The 2024 renovation at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, led by WhiteWater, showcases a newly designed splash pad and an updated waterpark area with over 13,000 square feet of Life Floor surfacing. This revitalized water experience, equipped with vibrant Life Floor Inlays, brings a fresh aesthetic and added functionality to the park.
The vibrant splash pad uses the surface as a key thematic feature. A striking blue river courses down the pattern's center, bordered by sandy shores and thriving greenery. Bright pops of color are interspersed via Inlays from our Pond and Outdoor Exploration sets to enhance the attraction's theme and add a fun search-and-find style game. A hopscotch board designed into the Life Floor surface provides more traditional play opportunities and expands the possibilities for different play styles.
At Marah Fortress, WhiteWater's RainFortress structure offers guests an immersive experience with desert palace-inspired theming that aligns beautifully with the local landscape. The design features geometric paneling on the platforms that resemble stained glass and strategically placed boulders to add elevated natural elements. Beneath the RainFortress, a Life Floor pattern starts at the center with a sand-colored island motif and radiates outward with teal tones rippling like waves.
A larger-than-life turtle graphic was designed into the Life Floor surface as a navigational tool, guiding guests on where to stand when the thrilling dump bucket is about to be released.
Nearby, a prominent 7-meter dolphin reflects a similar visual signal as an area where families with children can relax and engage with quieter ground sprays. Smaller standard Inlays encourage movement, such as the brightly colored fish leading away from slide exits and back to the entry point to keep the fun going all day.
Imagine the hottest conditions on earth. Standing on the equator in peak summer UV, during a solstice, in full sunlight. Then, stay there for 750 hours straight. That’s the rigorous testing our tiles withstand as they’re certified for UV Resistance in accordance with NSF/ANSI/CAN 50. And that’s not all - they also have to pass slip-resistance and impact absorption testing after UV tests are complete.
“Life Floor brings a wow factor to the area, which helps better area utilization even in those corners where there are less features on the structure as the guests would relax on the floor and probably not even need sunbeds.”
According to Lijo Jose of WhiteWater, Life Floor has transformed the space by maximizing guest interaction and comfort, even in quieter corners of the waterpark where features may be fewer. The soft, inviting Life Floor surface encourages guests to relax directly on the flooring, making it an integral part of the waterpark experience.
Aquatics is for everyone regardless of age, ability, or play style. We hear from venues all the time that guests stay longer and rave about the amenities where Life Floor is installed. Caretakers feel invited to get on their kids’ level with our cushioned tiles and truly feel like they can play too.
Whether its sitting and relaxing while surrounded by small floor jets or frolicking through dueling water cannons - our surfaces promote positive experiences and people can play boundlessly as they were meant to do.
The 2024 renovation at Yas Waterworld, with Marah Fortress and the revitalized Splash Pad, celebrates the regional culture and innovative play, making it a must-visit attraction in Abu Dhabi.
To discover how Life Floor can refresh your venue and skyrocket guest experience, ask us for a complementary design rendering and get started on your project!
We’re honored to win three Leading Edge Awards from the World Waterpark Association for our work on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Meryal Waterpark, and Blue Surf Bay Waterpark! These projects show the elevated design aesthetic that can be achieved with our triangle gradients.
Keep reading to learn more about each of these award-winning destinations.
Photo provided courtesy of Royal Caribbean.
Our surfaces enhance 7,961 sq ft (740 sq m) of space across four amenities onboard Icon of the Seas. Vibrant triangle gradients complement the colors on play structures and contribute to elevated theming across the vessel. This project marks the 14th Royal Caribbean destination Life Floor surfaces.
This iconic vessel features our key partners Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering and FlowRider.
This record-breaking waterpark created by WhiteWater, in collaboration with Qetaifan Projects and Water Technology, Inc., boasts many firsts. A blue toned triangle gradient creates an oasis motif complementing the surrounding arid landscape. This thematic amenity provides a pleasant space for families to cool off in the hot Qatar sun.
Blue Surf Bay Waterpark is a stunning indoor and outdoor facility constructed as an expansion to the Blue Springs, Missouri Fieldhouse in 2024. From a year-round indoor space to seasonal outdoor offerings, this comprehensive aquatic center has something for everyone to enjoy!
