Door Areas

When interior spaces open through a doorway or open onto exterior ones, there may be a desire to keep the floor surfaces level with each other. This could be for general design and appearance reasons or to comply with barrier-free accessibility between the two spaces. Many door manufacturers, particularly for sliding doors or folding operable wall systems, recommend that attention be paid to drainage at the door. That is because, in most cases, the threshold is not guaranteed to handle severe weather or water conditions. This is particularly true with a recessed or flush threshold, which is commonly designed for use only in a protected or covered condition.

A very elegant and appropriate solution in this case is to run a linear architectural drain along the outside of the door. This protects the entrance and replaces the role of the threshold as the source of water protection. More importantly, it also allows for the interior floor, the threshold, the drain, and the exterior surface to all be flush with each other, thus keeping everything consistent and accessible.

Photo courtesy of Infinity Drain

Linear drains used along the exterior edge of sliding or folding door panels protect the threshold and the building from water penetration in an elegant, flush, and accessible manner.

Drainage For Indoor Spaces

Moving from outdoor spaces to the indoors, there are many locations beyond the bathroom that often require attention to drainage. This includes any room that has plumbing in it for washing, cleaning, toileting, or cooking. In some cases, a floor drain is required by code, in others, it is simply a good idea to prevent damage if a plumbing fixture overflows for any reason. The codes don’t dictate the design of the drains, of course, just the performance criteria. Therefore, architects can work with plumbing engineers to incorporate architectural drains that meet the code requirements and work well with the overall design of interior spaces.

Restrooms

As noted previously, linear architectural drains are often used in showers. However, not all restrooms require showers but still do require floor drains. Floor drains near toilets and urinals, for example, usually require depressions in a floor with a central drain. It is often easier to design and install a slightly sloped floor that uses a linear drain located away from the toilets and sinks, but close enough to still be effective. Similarly, linear drains can be placed parallel to a bank of sinks to collect and remove water that may be splashed there. Again, sloping the floor in one or two areas is usually easier to achieve than a central recessed drain. This arrangement makes it easier for cleaning and maintenance of the restrooms, with excess cleaning water easily drained away. In all, restrooms benefit by being more hygienic and more visually appealing by using linear floor drains.

The case can also be made for increased ease of maintenance in restrooms when linear drains are installed. By having a linear drain along one wall, it is easier to hose down the floor and direct the water off the floor surface to one side rather than directing it to multiple center drains.

SCOTT COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER

Architect: Wold Architects & Engineers
Location: Shakopee, Minnesota
Application: Restroom Floor Drain

The Project: Wold Architects and Engineers partnered with Scott County to construct a 145,000-square-foot addition and renovation of the existing Government and Justice Centers. Designs include placing all enclosed spaces at the building’s core to allow for natural light in and views out. A range of floor drains for all public restrooms were provided for safety, accessibility, and cleanability.

Locker Rooms

Similar to restrooms, locker rooms in athletic facilities, schools, clubs, and resorts can all benefit from using linear architectural drains. Locker rooms usually include showers, so the linear drains can be considered and used there. But outside of the shower areas, the same benefits apply to toilet, sink, and changing rooms, where water may be splashed or accumulate and needs to be drained away. It also helps with the floor cleaning to combat athlete’s foot or other ailments related to such facilities.

Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Architect: Rossetti, SHoP Architects, Gensler
Location: Cleveland
Application: Players’ Locker Room Showers and Restroom

The Project: SHoP and Rossetti set the tone of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with sleek, modern upgrades. The restroom area was designated as a complete wet room with a combination of linear and center tile insert drains. In order to meet the specification standards set by the NBA, the manufacturer fabricated custom-length linear drains for the showers to meet the needs of the shower head height and needed water production as well as to avoid flooding.

Fitness Clubs

Health and fitness clubs are popular and prominent throughout the United States, whether private, public, or part of an academic institution. All these facilities have any combination of restrooms, showers, locker rooms, or other spaces that need plumbing and floor drains. In many cases, the appearance of these facilities is a key requirement, either because of an interest to be differentiated from competing facilities, or to remain consistent with the quality of design found in affiliated buildings or institutions. Linear architectural drains work well in these cases, since they can be readily integrated to work with the larger design goals.

Clemson Football Operations Facility

Architect: GoodWyn, Mills and Cawood (GMC) & HOK (Kansas City)
Location: Clemson, South Carolina
Application: Workout Facility

The Project: Clemson’s football operation facility sets a new standard for the student-athlete experience. HOK worked on this project with GMC as architect of record and DPR as contractor. The complex includes 1.5 acres of outdoor leisure space and state-of-the-art training facilities. A total of 65 customized linear drains with tile-in features were provided at different lengths for the locker rooms, spa, and pool areas.

Indoor Pool Areas

Not all swimming and therapy pools are located outdoors. Many are found indoors, particularly in colder climates or facilities that serve older populations. All of the same concerns about containing water are present in indoor pools as are found in outdoor pools. In fact, those concerns are often more critical when the pools are indoors since there may be smaller walking space around the pool and adjacent interior construction may be more vulnerable to displaced water. Linear architectural drains should be considered for all sides of an indoor pool to help alleviate all of these concerns, protect the building, and maintain safety for people using the pool.

Inspir Carnegie Hill by Maplewood Senior Living

Architect: Handel Architects
Location: New York City
Application: Pool, Indoor Garden (Courtyard), Resident Room Showers

The Project: Maplewood takes Senior Living to new heights with their Inspir Carnegie Hill property on New York City’s Upper East Side designed by Handel Architects. Customized linear drains were provided for 215 shower units using a modern, ADA-compliant tile insert style of linear drain. This design provides also allows for advanced cleanability within a wet room concept. Beyond the guest rooms, customized drainage solutions for the indoor pool and outdoor tranquility garden deliver a solution that meets multiple needs. The linear drains here provide safe, slip-resistant accessibility for residents and staff.

Conclusion

Specifying architectural drains in a building project can provide appealing, well-performing solutions for many different project requirements. Successful design begins by understanding the nature and type of architectural drains available including the options for design and performance characteristics. Then, all of the areas that require drainage can be assessed for sizing and type, including outdoor travel paths, outdoor spaces, and indoor spaces. In doing so, it becomes abundantly clear that architectural linear drainage systems provide a design option that improves the overall, integrated appearance of drains while still meeting all of the needed code, performance, safety, and operational needs of many different types of building projects.

Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP is a nationally known architect, consultant, continuing education presenter, and a prolific author advancing building performance through better design.www.pjaarch.com, www.linkedin.com/in/pjaarch