Children’s Museum Flooring Suggestions

Q: I am opening up a children’s museum where I will have an arts and crafts room and party room sized 11.6′ x 24′.
Children will be using paint easels along with tables. This museum is in a gorgeous brick building with 14′ ceilings.
I am looking for something entirely durable, easy to mop and also helps with sound but looks great. I need carpet throughout the remaining areas ( I believe) and flooring around the “fall zones” near the pirate ship and play loft.
What would you suggest? Thank you, sincerely.
Sarah
A: There are a couple routes you could take here. If your worried about spills, tile is a great way to go, but at the mention of “fall zones” I would go for something a bit softer like cork. Cork has been growing in the commercial market as it has many qualities which make it durable and attractive.
One of cork’s features is memory. Cork will naturally return to its initial state, meaning when something drops onto cork and dents it, the cork will naturally remove the dent over time. Cork also has natural sound dampening and insulation qualities. This means cork is comfortable, warm, and quiet.
In your case, I would ensure to get the cork site finished for additional durability and to seal the seams where it was installed. Cork is also fairly inexpensive to install compared to tile, so you can save a bit of money too.