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News
Intelligent School Construction We are out growing our schools. The baby boom echo is continuing to increase our student population and it is not expected to slow down for another decade.
Traditionally schools have been constructed to last. They have been the
focal point of a community. In most cases, the presence of a good school
raises the community's standards and property values. Through the sixties
and seventies there was a moderate shift from high quality construction to
one of economy and cost savings. This was due to the economic environment
where raising tax dollars or bond funding was expensive due to prevailing
interest rates. These cost saving measures have come to haunt us now that
repairs and replacements must be addressed. It has been estimated by the
General Accounting Office that existing schools are in need of repair and
maintenance funding totaling $112 billion. Today the shift to quality
construction has returned. Our political leaders, educators, and home
owners have realized that it is easier and more cost effective to finance
and approve the construction of a high quality new building than it is to
come back to the tax payers requesting maintenance funding year after year.
Trends in school uses which affect the architectural design include the use of the facilities by the community during off school hours. This means higher traffic and the need for materials which are more durable and easily maintained. Schools are being designed to include common areas for multiple use. These may be food service or dining areas for lunch then converted to performance and assembly areas at other times. After school hours these areas may become community meeting rooms. Thin-set epoxy terrazzo has been proven to be an excellent finish in high traffic situations as illu-strated in most airports, courthouses and convention centers. The choice of color and design is unlimited. School colors, logos and mascot illu-trations can be set in the floor using strip design. Color and pattern can be used to indicate traffic flow and location identification. Thin-set epoxy terrazzo is the perfect choice for schools after considering design, durability, maintenance and life cycle costs. |
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One of the most obvious areas of quality improvement is the floor finishes.
Throughout the early century cement terrazzo was traditionally installed in
schools. These floors are still in existence today and have withstood the
test of time. Occasional polishing brings the original beauty and finish
back without major costs. Today the use of thin-set epoxy terrazzo has
provided all of the long lasting beauty of traditional cement terrazzo and
at the same time has decreased the construction costs due to standard slab
construction and quicker installation times. Epoxy terrazzo also brings
the advantages of color, unlimited pattern design, protection from
cracking, and a nonstaining surface. Although carpet is an excellent finish
for low traffic quiet areas, in high traffic areas such as hallways and
classrooms, it is hard to keep clean and harbors dirt and odors. Thin-set
epoxy terrazzo is non porous and has a significant affect on maintaining
healthy indoor air quality. In addition, consideration must be given to
the replacement of the carpet every seven to ten years at great cost to the
community, especially since the disposal of carpet has become an
environmental problem.