Granite Exchange, Newry Case Study

The Project

Granite Exchange is a development in the centre of Newry, Northern Ireland. It opened in 2018, and is conveniently placed midway between Belfast and Dublin.

Granite Exchange offers serviced office space to businesses and individuals. Companies can lease meeting rooms, private offices, or shared desk areas to operate from. The ultra-modern design and high specification facilities in Granite Exchange are ideal for businesses who want to offset high property rates while maintaining a sleek and professional outlook.

As part of its development, Granite Exchange was having oak-stepped staircases fitted in the building. It would need Stair Nosings which could be fitted onto the steps with minimum fuss. The Stair Nosings would have to be durable and slip-resistant, suitable for a building with heavy footfall. They also had to look professional and understated, to fit in with the modern décor of the offices.

The Approach

McKernan Joinery Works was in charge of manufacturing the Granite Exchange staircases. Seamus McKernan contacted Patrick McCabe, the Business Development Manager for Quantum Flooring Solutions in Ireland, to discuss the best course of action for fixing Stair Nosings onto the oak steps.

Seamus and Patrick decided that the best option for the staircases was to use Quantum’s Q-Range Stair Nosings, and integrate them into the oak steps. This involved setting the Stair Nosings into a recess in each step. Q-Range heavy duty profiles were perfect for this job, as they are normally used for thick floorcoverings such as carpet tile. In this case, they would fit into the recesses of the oaken staircases of Granite Exchange.

Q-Range Stair Nosings have a patented all over tread design. This provides a slip resistant surface from the very edge of the step nose to the back of the Stair Nosing, for extra grip and safety. Q-Range profiles also have satin etched aluminium riser surfaces. This makes the risers scratch resistant, while also inhibiting the potential for ‘glare’. Glare can occur with shiny risers and affect peoples’ vision while using the stairs.

The Outcome

Quantum’s Q-Range Stair Nosings look great on the Granite Exchange staircases. They are an ideal fit for the professional design scheme of the offices. The aluminium carriers with black treads complement the stainless steel and glass balustrading on the staircases. The scratch resistant risers add to the clean and modern look of the development.

The profiles fit perfectly into the recessed steps, meaning that there is no trip hazard on the back edges of the Stair Nosings. This, coupled with Quantum’s all over tread design and slip resistant tread material, greatly reduces the chances of slips, trips and falls on the staircases. The satin etched aluminium risers reduce glare, meaning further safety for visitors who may be unfamiliar with the building.

Quantum’s Q-Range Stair Nosings are ideally suited to the contemporary design of Granite Exchange. They will be looking great, and helping to keep the people who use the building safe, for many years to come.