This meaningful project highlights many of our partners and industry friends including Water Technology, Inc., SFS Architecture, Landmark Aquatic, LLC., McCownGordon Construction, Waterplay, NinjaCross, and Splashtacular, LLC.
Plus, congrats to our partner, WhiteWater, for their award for The Rise of Icarus at Mt. Olympus Waterpark!
Mt. Olympus Waterpark immerses guests with a Greek mythology theme complete with elements like colonnades, Greek iconography, and tailored attraction names. June 2024 marked the completion of the outdoor kids’ area which boasts America’s tallest waterslide, The Rise of Icarus, designed and built by WhiteWater.
To learn how to get Life Floor’s award-winning surfaces specified and installed at your project, start a conversation with our team. We would love to collaborate with you to make your dream into a reality.
V3 Sports Center serves North Minneapolis, MN and has a mission to “elevate our community through wellness, fitness, and education.” North Minneapolis is a historically underinvested community. According to V3’s research, “In 2019, 54% of the population was Non-White and 20% of the population under the age of 18. In the immediate area of The V3 Center, young adults under 18 make up roughly 40% of the population.” The V3 Sports Center was built in a prominent location and can be seen from downtown Minneapolis and Interstate 94. It has bus line service to further increase accessibility of the facility for the neighborhood.
A generational lack of swimming skills can become a cyclical problem and the first step towards ending those cycles is to provide access. This facility chose to go beyond a simple space by creating a true community hub. With nearly 12,000 kids within walking distance, they implemented thoughtful resources and spaces to engage, transform, and elevate the lives of kids in North Minneapolis. Programs include the John W Hardeman III Boys and Girls Club, summer camps, swimming lessons, childcare, and more. Their aquatics department offers several programs: Swim 2 Learn, Swim 2 Earn, Pool Play, and Open Pool.
All windows looking into the pool area can be fully closed with blinds to allow for greater privacy. This serves populations such as Muslim women who need modesty accommodations to swim. V3 Sports Center provides specific times for Muslim women and others who need privacy to freely enjoy the pool amenities.
“I will say my favorite story is, since we opened June 22, when I was driving down Plymouth Avenue, and I saw the kids from the Northside Development Center, which is two blocks away from here during their summer camp, walking down to the V3 Center to do lessons. And this particular day, it was their celebration of finishing their six weeks of lessons. We celebrate them at the end of the six weeks. And with that being said, it was just such a good example of why we’re here. Being able to have a space and place in the community where the kids of Northside Development Center can walk here, get quality lessons in a world-class facility, celebrate, and be excited about what they’ve accomplished, all within their neighborhood. I think that was just a beautiful collaboration between our two organizations, which Northside Development Center is a part of Catholic Charities. Early on around aquatics, it’s all about the accessibility, the proximity, and the community collaborations that are happening to benefit people like Northside families.
”
Beyond the incredible activity programming, V3 Sports creates meaningful employment opportunities for residents. “While there are countless non-profit organizations working to create economic stability, job opportunities, education equality and neighborhood revitalization, the unemployment rate in North Minneapolis is twice the rate of the rest of the city, and even worse for Black men. While the poverty rate is 15% for the White community in North Minneapolis, it is 42% for the Black community.”
In an interview with us in August 2024, Malik Rucker, Executive Director, commented, “We're up to about 70 jobs. Just last year, we only had about 8. So, we went from 8 to 70 in a year, which is affecting families. It's providing careers right here in the neighborhood, and those are some of the things that I'm super excited about, and we're only in the first few months.”
“The Life Floor gives life to the pool and to the space. A lot of times when you see tile, it’s not as exciting, but having this with the pops of color has allowed us to not have to do as much on the walls. We let the floor lead the way and it’s a beautiful space. I haven’t seen anybody fall or slip, and we know people are going to run. The investment is worth it just by reducing the slips and when people do slip, they’re not hitting the ground as hard. It’s aesthetically pleasing, it definitely lightens up the space, and it works well with the natural light that’s coming in at the corner of Plymouth and Lyndale. The most input I get is just how beautiful it is. People notice it. They touch the ground and try to see how soft it is and if they’re gonna slip. It’s a beautiful addition. ”
“I’m just excited to continue to see families come together. It’s a family space. It’s a destination. There aren’t many spaces in North Minneapolis that the entire family can go to.”
