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PROJECT
flooring
MCT Cuts Kentucky School Costs Sustainable, maintenance-free flooring dramatically reduces costs and upkeep for two green Kentucky schools. Above left. Turkey Foot Middle School uses Marmoleum flooring for a sustainable, maintenance-free environment.
Above right. In addition to covering classroom floors, such as in this science lab, Forbo Marmoleum was also used as wainscoting to protect walls in stairwells, hallways, and gymnasiums.
C
aywood Elementary School and Turkey Foot Middle
leum f looring was ready for high-traffic use the day after it
School are the newest educational facilities in the
was installed.
Kenton County (KY) School District and are rated
VCT floors were also taxing tight operating budgets with the
nationwide in terms of environmental sustainability. This ac-
cost of strippers and floor finishes, which are not necessary with
complishment is topped by an even more impressive distinc-
Marmoleum. “We were bringing in stripping agents and floor fin-
tion: both were built for the same price as an average school
ish by the semi-truck load. It was a tremendous cost in material as
building in the state. The schools are unique from top to bot-
well as labor,” Haney said, adding that the burden was multiplied
tom, from a solar roof on one to Hazleton, PA-based Forbo
by the difficulty connected with the safe disposal of spent floor-
Flooring Systems environmentally friendly Marmoleum floors
care chemicals.
in the hallways. The schools’ sustainable innovation extends
The extensive use of the Marmoleum sheet and MCT compo-
deep beneath the earth with geothermal wells to supply heat-
sition tile was prompted by the designers at PCA Architecture,
ing and cooling.
Covington, KY, who routinely recommend MCT over VCT in their education projects. PCA designed both of the high-perfor-
BRIGHT AND MAINTENANCE FREE
mance schools. “In education, striving for the healthiest possible
Bright-colored Marmoleum f loor coverings enhance the nat-
environment is a given,” said Andrew Piaskowy, AIA, PCA Archi-
ural light that f loods classroom spaces, helping to minimize
tecture. In addition to Marmoleum’s status as a 100% biobased,
lighting costs. The f loors also lighten the workload of the dis-
completely recyclable material, the firm preferred it for its natural
trict’s maintenance staff, which once spent countless hours
antimicrobial properties. “It’s ideal for use in a setting where the
on f loor maintenance. “When I started at Kenton County,
spread of colds, flu, and other infections needs to be kept to a
we were slaves to the f loors,” said Rob Haney, the district’s
minimum,” Piaskowy added.
executive director of support operations. “Our staff was strip-
26
COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S
ping and reapplying seven coats of wax, year in and year out.
BUILDING SOLUTIONS
We were getting practically nothing else done all summer. We
The flooring was one of many innovative building solutions
even ended up working on the f loors during the winter break.”
that made Caywood and Turkey Foot exceptional in cost con-
Unlike the vinyl composition tile (VCT) f loors that typically
tainment and environmental stewardship. Both schools are
occupied Kenton County hallways, the new schools’ Marmo-
equipped with geothermal heat pumps. The roof at Turkey Foot
APRIL 2014
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