Ocean-Inspired Carpet Installation Anchors Iconic New Convention Center
The Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center celebrated its long-anticipated grand opening as the marquee project of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan–a monumental revitalization joint initiative from the Port of San Diego and City of Chula Vista. This extraordinary $1.3 billion, 2 million sq. ft. development was designed with nature, sustainability and community in mind.
ProSpectra Contract Flooring, a Diverzify company, secured the flooring contract for the 800,000 sq. ft. Convention Center, which offers over 400,000 sq. ft. of meeting/event space. Known for its comprehensive commercial flooring expertise including project management and specialized installation teams, ProSpectra took on the challenge of delivering flawless flooring under tight timelines and complex logistical conditions.
Design Inspiration Meets Installation Precision
Inspired by the Gaylord Pacific Convention Center’s (GPCC) scenic bayfront location, designers specified custom Axminster carpeting with captivating ocean-themed patterns for public-facing areas such as meeting rooms, concourses and corridors. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and commercial glue-down carpet were used for the back-of-the-house areas.
The project’s scale and its delayed construction and carpet production, presented immediate challenges. ProSpectra had to begin installation before the building was fully enclosed and had mechanicals, which complicated environmental control and limited the process for new concrete subfloors to acclimate. Without acclimation, moisture testing would produce inconsistent results, which meant moisture management was at risk and so were the flooring installations.
To address these conditions, TEC® Specialty Products stepped in with expert technical support. Ron Loffredo, TEC OEM Technical Manager, flew to Chula Vista to assess the jobsite alongside ProSpectra Project Manager Tom Wurth, the project’s GC, TEC distributor Desoto Sales' Henry Geier, and TEC Commercial Sales’ Robbie Roberts. After completing moisture testing on-site that confirmed inconsistencies, Loffredo provided a value-engineered solution that ensured the long-term durability of the flooring and qualified the project for a TEC Installation System Warranty.
“TEC’s quick recommendation of the right set of products, despite the building’s conditions, enabled us to get a complete system warranty, and saved us precious time and money,” said Wurth.
Material Logistics, Moisture Control & Surface Prep Solutions
Material delivery to the busy construction site posed another hurdle. Fortunately, TEC Specialty Products’ La Mirada warehouse, located near Chula Vista, played a crucial role in just-in-time product delivery. Additionally, Desoto Sales a long-term TEC partner and distributor, staged truckloads of adhesive products at their San Diego location, to ensure a seamless supply for the GPCC project.
“We were happy to be in a position to facilitate the TEC adhesive deliveries to the Convention Center site—and contribute to the bayfront revitalization initiative,” noted Geier.
To prep the concrete slab, ProSpectra mechanically removed curing compound before applying TEC® LiquiDam EZ™ Moisture Vapor Barrier. This highly-engineered, versatile 1-part moisture mitigation product addresses moisture vapor levels, even for green concrete. Its fast-drying formula allows same-day installation of floor covering. Whether protecting the GPCC carpet or LVP installations, LiquiDam EZ was easy-to-apply, easy-to-see with its blue color and also functioned as a primer for the self-leveling underlayment. LiquiDam EZ enabled ProSpectra to get the benefits of a 2-part epoxy moisture vapor barrier without the hassle.
To address surface leveling, ProSpectra employed TEC® Feather Edge Skim Coat for minor irregularities, from feather edge up to ½” depth. The quick-setting product allows for floor covering installation in a few as 15 minutes. For larger surface variations from 1/16" to 1½", TEC® Level Set® 400 Self-Leveling Underlayment was used. The Level Set 400 HF is designed for fast-track applications, ready for moisture sensitive flooring in just 15 hours. This pourable or pumpable underlayment offers high flow distance—saving labor and time. Wurth found the product’s 60 minutes of working time to be a game-changer for his installation teams to perfect the GPCC’s most irregular surfaces.
The final phase for flooring was the installation of the 50,000 sq. yds. of custom Axminster carpet, as well as the floor coverings for the back-of-the-house. A heavy carpet composed of wool and nylon, Axminster offered the durability and design capabilities desired for the high-traffic Convention Center. The stunning bespoke carpet patterns were designed to evoke the ocean experience—from sandy shoreline in the lobby to deep seascapes in meeting spaces—enhanced by natural crystal lighting that mimics sunlight’s reflection on water.
The installation of the Axminster carpet began with high-end padding, bonded to the subfloor with TEC® Flexera High Tack Premium Universal Adhesive. With up to 12 hours of working time, industry-leading moisture tolerance and immediate readiness for foot traffic, Flexera was an ideal choice for the tight GPCC timeline. The product’s exceptional shear strength, peel strength and tack ensured the cushion would not move, even under heavy traffic. This product performance also made Flexera High Tack ProSpectra’s choice for the installing LVP in back-of-the house areas.
The Axminster carpet was then meticulously affixed to the cushion with TEC® Double-Stick Carpet Adhesive 902, specifically designed for complex pattern matching like the ocean scenes of the GPCC. The adhesive’s extended open time of 45 - 60 minutes gave the installers the flexibility needed to perfectly align intricate ocean scenes. With the complexity of the changing Axminster patterns, the ProSpectra teams appreciated the extra time Double-Stick them for stretching the carpet to achieve flawless installation. For the glue-down back-of-the-house carpet, TEC® Premium Fast Grab Carpet Adhesive 704 provided excellent bond strength and water resistance after curing, ensuring performance and longevity.
GPCC Flooring—A Showcase of Partnership, Precision, and Performance
The flooring installation for the Gaylord Pacific Convention Center showcases what is possible when expertise, collaboration, and innovative product systems come together. From logistical challenges to construction delays and carpet pattern complexities, ProSpectra, Desoto and TEC® Specialty Products met every demand with a precision response.
The use of TEC complete installation systems saved time and improved quality both during the flooring installation and for the long-term. Throughout the Convention Center, the impeccably installed ocean-inspired carpet channels Chula Vista’s breathtaking coastline and pairs it with contemporary luxury—defining Southern California’s newest iconic landmark.
