Case Study: Flooring Options
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) administration was in the market for a durable yet aesthetically appealing flooring for the Jones Athletic Center. The school wanted a synthetic floor that had an appearance of a hard wood surface, and it had to be able to withstand up to 14 hours of strenuous activities by hundreds of students.
Taraflex Maple Design Sport M by Gerflor was chosen to maintain the demands UNCP puts on a floor. Used by every sport the university has, this practice facility gets more hours of use than the main gym. Physical-education classes, intramurals, varsity team practices and free play are some of the more common uses of the center. It also is used as a multipurpose room, or as a temporary cafeteria for banquets and receptions when needed.
Designed to combine shock-absorption and other safety features, the synthetic, multi-layered floors provide safety and resilience through a laminating process that combines a 100 percent pure vinyl wear layer with reinforced fiberglass and a closed-cell foam backing.
Construction and renovation at the center is ongoing, and there are plans for more flooring to be installed in the new multipurpose room that measures about 5,000 square feet.