Rutgers University

rutgers university

First impressions matter. This plaza area at Rutgers Business School presents an inviting and contemporary welcome to the facility, inspiring innovation and collaboration.

Project Snapshot

PROJECT: Rutgers School of Business
INSTITUTION: Rutgers University
LOCATION: Piscataway, NJ
COMPANY NAME: Unilock®
WEBSITE: commercial.unilock.com

THE CHALLENGE

Rutgers Business School is the gateway to Rutgers University’s Livingston Campus in New Jersey, as envisioned by the campus master plan. As part of the initiative to create a culture of collaboration the design at the new building purposely created areas where students and faculty can hang out, meet each other, and have discussions.

In the past, pavers would last about 10 years before looking weathered and faded. Rutgers University wanted to ensure they would stand up substantially longer and the initial upgrade in the cost of the finish was less than an alternate plan to have them replaced in 10 years’ time.

THE SOLUTION

rutgers universityAdvancements in installation methods combined with the latest manufacturing technologies have resulted in significant life-cycle cost savings. Pavers today can be manufactured with a more durable surface that extends their life significantly versus the original thru-mix pavers of the past. Thru-mix is a blend of large and small aggregates from the top of the paver to the bottom. As the paver ages the large aggregates are exposed and the paver appear worn and faded.

Today’s technology of Enduracolor™ allow us to manufacture a paver with a surface of finer aggregates and concentrated color that will appear smooth and color-fast while the base is made up of the larger aggregate required for strength. Additional stain resistance treatments can be added in the manufacturing process and are permanently bonded to the stone so that subsequent sealing and treatments are not required. Additional savings are also quickly realized when utility repairs or pavement modifications are required, as it is simple to pull up the pavers and reinstall them when modifications are complete.

rutgers universityAt Rutgers, the paving pattern mimics the facade details of the building’s architecture with a pixelated design. In order to ensure the longevity of the color, and therefore the design, the EnduraColor Smooth Premier finish was chosen for this project.

IMPACT ON LEARNING

The new facility was purposely designed to foster student engagement and encourage collaborative work, while the outdoor space focuses on making the campus a more inviting place for students and faculty, creating an engaging contemporary place to learn, and inspiring creativity and innovation.

Editor’s Review

This thoughtful and attractive installation at Rutgers Business School provides an attractive “first impression” to campus visitors as well as providing an inviting space for students to gather and interact. Appealing spaces aid in recruitment and retention, creating pride in the institution for students, faculty, and staff.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management April/May 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • UT System Board of Regents Approves $108M Housing Complex

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced the approval of a new, $108-million housing complex at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will stand four stories and have a total of 456 new beds for freshmen students.

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

Digital Edition