By Chris Hurdleston, Marbleon, Inc.

Marbleon, Inc. is fortunate to have worked on several great commercial projects over the years, in part due to a great working relationship with several key architect firms in Central Pennsylvania. We have become the cast polymer surface of choice for architects and designers of retirement communities because we’ve not been just a manufacturer, but we’ve helped resolve design issues using engineered composite surfaces

Nine months ago we were discussing specific ADA requirements with a key architect firm, Reese, Lower, Patrick and Scott (RLPS) of Lancaster, Pa. The question was asked; “why do cast polymer bowls have to be so deep”?  Our standard bowl, the Laguna recessed oval is nearly 7” deep from the deck to the drain. We were asked if we would be willing to investigate whether a bowl manufactured from engineered composites could be made to exceed all current ADA requirements. The answer was, “Yes.”

We attended Composites & Polycon in January 2009 where we visited the Gruber Systems booth. On display was a new bowl style, the Winston Flat Oval Floating Bowl Mold. I thought this was just what the architect was looking for- perfect for their ADA requirements.  I took the specifications back to RLPS and they liked the concept, but thought the bowl too shallow for an assisted living environment, especially with no overflow.

I asked RLPS to give me specific ideas and dimensions of what they were looking for in a bowl. To my surprise, I received pictures of an ADA accessible counter top fabricated from a solid surface. These tops were fabricated years ago by another firm. They were told you could not fabricate these tops in anything but solid surface material. In fact, we were told the idea was patented. Also, we found out the patent does not cover anything but solid surface.

After a brief education in the design capabilities and the flexibility of engineered composites, we were told if we could come up with a specific bowl style and create a vanity top using engineered composites, RLPS would specify this bowl style in an upcoming residential retirement project with over 300 vanity tops.

We received an initial sketch from RLPS and, after several months of emails and drawings between RLPS, Marbleon and Jim Thiessen at Gruber Systems, we created a bowl style which exceeded all the existing ADA requirements, had a style which didn’t look too commercial and incorporated an overflow as required.

On approval, Gruber manufactured the first prototype and it was delivered in August 2009. We cast our first vanity top sample with the new MasterCast ADA bowl and delivered it to RLPS. Upon initial inspection, several architects believed it to be solid surface. When they were told it was an engineered composite, they were floored. One architect stated “I didn’t know you could do two tone bowls like that”.

For Marbleon, this is an example of vendor partnering and being able to say “yes, we can do that” instead of shying away from a challenge. We were presented with a puzzle; how to assist our client to resolve design requirements for their client, a retirement community. We met and exceeded RLPS’s expectations on this project, and the MasterCast ADA bowl is now being specified into a 300 unit project. The prototype will also be on display in October 2009 at a major architect show when RLPS will debut it as the only viable solution to under bowl spacing requirements for ADA applications. This would not have been possible if we were not ICPA members, if we did not know whom to turn to for help on design solutions, if we didn’t have a dedicated manufacturer like Gruber Systems ready and willing to help us. It was a win for all involved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Marbleon, Inc 121 Ashmore Drive Leola Industrial Center Leola, PA  17540 Phone: (717) 656-9700 Fax: (717) 656-9703 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.marbleon.com	RLPS, LLC. 1910 Harrington Dr. Lancaster, PA 17601 Phone: (717) Fax: (717) 560-2373 Email RLPS, LLC Web: www.rlps.com

The ICPA Marketing Committee, in an effort to increase awareness for the cast polymer industry, developed the concept of MasterCast engineered composites and plans to help publicize specialized products to that end.  The initial product that the group will focus on is the MasterCast ADA Bowl, designed in conjunction with Gruber Systems.

As the baby-boomer segment of our population continues to age,  the demand for products to meet its needs grows exponentially.  The MasterCast ADA Bowl is the perfect product to help our industry capture that market.  Let’s face it, many special-needs products aren’t the most attractive; they have been solely designed to meet a need rather than for aesthetics.  With the MasterCast ADA Bowl, however, they get the best of both worlds: an extremely well-designed product that will meet the needs of the physically-challenged person, but with an attractive, unique, modern design that will make it appreciated in any bathroom setting.

The MasterCast ADA Bowl is a wide, shallow oval bowl.  The bowl’s shallow 4” depth allows space beneath the bowl for wheelchair access.  The generous width of the bowl adds to its user-friendliness.

Because the MasterCast ADA Bowl is a floating bowl, maintenance couldn’t be easier.  Since there is no dirt-attracting caulking line between the bowl and the deck, cleaning is quick  and easy.

The client doesn’t have to settle for a standard white installation either. .. an advantage cast polymer manufacturers always bring to the marketplace.  In addition to having their choice of virtually any solid color, customers can also have their installations created from any of a wide range of granite filler products,  manufactured in cultured marble, cultured onyx, or solid surface.

Gruber Systems will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each MasterCast ADA Bowl mold to fund ICPA Marketing activities, creating a win-win situation for all ICPA manufacturing members who will also benefit from its success in the marketplace.

Learn More

Read the full story on the development of the MasterCast ADA Bowl Mold by Marbleon, the architect (RLPS, LLC) and Gruber Systems

Learn more about other ADA/"Accessibility" Market products from Gruber Systems

View/Download Product Bulletin

Are you interested in picking up a new bowl design so contemporary and distinctive that it is guaranteed to have your customers doing a double-take? If so, you’ll want to check out our new Winston Oval Floating Bowl!