The facility’s architect is LSE Architecture, a Black-owned architecture firm. For their work on this project, they were awarded alongside V3 Sports Center with the AIA Minnesota Merit Award and the Michael L. Schrock Award. Building was completed by RJM Construction.
On a granular level, this fitness center is a great example of a phased project approach. V3 Sports Center completed $26M phase 1 in 2024, prioritizing amenities that would best serve the community. Two selections included a 6 lane 25-meter pool and hydrotherapy pool with Life Floor surfaces. This center now has the first indoor lap pool serving North Minneapolis with multifunctional use for swimming lessons, exercise, and summer camps. Phase 2 will cost approximately $100M and will include an Olympic size 50-meter pool, STEAM programming, and a technology center.
We’re proud to be part of this incredible fitness center located just 4 miles from our U.S. Headquarters. A sincere thank you to the team at V3 Sports for bringing the V3 Sports Center to life and investing in our community. We look forward to your continued success elevating and transforming the lives of thousands.
John Anderson Park in Grandview, Missouri received Life Floor’s 2023 Need-Based Make a SPLASH! Grant. Its surfacing, covering 1,287 sq ft in a vibrant Treasure Hunt design, includes custom triangle gradients and playful inlays like marine motifs. Ground sprays and interactive sound elements encourage imaginative, inclusive play for the whole community.
We’re thrilled to announce that Life Floor products are now accredited by IBCCES as a Certified Autism Resource! Our products meet one or more Areas of Autism Competency and can be used at Certified Autism Centers worldwide.
In alignment with our company’s core values, this significant step furthers our mission to make all aquatic spaces safe and beautiful for all ages and abilities.
IBCCES is the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
“For more than 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for education, healthcare, corporate and travel & entertainment professionals around the globe. IBCCES provides evidence-based training and certification programs created in conjunction with its board of clinical and subject matter experts and autistic individuals to provide professionals with a better understanding of autism and other neurodivergencies.”
We believe that aquatic play is for everyone, and water play provides incredible health and wellness benefits. According to IBCCES, “1 out of 36 children are diagnosed with autism in the U.S.” which presents a significant need for autism-friendly venues. Utilizing certified resources and products creates inviting spaces for both staff and guests. Visitors can play freely and engage fully while facility owners and operators can trust that these products are third-party vetted and accredited.
Our team at Life Floor values the spirit of continuous innovation and improvement. We’ve designed our products to go beyond simple flooring tiles. Our surfaces are features that everyone can engage with. Venues can implement our products in ways that adapt to the unique needs of their facilities and our in-house Studio is equipped to support projects from concept to reality.
Here are some key product features that contribute to Life Floor’s designation as a Certified Autism Resource:
Varied textures around pool decks or prominent features improve accessibility by tactilely signaling that a depth of water or change in environment is present. These cues invite guests to use caution similar to how truncated domes function at the crosswalks of streets.
Life Floor offers different textures that can be paired to achieve non-visual signaling.
Visual signals are an important safety feature to show depth changes, the presence of features, and represent a changing landscape.
These types of signals are often shown as banded colors or safety messaging such as depth markers, no-diving symbols, “please walk” signs, and others.
Colors can be used in design to indicate different areas tailored to different play styles. From gentle spray zones to fast-paced dueling jets, there’s something for everyone in aquatic play.
Proper zoning enables people of all abilities to play freely without experiencing unanticipated environments.
Life Floor’s Ripple Texture is additionally certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 for slip-resistance and impact cushioning. This helps to prevent slips and protect inevitable falls.
Our surfaces invite play and foster positive experiences with water play at aquatic centers at over 3,000 aquatic centers worldwide.
To have Life Floor’s certified surfaces specified for your project, connect with us today! We’d love to work with you to make your dream become a reality.
We're honored to be named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for four Dream Design Award-winning waterparks in 2024. These four facilities use our surfacing in distinctly thematic ways to engage their guests.
Congratulations to these aquatic centers and to all of our partners who collaborated to bring them to life!
