Shaw Contract Studio One: Addressing the Challenge of Designing for Aging Schools With Limited Funding

^{Joy Squared 12 x 48 in Firefly, Holiday and Grass + Diffuse Color in Cool Green + Disperse Color in Cool Green + Color Frame in Disappear}

^{Article written by: Frances Phillips, Senior Content Marketing Manager | Published by Shaw Contract}

How Does an Aging Public High School Undergo a Successful Renovation with Limited Funding?

East Valley High School in Spokane, Washington, faced a challenge familiar to many public schools across the United States: limited funding and aging infrastructure. Without the ability to pass a bond for public funding, the school’s Booster Club financed the much-needed flooring replacement project at the school’s entryway.

Shaw Contract’s StudioOne interior design services team partnered with the Booster Club and flooring dealer Alliance Flooring Services to transform the school entrance through a unique installation of carpet tile and LVT. The result is a space that elevates school pride and reflects the spirit of East Valley High School community. See more images of the East Valley High School renovation here. 

“The previous entry carpet was taped together and patched in different places,” said Alec Vermaire, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. “The Booster Club felt replacing the flooring at the school’s main entrance was a great investment that would be appreciated by everyone who enters the school. The school entrance is the first impression for students, staff, families and the community.”

^{East Valley High School's previous entry carpet was taped together and patched in different places}

Carpet Tile and LVT Transforms East Valley High School Entryway Renovation

Shaw Contract’s StudioOne interior design team partnered with Alliance Flooring Services to achieve the overall project goal: to create a welcoming and inspiring space for students and visitors, while incorporating the school's bold green color scheme and mascot logos.

The renovation project faced two major challenges: budget constraints and managing the diverse ideas from various project stakeholders. StudioOne played a crucial role by understanding the unique project requirements and providing products that fit within the budget. The StudioOne interior designer refined design options to help the school Booster Club and administration reach a consensus, said Ty Fowler, Vice President of Sales Alliance Flooring Services and East Valley High School boys' basketball coach.

High-performance, durable carpet tile and LVT for high school entrance

StudioOne chose EcoWorx® carpet tile and LVT flooring designed to meet the specific high-performance needs of the high school’s main entrance. These USA-made flooring options helped the East Valley High School project stay on schedule and within budget for the summer renovation.

^{Joy Squared 12 x 48 in Firefly, Holiday and Grass + Diffuse Color in Cool Green + Disperse Color in Cool Green + Color Frame in Disappear}

Shaw Contract education carpet tile and LVT installed at East Valley High School include: 

• Joy Squared 12 x 48 inch LVT plank in colors Firefly, Holiday and Grass
• Diffuse Color EcoWorx® carpet tile in color Cool Green
• Disperse Color 24 x 24 inch EcoWorx® carpet tile in color Cool Green
• Color Frame EcoWorx® carpet tile in color Disappear

A dynamic feature in the East Valley High School renovation is the custom school logos of Knights and a helmet, which were ultrasonic cut into Joy Squared plank LVT and installed by Alliance Flooring Services.

Another impactful design decision was StudioOne’s suggestion to repaint the walls in the school’s signature green color, Fowler said.

“This simple change was both cost-effective and significantly enhanced the space's overall aesthetic. It has become one of the district's favorite aspects of the project,” Fowler said.

Shaw Contract StudioOne interior designers have a unique understanding of the demands of flooring in high school renovations. By selecting scratch-resistant, high-performance plank LVT and carpet tile specifically designed for education spaces, the new entrance renovation at East Valley High School will ensure long-lasting beauty and performance.

What kind of flooring should be used in high-traffic areas like school entrances?

East Valley High School entryway renovation features Joy Squared LVT, an ideal hard surface flooring for school entryways:

• School colors: Joy Squared LVT is available in more than 20 colors. The LVT planks feature a slight variation between planks rather than uniform visual from tile to tile. The line variation and texture within the abstract visual are designed to support long-term wear within demanding environments.
• Durability in demanding environments: Joy Squared LVT construction aids in protection from wear and tear by pairing a 20-mil wear layer with an ExoGuard+® topcoat. The high-performance materials ensure long-term beauty and performance, which is crucial for maintaining a safe and welcoming school environment
• Ease of maintenance: The scratch-resistant surface makes it easy to clean and maintain, reducing the time and effort required for upkeep in busy educational settings.
• Flexibility: The 12x48 plank size allows for versatile installation patterns, providing flexibility in design to meet the specific needs of different educational spaces.

^{Joy Squared 12 x 48 in Firefly, Holiday and Grass + Diffuse Color in Cool Green + Disperse Color in Cool Green + Color Frame in Disappear}

Diffuse + Disperse and Color Frame EcoWorx® carpet tile are ideal pairings with Joy Squared LVT in school entryways:

• Durability: The Diffuse + Disperse carpet tiles are designed with EcoSolution Q100® high-performance solution-dyed nylon for long-term durability, making them ideal for high-traffic areas in schools.
• Designed Specifically for Schools: The carpet tile choices allow for installations in any configuration, providing flexibility in design to meet the specific needs of different educational spaces. Mergeable dye lots offer unique color patterning, layered textures and smart gradations that make it even easier to mix and match replacement tiles over the course of time without worrying whether colors will exactly match previous orders.
• Ease of Maintenance: The mergeable dye lots make it easy to replace tiles as needed, reducing maintenance time and costs in busy educational settings 1.

^{Joy Squared 12 x 48 in Firefly, Holiday and Grass + Diffuse Color in Cool Green + Disperse Color in Cool Green + Color Frame in Disappear}