hands. Each tile receives intensive care to ensure exact design replication that meets each customer’s unique brand standards.
Once assembled, tiles are shipped to the project site and Certified Installers meticulously install the project according to specification.
The launch of Murals extends Life Floor’s vibrant history by improving aquatic environments for all people. Together with their limitless design potential, the team is excited to witness how this new product transforms facilities worldwide.
Collaborate with the Life Floor Studio to bring your next imaginative project to life.
No other flooring product can accomplish this level of custom design while adhering to the rigorous safety standards that improve guest experience and immersion at aquatic facilities.
In addition to the limitless design potential, Murals utilize Life Floor's industry-leading proprietary safety technology that features slip-resistance, cushioning, and more for positive guest experiences.
Designers, architects, and creatives of all kinds are invited to test the limits of imagination.
Questions? Connect with Life Floor Experts
Gwen
Ruehle
VP, Specification +
Strategic
Partnerships
Holden
Bigler-Johnson
Regional Account Executive, West Coast, AK, and HI
Lindsay
Fetzer
Strategic + Cruise Line Sales, Midwest Account Executive
MaryAnn
Eifert
Regional Account Executive,
East Coast