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
Life Floor surfaces nearly 18,000 sq ft (1,672 m²) beneath WhiteWater’s incredible Fusion Fortress that was designed and engineered by Martin Aquatic who acted as the consultant for this unique project. As Authorized Life Floor Designers, Martin Aquatic and WhiteWater collaborated to create visual zones throughout the space with our surfaces to complete the playful safari theming.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Designed by WhiteWater + WTI, Life Floor surfaces several activity zones at the resort including Bikini Bottom Beach and Paw Patrol Adventure Bay. Vibrant Bluebird, Aviator, and Iceberg colors are designed in a wave pattern throughout the park, which helps to create a consistent theme that compliments the features, while also providing added safety and comfort for guests of all ages.
Purdy, Missouri, USA
Creating accessible spaces for all people is one of our passions and Life Floor is proud to surface three areas of the pool amenity including two splash pads and the transition for the zero-depth entry. These inclusive amenities provide more play value for campers with traction to prevent slips and cushioning to protect falls that keeps the fun going all day long.
A sincere thank you to Sunbelt Pools and Splashtacular for leading this project and coordinating with multiple industry partners with the goal to give Camp Barnabas's pool new life.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
A Life Floor Landing Pad is featured under the diving board at Echo Hollow Pool, designed by Aquatic Design Group. Our Landing Pads provide increased cushioning for greater fall height protection with slip-resistance that is non-abrasive.
We celebrate these awards with all of the fellow teams who worked diligently to create these iconic facilities and elevate guest experiences worldwide.
In addition to the winners above, Life Floor contributed to the following projects and was awarded Dream Design Supplier designations by Aquatics International in previous years:
Macau, China
Life Floor is featured throughout the 5,000 sq ft indoor expansion of the waterpark.
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Life Floor is featured throughout the indoor pool and splash pad.
Nassau, The Bahamas
Life Floor is featured under WhiteWater’s outdoor themed play structure.
Nassau, Bahamas
Life Floor is featured on Kid’s Island at Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove.
Dubai, UAE
Life Floor surfaces multiple areas of Splasher’s Island including the newest Splasher’s Cove.
Springfield, Virginia, USA
Life Floor’s blue surfacing creates a colorful backdrop in the play structure area of the facility.
Little Stirrup, Bahamas
Bold, custom graphics energize Splashaway Bay while a beach design completes the theming at Captain Jill’s Galleon.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Cushioned and slip-resistant tiles brighten up the splash pad at Splash Island Waterpark.
We love collaborating to create iconic aquatic facility designs. For more information about these projects or to learn how you can purchase our award-winning surfacing for your facility, contact us.
Life Floor Australia + New Zealand Managing Director, Grant Burgess, has today announced the appointment of Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces, Australia as a Life Floor dealer representative and installer for New South Wales (NSW).
Reference project installed by Grassports Australia (QLD).
Burgess explained, “With the ever-increasing awareness and acceptance of Life Floor we are needing more local representation and technicians to swiftly attend to the volume of enquiries we are receiving. Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces, Australia has forged a very solid reputation and align perfectly with our target market. We feel their depth of experience and broad customer base will further drive the Life Floor brand throughout NSW.”
Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces Australia Managing Director Mark Cunningham said, “Finally, there is a product in the Aquatic Industry that works and is fit for purpose. I believe this is really the only product that should be used in aquatic flooring. With a vast number of colours and designs you can let your mind run wild with designs. Our team is looking forward to showcasing this amazing product”.
Jonathan Keller, Co-Founder and Global CEO of Life Floor, said, “We believe all aquatic spaces should be safe and beautiful. As an international brand, we rely on trusted, local partners to help deliver on our mission and uphold our values. We are excited about our new partnership with Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces Australia to further leverage the success we’ve witnessed in Australia.”
Synthetic Grass & Rubber Surfaces Australia Pty Ltd has earned a reputation as one of the leading artificial grass and rubber wetpour suppliers in Sydney, Australia. This reputation is based on high-quality products, professionalism, on-time installation, and care throughout and after the project’s completion.
