There is so much to consider when specifying flooring for educational environments, largely due to the many varied areas encompassed within such sprawling, vast facilities.
In order to transform an educational facility into a stimulating learning environment, architecture, space utilisation, décor and air quality within the building must all be taken into account.
General classrooms, staff rooms, libraries and offices require a floor finish that is durable, acoustically insulated and attractive underfoot. These spaces should be bright and modern environments that can withstand intense foot traffic and are easily cleaned and maintained.
Flowcrete Poland recently undertook a project at Szynwałd Public Library, which was designed to host numerous cultural functions such as exhibitions, plays, lectures, workshops and meetings.
The local authorities requested a building design that would reflect the architecture of nearby structures, resulting in the facility’s sloping roofs and full size windows on the ground floor.
700 square metres of Flowcrete’s Peran system was specified for the entrance hall, offices, auditorium, library, reading room, multimedia and computer room, staircases and children’s zone. The Peran system stands up incredibly well to heavy foot traffic as well as providing stunning aesthetics and an easy to clean and maintain surface.
It is imperative to create engagement in classrooms and other teaching areas with an interior design scheme that creates a secure, comfortable and welcoming surrounding that is conducive to learning.
South Cheshire College, based in Crewe, Cheshire, utilised Flowcrete’s fast curing MMA Flooring system, Flowfast Terrosso, to enhance the aesthetics of its facility with a beautiful, seamless resin floor finish ready just two hours after application. The extremely hardwearing nature of the system protects against heavy foot traffic and embraces the modern design of this multi-million pound development.
Science laboratories and technology rooms need light practical flooring that takes chemical and paint spillage in its stride while at the same time remaining attractive and durable underfoot. Barnsley Academy took advantage of the robust and scratch resistant, seamless epoxy floor screed Peran STB in a striking blue shade to floor the school’s resistant materials suite, art rooms, ICT centre and food technology workshops.
In the south of England, the 336 year old Joan Roan School in Greenwich ensured strong foundations for its new, state-of-the-art building as well as in an existing facility that was being redeveloped by using Isocrete K-Screed. A popular choice with architects, Isocrete K-Screed speeds up programme times, allows for foot traffic on site much sooner than alternative solutions and is also very hard wearing.
Also in London, Westminster University was looking for joint free flooring as part of its 20 million pound redevelopment project and therefore chose Flowcrete’s Mondéco Crystal Ice, a seamless epoxy resin floor finish that utilises a blend of mirrored and clear glass chippings to create a hard-wearing and highly decorative finish. With correct maintenance the system can last in excess of 25 years, making it a financially savvy yet stylish choice for educational environments.
It is important to remember that flooring in educational facilities should be abrasion resistant and easy to clean while also harnessing impeccable design features in order to create a calm, peaceful learning ambience. Unlike traditional flooring materials such as carpet, tiles or linoleum, 21st century seamless flooring solutions help to engage and engross students in the education environment, making them a reliable, effective and cost efficient choice for such buildings.
Flowcrete has the right flooring solution for all areas contained within the education environment. For Polish language information on the specific system Flowcrete Poland supplied to Szynwałd Public Library, please visit its website: http://www.flowcrete.com.pl/
