Wright State University

Project Considerations

While the designer wanted to use noraplan environcare™ because of its extensive color selection, school officials chose it because of its durability, ease of maintenance and acoustic benefits. 

Notably, the coating-free performance of environcare simplified cleaning needs in a large lecture hall. As the floor covering does not require waxing or stripping, it was the ideal material for used in front of, and under, the 350 seats of the auditorium. University custodial staff is able to efficiently maintain the flooring under the seats in those hard-to-reach places, while the room still enjoys the acoustic benefits that are so important to learning and communication. “For acoustical reasons, we prefer not to use concrete under seats,” said Waldo. “But we still need a surface with low maintenance requirements, because it’s difficult for custodians to work with floor finish under all those chairs. The lecture hall presented a perfect application for environcare, because the floor is both easy to care for, and it helps to cut down on noise, enhancing the acoustics of the space.” 

The sustainable floor covering was also introduced in entrance areas, corridors, classrooms and other spaces in Oelman Hall. Coupled with its long durability, versatile environcare provides the low-maintenance properties and enhanced acoustics necessary for a busy higher education building.