For more than 30 years Managing Director, Mark Cunningham, and his team located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches have been working to bring the best synthetic grass and rubber flooring solutions for safety, sporting, and leisure requirements.
sales@syntheticgrass.com.au | +61 02 9986 1133
Life Floor is transforming the aquatics industry by improving the safety, design, accessibility, and fun at facilities for all people. Life Floor is the first product certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 and is leading the revolutionary change to the industry in a call for safety servicing at aquatic facilities across the world. With virtually limitless design possibilities, Life Floor creates a uniquely beautiful experience for people of all ages and abilities.
solutions@lifefloor.com | 612.567.2813
Life Floor (ANZ) was appointed in 2016 as Life Floor’s principal dealer for Australia and New Zealand; and now has more than 90 installations throughout Australia and New Zealand. Life Floor is becoming the go-to surface when safety, design, functionality and value are seen as the key priorities.
grant.burgess@lifefloor.com.au | +61 (0) 459 169 769
In 2024, NSF International published a new section within NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50 for surfaces around pool deck perimeters. This section details the criteria that surfacing products meet in order to become certified. Most notably, the standard recommends that pool perimeters should be slip-resistant to increase safety at aquatic facilities.
At Life Floor, we’re enthusiastically embracing this addition to NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50 and we’re proud to share that our Ripple texture is certified to this set of criteria for pool perimeter surfaces. From competitive swim schools to therapy pools, this standard brings positive change to our industry and we’re excited to further our mission of making all aquatic spaces safe and beautiful for all people through this opportunity.
The pool perimeter standard is similar to the version in NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 for splash pads, but the primary differences are that this variation does not require surfaces to be cushioned and the testing criteria only applies to non-concrete surfacing materials.
As part of the certification process for pool perimeter surfaces, our tiles are third-party tested to demonstrate high quality safety in real-world applications. They also show aquatic durability necessary for pool amenities. The 5 criteria include:
Slip-Resistance
Impermeability
Cleanability
UV Resistance
Chemical Resistance
Life Floor is certified to the standard and meets or exceeds all 5 requirements.
If you would like to learn more about Life Floor’s products, please contact us to see if Life Floor would be a good fit for your venue.
Life Floor is thrilled to welcome seven new partners to our Registered Aquatic Partner program and Installer Network. This significant expansion enables us to better serve our customers through improved mobilization, tailored customer support, and reduced overall installation costs for our products.
In addition to our already established partnerships with Baynum Amusement Solutions and Fischer Brothers, LLC., we’d like to extend a warm welcome to Concrete Science, Full Sail Marine, Headwater Construction Group, Horizon Commercial Pools, Landmark Aquatic, Norberto Construction, and Safe Slide Restoration. Continue reading to learn more about each of our new partners.
Concrete Science is a 120 person Concrete and Coatings Construction company based out of Minneapolis MN. They were started in 1973 and are a family owned start up, formerly Hicks Concrete. They have 4 Divisions: Commercial Concrete, Decorative Concrete, Industrial/ Residential Coatings, and Aquatics. They are highly diverse, but also highly specialized. They have crews that travel year-round as well specializing in waterpark flooring. Their second office is in Fort Myers, Florida.
Founded in 2017, Full Sail Marine, LLC is a leading maritime maintenance service provider of specialized services to the marine industry. Their comprehensive offerings include turnkey solutions for waterpark structure & finish repair and refurbishment and repair, whirlpool supply & repair, and ADA access equipment supply, installation, and maintenance. Catering primarily to major cruise lines, they specialize in the supply of repelling teams for high-risk access work areas. With an overriding commitment to excellence, innovation and safety, Full Sail Marine, LLC continues to be a trusted partner in enhancing onboard maintenance standards.
Founded in 1993 as Air-Tech Systems, Inc., Headwater Construction Group began its journey as a specialized gunite and pool construction company under the leadership of Steven Jones. Originating with residential projects in New Jersey, the company steadily expanded its expertise and geographical reach, evolving into a nationwide commercial builder with services including commercial construction, renovation, service, design, consultation, and equipment sales. Over the years, Headwater Construction Group has become renowned for its excellence in the aquatic recreation industry, undertaking diverse projects ranging from small-scale municipal splash pads to design-build of multi-million-dollar waterparks across the United States.
