Higher Education Design: Our Playful Palette Flooring That Sparks Connection and Creativity

^{Curated Spaces Higher Education Muted Palette}

^{Article written by: Lilly Carroll | Published by Shaw Contract}

From lobbies to lecture halls, campus spaces thrive on flooring that balances durability, design, and identity. The Playful Palette from Shaw Contract’s Curate Collection brings vibrant energy and thoughtful performance to every corner of higher education environments. Explore space ideas that optimize engagement, support instructors and inspire learning for the next generation of innovators.

Versatile curated palettes cater to a wide range of environments and price points, from classrooms and boardrooms to luxury hotels and high-end apartments. Thoughtfully designed to adapt to diverse market needs and budgets.

^{Floorplan of Higher Ed entrance space using Swift (Carpet Tile) + Pivot (EcoWorx™ Resilient) + Graffiti (Rug)}

Designing Entryways That Invite, Inspire, and Endure

A welcoming environment is essential in fostering a sense of belonging on campus, especially in shared spaces like the lobby, where students first connect with their community. The products below highlight high performance transitions for outdoors to indoors, stain resistant, and highly durable flooring investments.

• Swift Carpet Tile is a high-performance carpet tile perfect for a transition area from outdoors to interior that is designed to target dirt, moisture and bacteria for an effective way to protect and maintain an interior flooring investment.
• Pivot EcoWorx Resillient highlights how Durability meets sustainability with a PSI rating of 2,500 pounds, PVC-free and recyclable, and ability to resists staining and wear.
• Graffiti Rug shows design that connects culture and learning though its symbolic Hip Hop culture, designed by Mike Ford that adds personality and meaning to campus design.

^{Josef (Carpet Tile 5T642) In Graphite (42518) + Fresco (42411) | Installed Stagger}

Spaces That Connect Campus Life

Dynamic campus spaces like lounges, offices, classrooms and corridors play a vital role in supporting the diverse needs of students and staff. Lounges foster collaboration and social connection. Office spaces provide quiet areas for focused work for concentration. Corridors serve as bustling pathways for socialization, ultimately connecting students and staff to the spaces where campus life thrives. The following flooring solutions foster both collaboration and quiet focus.

• Josef Carpet Tile presents large-scale geometric patterns that hide wear while brining energy to collaboration zones. 
• Collaboration Carpet Tile provides comfort and focus for professor and instructor private offices. The medium-scale multi-directional pattern camouflages everyday spots and spills in the highest traffic areas while providing acoustical benefits and comfort lecture halls. Pivot EcoWorx™ Resilient represents sustainability in motion through its recyclable PVC-free resilient styles and our Environmental Guarantee.

^{Floorplan of Higher Ed Labs, Break Rooms, Study Rooms space using Montage (Solid Vinyl Tile) + Hub Accent StrataWorx® (Carpet Tile)}

University Flooring Designed for Function and Flow

Ease of installation and maintenance are both essential in high-traffic areas. Opting for a single-source flooring solution for campus buildings – including classrooms, multi-functional spaces, labs, vending areas and corridors, ensures consistency, efficiency and durability. The flooring choices below simplify maintenance and support learning. 

• Montage Solid Vinyl Tile provides seamless coverage for busy space such as school hallways, lobbies and cafeterias that are easy to clean and install and backed by a 25-Year Commercial Warranty. 
• Hub Accent Strataworx® is a Budget-friendly carpet tile that is Ideal for low-traffic areas, supports cost-effective campus design, and coordinates with a variety other Shaw Contract flooring.

Designing for Impact: Sustainability & Sound

Flooring choices influence more than aesthetics, they shape acoustic performance and support sustainability goals. Together, these elements contribute to healthier, more effective environments across campuses and workplaces.

Sound Advisor® helps you select the right floor covering for your project by presenting the industry’s most comprehensive set of data— all collected at the same lab, allowing you to accurately compare the difference between floor coverings.

Eco-conscious flooring options help reduce environmental impact without compromising performance:

• EcoWorx™ and StrataWorx® platforms are PVC-free and recyclable.
• Curate Collection is made with EcoSolution Q100® fiber. EcoSolution Q100® is a high performance 100% recycled content nylon fiber* with a low carbon footprint as reflected in the EC3 tool.
• At the end of its useful life, we’ll reclaim and recycle PVC-free EcoWorx™ Resilient styles to make more EcoWorx® products through our Environmental Guarantee.
• Shaw Contract has reclaimed nearly 1 billion pounds of post-consumer flooring.