FORMICA Group, a global manufacturer of exterior and interior surfacing solutions and the original inventor of Formica laminate, has recently supplied its ColorCore laminates to the prestigious Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The product in polar white and lime has been used throughout the institute, including the telephone room, male and female prayer halls as well as the student accommodation.

“ColorCore, a versatile material with solid colour throughout, is ever popular with architects and designers,” says a spokesman for Formica. “Ideal for creating inlay effects and sharp edging detail, it can be used for both vertical and horizontal applications. Its hard-wearing characteristics and impact resistance make it suitable for high-traffic environments.”

At the Masdar Institute, the architects used ColorCore to clad the walls, cabinets, kitchen units and doors. Easily maintained, the polar white and lime colours bring a modern feel and at the same time maximise the natural light.

Masterplanned by Foster + Partners, Masdar City is an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies. The MIST campus, the first building of its kind powered entirely by renewable solar energy, is a reflection of these sustainable principles.

The graduate-level university, focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, comprises a main building, a study centre, laboratories and research centre, and student quarters.

ColorCore used to clad the walls, cabinets, kitchen units and doors.

Formica laminate used at the Masdar Institute was installed over a three-year period (from September 2011 to 2013) throughout the Phase One build.

With over 100 years of innovation and manufacturing experience, Formica Group says it has developed an unrivalled expertise, which ensures quality, reliability and products that are fit for purpose. Working closely with architects, designers and specifiers, the company is well-placed to offer innovative products and decors which respond to market needs and complement current design trends.

Formica Group globally leads the industry in the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative surfacing products for commercial and residential applications. “Formica laminate is the ‘original’, with over 100 years of innovation and manufacturing experience,” the spokesman points out.

Apart from ColorCore solid through colour laminate, Formica’s products include Formica high-pressure laminate (HPL) in a wide selection of colours, designs and textures; Formica Compact with its solid laminate core; and a specialist Younique digital and screen print service.

Its other products are AR Plus, a durable high-gloss laminate, highly resistant to scuffs and abrasions; DecoMetal, which combines the colour and character of real metal surfaces with the lightweight, flexible and practical nature of laminate; and Ligna, a range of reconstituted real wood veneer laminates. Formica also offers specialist products which feature advanced performance for particularly demanding environments such as Chemtop 2, with enhanced chemical resistance for laboratories.

Formica Laminate and DecoMetal products are Greenguard indoor air quality certified, the premier mark for low-emitting products. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified laminates are manufactured in its European plants and are available across the majority of its main product portfolio. Formica HPL, Compact Laminate and Bonded Worktops, carry the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label.