Horizon Commercial Pools is a leading provider of commercial swimming pool service, equipment, chemicals, and renovations. Founded in 1991, Horizon maintains local operations across Minnesota and Wisconsin while serving the broader Midwest market. The company prides itself on delivering aquatic joy and education to customers by supplying the industry’s highest-quality products and solutions.
By leveraging the experience and history of three commercial aquatics industry leaders – Progressive Commercial Aquatics, Westport Pools, and Spear Corporation – Landmark Aquatic offers a comprehensive range of aquatic facility services, including design and engineering, construction, maintenance, renovation, and chemical supply to customers across the country. The combination has created a full-service aquatic services provider with the unique ability to work with engineers, architects, general contractors, and owners to provide the “wow factor” that guests expect while balancing cost, function, form, efficiency, and ease of operations. Going forward, Landmark Aquatic will continue to serve municipal, education, and private club clients, and the consolidated enterprise is supported by a workforce of highly skilled, well-trained professionals committed to safety and best-in-class service.
The Norberto Family is a leader in the commercial and residential pool building industry, working with the owners, engineers, architects, general contractors and sub-contractors in all aspects of swimming pool design, construction and services. They cater to all aquatic needs, large or small. Norberto Construction is based out of New York and is fully licensed and bonded in Nassau and Suffolk counties and New York City.
With over 30 years in fiberglass repair, and 15 years of expertise in the aquatics industry, Safe Slide Restoration is a trusted partner for comprehensive aquatic solutions. Their goal is to protect their partners' guests and investments, and they are now excited to offer Life Floor surfacing solutions for increased safety in every park. From waterslide installation to specialty coatings, they’ve been trusted to deliver consistent restoration and protected partnerships, making aquatic adventures worry-free for all.
Thank you to each of our new partners for believing in our mission and joining us to make all aquatic spaces safe, beautiful, and accessible. We’ll be sharing more as each of these partners complete training and become Certified Life Floor Installers.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our team.
Life Floor (Australia and New Zealand) Managing Director, Grant Burgess, has announced the appointment of Grassports Australia as Life Floor dealer representative and installer for Victoria and Queensland.
Announcing the partnership, Burgess stated, “five years ago Grassports in Queensland partnered with Life Floor (ANZ) as they saw it as an exciting new product to present to their customers in local government, education, theme parks and hotels.
That decision has proved to be a success with Grassports Queensland accomplishing over 20 Life Floor installations. Some of those installations included Wet’n’Wild, Dreamworld, Sugarworld Adventure Park, ULTIQA Beach Haven Resort, and Emmanuel College, Carrara.”
Burgess noted that now, “I am very confident Grassports in Victoria will emulate their Queensland team’s outstanding success. The unique properties of Life Floor foam-rubber surfacing system keep people safer when barefoot in an aquatic environment and that’s being recognised more now with Life Floor becoming the go-to surface when safety, design, functionality, and value are seen as the key priorities.”
Grassports Managing Director, Bernard Evans commented, “we have watched our Queensland team rollout Life Floor during the last few years and the improvement Life Floor has made to not only refurbished aquatic facilities, but also new facilities like community pools and splash parks. It’s now time the Victorian operation follows, so we will now be adding Life Floor to our product portfolio.
We are very well known in the education market and feel Life Floor will resonate with those customers who are seeking to refurbish their aquatic facilities and changerooms as it offers significant safety and hygiene benefits with its slip-resistance, cushioning, impermeability, and assortment of inspiring colours and shapes.”
Jonathan Keller, co-founder and Global Chief Executive Officer of Life Floor, added, “we believe all aquatic spaces should be safe and beautiful. As an international brand, we rely on trusted, local partners to help deliver on our mission and uphold our values.
“We are excited about our partnership with Grassports now expanding into Victoria to further leverage the success we've witnessed in Australia.”
