Aquatic surface

Surfacing: The Most Untapped Design Feature in Aquatics

While soaring slide towers, giant play structures, and fun spray features definitely add appeal to waterparks and splash pads, surfacing is often overlooked. When the default is concrete, a massive canvas of design potential goes untapped. In fact, aquatic safety surfacing has the potential to become a play feature of its own in any aquatic space. 

Beyond the safety and inclusivity benefits that come with cushioned, slip-resistant, and non-abrasive flooring options, they provide the opportunity to increase overall play value with theming and activities designed into the surface. While these options are limitless, the following are some of our favorite examples where Life Floor transforms the nature of aquatic play.

HOPPING ACTIVITIES 

Clusters or pathways of shapes create hopping activities for guests as they explore fun aquatic spaces. 

SEARCH + FIND 

Our Inlays add theming to all facilities while also creating the potential for guests to search for certain shapes or count how many of each can be found within the floor. 

IMMERSIVE THEMING 

Giant design elements like paw prints, islands, waterways, or lily pads add to theming while creating imaginative, immersive play experiences.

GUIDED PATHS

Wavy curves, paths, or even treasure hunts can lead guests around splash pads as they explore new ways to engage with features. Our expanded Inlay library provides limitless potential to create meandering trails of lily pads, tree stumps, rocks, or sea shells as standard add-on packages to any surfacing design. 

GAMES 

Designing games into the surface has become a popular choice for aquatic facilities. Guests can  explore these features on their own and activity directors can also utilize them as part of a property’s recreational offerings. 

THE FLOOR IS LAVA 

Geometric designs create the potential for guests to invent their own games or activities such as “The Floor is Lava” where they choose to hop across tiles of specific colors while avoiding others. 

IMAGINATIVE PLAY 

When life-sized objects or environments are designed into a space, guests are able to engage in imaginative activities, using the surface as a play feature. 

As we continue to creatively collaborate with our customers and designers, these examples only keep expanding. Exploring surfacing design options has consistently proven to unlock new areas of theming and play potential. These elements can be designed into new facilities but are often a popular choice for retrofits, adding bright color and exciting new elements to refresh existing play areas. 

Interested in exploring these play features as part of an aquatic project? We’re excited to hear your ideas and to start creating some complimentary design options that illustrate the potential of your surfacing.

TOP 10 Life Floor Installations from 2022

2022 was filled with a variety of design projects ranging in complexity, size, and theming. As we look back at the year in review, there are certainly some installations that stand out. The following highlight our top 10 unique Life Floor projects that were installed in 2022.


most TROPICAL FACILITY THEME

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa

Location: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Install Date: April 2022
Area: 4,500 ft² (418 m²)
Main Colors: Sandstone, Sandbar, Gobi, and Porcelain
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater
Engineering Consultant: Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering
Installer: Elegance Interior Solutions
Photography Credit: Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa


FIRST PROJECT TO FEATURE AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND INLAYS

Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre

Location: 90 Taylors Rd, Keilor Downs, Victoria, Australia
Install Date:
July 2022
Area:
4,630 ft² (430 m²)
Colors:
Terra Cotta, Pomegranate, Goldfish, Sunshine, Sandbar, Sandstone, Ivory, Seafoam, Turquoise, Iceberg, Aviator, and Ocean
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8” (7/8” at slide runout)
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Architect: Williams Ross Architects
Installer: Mauer Construction Tiling


OUR SECOND ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST WINNER

Wells Park Splash Pad

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Install Date: July 2022
Area: 1,360 ft² (126 m²)
Colors: Turquoise, Seafoam, Goldfish, and Sunshine
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces


MOST REMOTELY LOCATED PROJECT

Dimond Park Aquatic Center

Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA
Install Date: May 2022
Area: 6,000 ft² (557 m²)
Colors: Bluebird, Iceberg, Boulevard, River Rock, and Foghorn
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces


BEST ATHLETIC THEMING

Manor Park

Location: Huntington, New York, USA
Install Date:
June 2022
Area:
2,520 ft² (234 m²)
Colors:
Evergreen, Limelight, and Ivory
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces


MOST CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT

Kununurra Splash Park

Location: Kununurra, Australia
Install Date: May 2022
Area: 5,380 ft² (500 m²)
Colors: Olive, Sunshine, Kestrel, Ivory, Terra Cotta, Sepia
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Installer: Grassports Australia (QLD)


MOST UNIQUE APPLICATION OF LIFE FLOOR

Ka'ana Pop-Up Surf Park

Location: British Columbia, Canada
Install Date: Summer 2022
Area: 350 ft² (33 m²)
Colors: Porcelain, Tiki, Evergreen, Olive, and Goldfish
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Partner: Daldorado


FIRST INSTALLATION IN SWITZERLAND

Red Whale Swim School

Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Install Date: September 2022
Area: 1,600 ft² (150 m²)
Colors: Ocean and Aviator
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: CreateScape Ltd.


MOST COLOR VARIETY

Madison Community Center

Location: Madison, South Dakota, USA
Install Date: January 2022
Area: 6,624 ft² (615 m²)
Colors: Limelight, Seafoam, Turquoise, Aviator, Bluebird, Ocean, Kestrel, Heron, Foghorn, River Rock, and Boulevard
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces


BEST OVERLOOK

Hervey Bay Waterpark

Location: 267 Esplanade Pialba, Queensland, 4655, Australia
Install Date: August 2022
Area: 11,000 ft² (1,022 m²)
Colors: Ocean, Aviator, Bluebird, Boulevard, Sandbar, and Porcelain
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: WhiteWater


Thank you to all of our partners and customers who trusted us to make aquatic facilities safer, more beautiful, and more accessible in 2022.