Harlequin Floors Solves Problems for UArts

Harlequin Floors

Harlequin Floors provide students at the UArts School of Dance In Philadelphia with a shock-absorbing vinyl surface that is ideal for a wide variety of dance contexts including jazz, contemporary and tap.

Donna Faye Burchfield, director of the School of Dance at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, worked closely with a team of decision makers at the highly-regarded performing arts institution to find the best flooring for their busy dance studios. With more than 300 undergrads in the BFA program in the School of Dance dancing on the UArts floors from 8 A.M. until 11 P.M. nearly seven days every week, they needed floors suitable for many types of dance.

Durability, hassle-free maintenance and safety for their dancers were key factors in replacing their previous flooring, which had become extremely slippery, resulting in complaints from faculty and students. The dean, director, faculty and facilities manager knew Harlequin Floors by reputation and reached out to many other university dance departments for recommendations. Donna Faye Burchfield says, “The decision was a clear one. Upon investigation, all recommendations and research pointed us to Harlequin Floors.”

University of the Arts decided Harlequin’s WoodSpring sprung floors with the Harlequin Cascade vinyl surface was the best flooring solution for their needs. The “spring” in the WoodSpring construction comes from the natural flexing and recovery of the triple layer of battens, which is enhanced by shock-absorbent elastomer pads.

The surface is well suited as a portable or permanent dance floor and is extremely resistant to wear, but provides a perfect “feel” — silky soft without any hint of being slippery. Ms. Burchfield enthusiastically explains, “We would highly recommend Harlequin Floors for their consistent and thorough customer service. UArts School of Dance is thrilled with the new floors, which have made a huge difference in the quality of the dance experience for the entire faculty and the students.”

www.harlequinfloors.com

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management November 2013 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.