For over 50 years, Grassports Australia have been industry leaders in the creation and delivery of quality artificial sports surfaces. The recreational environments we create connect people through the provision of healthy, safe and colourful spaces, available for the enjoyment of active children, families, sports people and performance athletes alike.
info@grassports.com.au | 03 9792 0622
Life Floor is transforming the aquatics industry by improving the safety, design, accessibility, and fun at facilities for all people. Life Floor is the first product certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 and is leading the revolutionary change to the industry in a call for safety servicing at aquatic facilities across the world. With virtually limitless design possibilities, Life Floor creates a uniquely beautiful experience for people of all ages and abilities.
solutions@lifefloor.com | 612.567.2813
Life Floor (ANZ) was appointed in 2016 as Life Floor’s principal dealer for Australia and New Zealand with more than 80 installations.
grant.burgess@lifefloor.com.au | +61 (0) 459 169 769
When people think of themed entertainment and attractions that tell strong stories, they often picture immersive lands and the iconic dark rides of traditional theme parks. Aquatic attractions are occasionally designed with themed elements in the foreground, but they're usually treated as spaces to gather rather than to explore.
Some of the most successful waterparks function like theme parks with flowing narratives and creative details that spark imagination and bring stories to life.
Photo Credit: Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Take Disney’s Blizzard Beach for example where an unexpected snowstorm landed in central Florida leading to the state’s first ski resort. Or Universal’s Volcano Bay with its backstory rooted in the Waturi discovering a new island to call home. Similar to traditional theme parks, these aquatic spaces benefit greatly from imaginative storytelling and cohesive design elements.
Photo Credit: Universal’s Runamukka Reef
While Life Floor functions primarily as an aquatic surfacing solution, our projects are often featured within a broader context and designed to match specific themes, stories, or aesthetics. These installations are found on cruise ships, within water parks, at resorts, and at municipal facilities worldwide.
As each of these projects come to life, we consider the stories our floors tell. We think about how they contribute to theming, how they can add dimensionality to create a more immersive environment, and how specialty elements add play opportunities for guests. Throughout each of these design exercises, we contemplate the overarching role of storytelling in aquatic environments.
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Adding a story or a theme to a space creates an immersive experience that transports guests to a different world. While the vast majority of aquatic spaces trend toward underwater or beach themes, the diversity of design potential is endless. From forest-themed splash pads to outer space-inspired waterparks, we’ve witnessed spectacular ideas come to life.
Themed elements inspire imaginative play and create engaging experiences for guests. Starting with an overarching narrative, intentional design decisions can be made to truly create an environment that aligns with any vision.
So how exactly do designers of aquatic spaces execute on a story or a theme? Large 3D elements are often the main focal points. Spray features, play structures, slides, and sculptures draw guests’ attention immediately. Curated considerations like furniture, landscaping, and rockwork tie into these elements as well. Surface designers craft the appearance of signage, vertical panels on play structures, themed walls, and artwork around facilities to create enhanced visuals throughout. Sound and lighting bring an environment to life by creating an ambiance keyed into the senses to illuminate storytelling details. Setting the scene with the right tone is critical to completing an atmosphere and achieving the right effect.
From a flooring perspective, stories are told through themed Inlays, life-sized objects, game boards, and even character IP. Sometimes it involves including a certain color palette or geometric element that ties a design together or evokes a certain environment. We always look for ways to create a thematic scene or blend our floor into the rest of the aquatic setting. Together, all of these design considerations have the potential to tell a story at each facility, no matter the scale.
Throughout the coming year, we look forward to exploring these elements in further detail. We’ll feature stories that take a peek behind the curtain to describe the design and engineering processes of iconic projects. We’ll also illuminate the ways that other suppliers and designers consider storytelling when specifying certain components to craft these themed spaces. Exploring this topic within the aquatics industry wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the actual stories of many of the key leaders within this space. Overall, we look forward to engaging with the larger community and sharing more about how our partners continue to innovate as they design these themed aquatic attractions.
We’d love to hear from other creatives within the industry. If you’d like to join in on the conversation, please email our VP of Design, Kelsi Goss, to get involved!
2023 was filled with incredible projects ranging in complexity, size, and theme. Collaboration and excellence from some of our top partners, installers, and customers made all of these facilities possible. To celebrate 2023 as we enter into our 13th year in business, we’ve chosen to highlight these 13 installations that stood out among the hundreds of projects installed across the year.
Location: Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Install Date: August 2023
Area: 3,281 sq ft (355 m²)
Main Colors: Seafoam, Limelight, Lilypad, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Architect: Warren and Mahoney Architects
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Mauer Construction Tiling
With a unique palette and layout of colored bands, the creative approach for the flooring design of this project was a highlight for our team.
