Nicklaus Children’s Fetal Care Center Chooses Bio-Based Flooring
In a setting where the health of newborns is the highest priority, every design decision plays a supporting role. When Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami opened its new Fetal Care Center, the team set out to create a space that could deliver both advanced clinical care and emotional comfort—starting from the floor up.
A Specialized Space for Life’s Most Delicate Moments
The new 10-bed maternity unit was designed to support healthy mothers delivering babies with serious prenatal diagnoses—infants who would need immediate pediatric intervention at birth. To keep families together throughout the care journey, the center integrated labor and delivery rooms, antepartum rooms, and operating rooms into a single, specialized environment within the hospital’s main campus.
Designing for such a critical space meant balancing complex priorities: clinical performance, ease of maintenance, calming aesthetics, and responsible material selection.
Flooring at the Center of It All
Though flooring made up a relatively small portion of the construction budget, it played a central role in shaping the environment. Designers sought a surface that would deliver visual warmth while meeting the hospital’s strict standards for safety and indoor air quality.
They ultimately chose a natural wood-look resilient floor made from bio-based polyurethane—PURLINE—for its compelling combination of aesthetic, health, and performance benefits.
A Real-World Test to Prove Its Value
The hospital’s Environmental Services (EVS) team initially expressed hesitation about using an unfamiliar flooring product. To ensure confidence in the choice, the team conducted a test installation comparing PURLINE to rubber and sheet vinyl in a high-traffic maintenance corridor.
After two months of daily use and standard cleaning protocols, PURLINE clearly outperformed the alternatives. Its cleanability, wear resistance, and lack of odor or chemical emissions made it the preferred solution.
Warmth Meets Wellness
Inspired by the Mediterranean Revival architecture of Coral Gables and the calming atmosphere of spa environments, the design team selected PURLINE in Pacific Oak, accented with white stars, to reflect the surrounding neighborhood’s natural beauty and serenity. The result is a space that feels inviting, restorative, and safe for both patients and staff.
Performance That Supports Healing
Installed across five labor and delivery rooms, five antepartum rooms, and two operating rooms, PURLINE delivers:
- Quiet comfort that softens footsteps and supports staff well-being
- Low-VOC, odorless performance ideal for sensitive healthcare environments
- High durability for rolling loads, frequent cleanings, and long-term use
- Easy maintenance with no coatings, polishes, or harsh chemicals needed
Bio-Based by Design
Made from renewable plant oils and natural minerals, PURLINE is manufactured without PVC, plasticizers, solvents, or chlorine. It supports healthier spaces through both its composition and its lifecycle—and helps create environments where patients, families, and staff can thrive.
Discover how PURLINE supports wellness, performance, and design in demanding environments. View collections or contact us.
