Great Designs Can Achieve Great Things - Bold, Inspiring Floors at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
Vibrant Design Meets Durability: Stonhard Floors Transform School
Young minds can achieve great things…this is the philosophy at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Keller, Texas. Based on traditional teaching and a strong foundation rich with academics and art, this school inspires students in a not-so-traditional school setting. No flatly colored walls or stuffy corridors here; this facility’s new wing is abundant with vibrant color, checkerboard wall tiles and energetic geometric patterns on sleek, smooth wear-resistant floors.
The design decision makers at St. Elizabeth’s set out to complete corridor and restroom floors to meet the needs of their school. The criterion was wear-resistant floors that would stand up to continuous foot and cart traffic while reducing noise. They also required floors that are easy to keep clean and safe, even when wet.
Finally, this forward-thinking school wanted design and color integrated into the overall décor. Terrazzo flooring was originally specified for the job, despite the noise problems associated with traditional terrazzo floors. Terrazzo remained the first choice until a strong recommendation from a general contractor changed the minds at St. Elizabeth’s.
The general contractor had recently worked with Stonhard’s commercial product line in a local hospital. He endorsed Stonhard based on his experience on a construction management level as well as the quality of the products. Stonhard, a leader in polymer floor systems, presented the school with a revolutionary alternative to traditional terrazzo.
Stonhard’s Stonres RTZ is a seamless, urethane system infused with urethane aggregate chips. This system provides exceptional acoustic efficiency and ergonomic comfort while providing a superior wear and stain-resistant floor. Stonres RTZ also offered the colors and dynamic design scheme the school was seeking. Multi-colored aggregate in a high-performance matrix allows Stonhard to create intricate patterns and incorporate geometric shapes in an endless palette of colors. The use of a unique urethane aggregate in place of the customary marble used in terrazzo produces much quieter floors and eliminates echoes and reverberation.
Colors and geometrical patterns guide students through hallways and corridors while providing a bright and inspiring environment.
The custom Stonhard floor helps create a friendly atmosphere for both students and teachers.
Comfort, Color, and Creativity Achieved with Stonhard Flooring
To prepare for the application, the clean substrate was flattened to a smooth, dry surface using concrete blasting equipment. Plastic divider strips were placed to create the patterns and shapes in the floor. Individual custom Stonres RTZ mortar colors were then laid in sequence. Once cured, the entire floor was sanded to expose the decorative urethane aggregates.
Finally, a low-gloss topcoat was applied onto the surface. The floor was ready for foot traffic after only 12 hours, and within 48 hours it was available for full service. Stonres RTZ allowed creative flexibility by meeting design challenges like inlaid geometric patterns in contrasting colors in the school corridors. The restroom design combined softer colors with wavy, contemporary lines. There was a time when artistic freedom presented challenges for producers of polymer floors. Stonhard has swept the commercial market with products like Stonres RTZ that combine the wear resistance of industrial floors with unique sound reducing features and unrestricted design capabilities.
Towards the completion of the installation, a St. Elizabeth’s teacher stopped the Stonhard Project Manager to let him know the floors had changed how both teachers and students felt about their building. She said, “The floors really make a difference.”
The final result at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School is colorful, quiet and easy-to-maintain corridor floors along with clean, slip-resistant, decorative restroom floors. In the end, Stonhard found happy students, teachers, parents, administrators, an elated maintenance staff and thoroughly satisfied decision makers.
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