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 13,308 sq ft (1,236 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Aviator, Bluebird, Sunshine
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designers: WhiteWater + Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was the host facility for WhiteWater’s new AquaForms12 structure which won the 2023 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Product under $2 Million.
Location: Purdy, Missouri, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 2,983 sq ft (277 m²) across 3 areas
Main Colors: Ocean, Kingfisher (discontinued), Iceberg, Turquoise, Aqua, Ivory, Heron, Evergreen, Olive, and Limelight
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Specifier: Sunbelt Pools
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Baynum Solutions
Photo Credit: Splashtacular, LLC.
Given the facility’s mission, Camp Barnabas stands out as a project designed to create even more accessible aquatics for all guests. This facility received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA.
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Bluebird, Aviator, Aqua, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
With islands, LEGO features, and themed structures on site, this splash pad really stood out for its pirate theming.
Location: Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, China
Install Date: April 2023
Area: 5,479 sq ft (509 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Mojave, Sandbar, Tiki
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater and WTI
This flowing curve design is custom cut from Life Floor tiles and provides subtle visual paths leading from one attraction to the next. These custom elements perfectly tailor to Studio City’s space travel theme. The combination of WTI's design and engineering, WhiteWater’s industry-leading features, and the comfort, safety, and durability of Life Floor’s surfacing creates a world-class indoor facility at the Studio City Water Park.
Studio City Water Park received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was named a 2023 Dream Design by Aquatics International.
Location: Forest Park, Illinois, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 3,268 sq ft (304 m²)
Main Colors: Aviator, Pomegranate, Goldfish, Sunshine, Limelight, Ocean, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Hitchcock Design Group (Naperville)
Drains: Daldorado
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Photography Credit: The Park District of Forest Park and Bridget Deatrick with Hitchcock Design Group
Designed as a giant game board, Forest Park Aquatic Center brought play value to a large scale at their splash pad.
Location: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Turquoise, Seafoam, Aqua, Sandstone, Gobi
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Partner: Daldorado Drains
Fixture Manufacturer and Photo Credit: InterActive Play
With a beach-themed triangle gradient and integrated Daldorado DALlux drains, Camp Margaritaville brought the tropics to this zero-depth entry pool.
Location: Rovinj, Croatia
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 1,034 sq ft (96 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aqua
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Amica
Bright diagonals of blue really make this splash pad pop at our first installation in Croatia.
Location: Carnival Cruise Ship
Install Date: December 2023
Area: 5,324 ft² (495 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Aviator, Iceberg
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater + Carnival Cruise Line
Installer: FMC Design
Life Floor surfaces every ship in the Carnival Fleet so the installation on Jubilee in several areas, including Waterworks shown above, is exciting to see.
Location: Danielsville, Georgia, USA
Install Date: March 2023
Area: 2,055 sq ft (191 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator, Turquoise, Seafoam
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
In 2022, we co-hosted our third annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent with this contest is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Our 2022 winner, Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park, was installed in March 2023.
Location: Baxter, Minnesota, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 9,408 sq ft (874 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Sandbar, Iceberg, Pomegranate, Lilypad, Iris, Sepia
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Waterplay
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Fischer Brothers, LLC
With Life Floor surfacing the pool deck, stairs, zero-depth entry, and pool coping, almost all of Rapid River Lodge is covered with our tiles! We always love to see such a comprehensive safety surface approach.
Location: El Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 6,426 sq ft (597 m²)
Main Colors: Lilypad, Limelight, Sandbar, Porcelain, Iceberg, Aviator, and Bluebird
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater
Installer: Raymond Sport, LLC
Island and beach theming designed by WhiteWater added an immersive backdrop to their interactive AquaPlay structure on this expansive splash pad.
Location: Coalhurst, Alberta, Canada
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 3,367 sq ft (313 m²)
Main Colors: Evergreen, Lilypad, Ocean, Turquoise, Iceberg, Bluebird, Iris, Platypus, Goldfish, Ivory, Sunshine Transition Strips
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Prairie Surfaces
A vibrant color palette of square tiles brought a bright design to this splash pad in Canada.
Thank you to all of our partners and customers for making these projects possible. We look forward to all of the unique installations to come in 2024!