Who knew walls could be so soothing – for both patients and staff? Opened in May 2010, Nebraska’s Bellevue Medical Center has always been focused on creating a healing, nurturing environment for the community – even from the earliest planning stages of the 96-bed hospital. This vision extended to every element in the design of the facility, including what went on the walls.

Who knew walls could be so soothing – for both patients and staff? Opened in May 2010, Nebraska’s Bellevue Medical Center has always been focused on creating a healing, nurturing environment for the community – even from the earliest planning stages of the 96-bed hospital. This vision extended to every element in the design of the facility, including what went on the walls. At first glance, it would seem the Vitrulan Reinforced Polyurethane (VRP) Wall System installed at Bellevue Medical Center was chosen purely for its textural beauty. But it’s the product’s extreme durability, good hygiene and easy maintenance that make it perfect for healthcare settings like Bellevue.

At first glance, it would seem the Vitrulan Reinforced Polyurethane (VRP) Wall System installed at Bellevue Medical Center was chosen purely for its textural beauty. But it’s the product’s extreme durability, good hygiene and easy maintenance that make it perfect for healthcare settings like Bellevue.

“In the design of this space, we were looking for an affordable and attractive alternative to Acrovyn®,” explains Bob Holm, senior associate with HDR Architects, which designed Bellevue Medical Center. “Besides being aesthetically appealing, one of the key benefits of Vitrulan is that it provides a seamless wallcovering, which helps with infection control in hospitals.” The VRP Wall System creates a smooth, seamless surface, with a high permeability rating, making it the perfect choice for hygienesensitive areas. Made of an inorganic material, Vitrulan wallcovering, combined with latex paint and a water-based polyurethane coating is highly water vapor permeable, which directly addresses any mold and mildew concerns and improves indoor air quality. With this wall system, there are no pores and pockets in which micro-organisms could accumulate. Plus it can be easily cleaned and even scrubbed or powerwashed, without causing any surface damage. The durability of the wallcovering system was also a major factor for Bellevue Medical Center. “The VRP Wall System is extremely impact resistant, even with beds and carts constantly hitting the walls,” says Holm.

“As a matter of fact, we did some crash tests with this wallcovering,” adds Bellevue Facility Manager Steve Post. “We ran carts into it, punched fists into the walls, and it stood up as well as or better than products we’ve used in the past. Durability is our biggest issue, with beds always moving around and bumping into walls. Of course, the ability to wash and patch the walls is also important.” Made of 100 percent finely spun glass yarn, Vitrulan wallcovering is pound for pound stronger than steel in tensile strength and much thicker than typical fiberglass. The result is a wallcovering that can withstand extensive wear and tear, allowing for reduced life-cycle cost. The product, which is installed similarly to wallpaper, can be painted as often as needed for added customization. And a water-based polyurethane coating can be applied for added reinforcement. The completed wall system can be repainted over and over, while still retaining its three dimensional appearance.

The ability to paint it any color and the textural options of Vitrulan also made it a design-enhancing choice for Bellevue. “The subtle branch pattern in the wallcovering adds another dimension to the design,” explains Holm. “And we liked that we can make it any color. In patient rooms, the walls at the head of the beds were painted a chocolate brown. A soothing blue color was used in surgery rooms.” “As a matter of fact, we did some crash tests with this wallcovering,” adds Bellevue Facility Manager Steve Post. “We ran carts into it, punched fists into the walls, and it stood up as well as or better than products we’ve used in the past. Durability is our biggest issue, with beds always moving around and bumping into walls. Of course, the ability to wash and patch the walls is also important.”

“Made of 100 percent finely spun glass yarn, Vitrulan wallcovering is pound for pound stronger than steel in tensile strength and much thicker than typical fiberglass.”
Vitrulan At Bellevue Medical Center