Impact on Learning
Minnesota Autism Center
Project Snapshot
PROJECT:
MAC High School Building B
INSTITUTION:
Minnesota Autism Center
LOCATION:
Eagan, Minn.
COMPANY NAME:
J+J Flooring Group/Kinetex
WEBSITE:
www.jjflooringgroup.com
Giving students floors that perform
and provide improved acoustics is
essential in creating a great learning
environment. Less vocal strain and
improved recognition are two of the
benefits Minnesota Autism Center
High School has experienced since
installing Flash and Pop.
THE CHALLENGE
When it came time to select the floor covering for the
new MAC Building B, the first priority became finding a
durable product that would stand up to the wear and tear
of 100 high school students and support staff. Previous
flooring options, including vinyl composite tile, had proven
ineffective. As with any educational environment, acoustics
was another important consideration. Third, the flooring
needed to be bright and serve as the centerpiece for all
other design considerations, including the furniture, paint
and fixtures.
THE SOLUTION
MAC determined that two corresponding products from
J+J Flooring Group’s innovative Kinetex brand would meet all
the requirements.
Flash and Pop are complementary 24-inch-by-24-inch
modular products. As their names suggest, each product
was able to easily bring the bright visual aesthetic the
school desired. Flash provides a bold, yet tailored design
that easily pairs with Pop’s bright colors used for borders
and accents. Additionally, the design flexibility of both
products enabled multiple installation configurations to
create clearly distinct and separate areas for the students
and the support staff.
As a Kinetex textile composite flooring, Pop and Flash
inherently provide the durability of hard surface flooring, yet
with the comfort and warmth of soft surface flooring. In fact,
Kinetex is one of the most thoroughly tested flooring product
ever introduced; it has proven to withstand more than 5
million foot traffics.
Because of its soft-surface attributes and construction,
Kinetex is an excellent solution for spaces where optimal
acoustics is desired. Kinetex offers one of the highest Noise
Reduction Coefficients (NRC) and Impact Insulation Classifications
rating of any commercial flooring product.
IMPACT ON LEARNING
MAC CEO Kathryn Marshall says Flash and Pop have
been met with overwhelming positive response. Staff,
students and parents comment on how beautiful the flooring
looks and how well it works with the other furniture and
fixture components of the school — a primary objective MAC
had for the space.
Installed a year ago (April 2016), it is meeting all the
performance and acoustic requirements too. In fact, with its
high IIC rating , the improved acoustics are promoting greater
voice recognition and less vocal strain between teachers and
students. As an added benefit, Marshall says the flooring is
comfortable to walk on and easy to maintain.
With these results, MAC students and support staff are
thriving in an exciting new environment that is enhancing
student performance and will stand up to the durability
rigors required of a high school flooring.
Editor’s Review
According to the
International Association of
Color Consultants - North
America (IACC-NA), a
school’s physical environment
has a powerful
psycho-physiological
impact on its students.
“Appropriate color design
is important in protecting
eyesight, in creating
surroundings that are
conducive to studying, and
in promoting physical and
mental health.” The IACC
also notes that many cases
of irritability, premature
fatigue, lack of interest,
and behavioral problems
can be attributed directly
to incorrect environmental
conditions involving poorly
planned color and lighting.
The decision makers also
addressed the acoustics
issues with this choice
of floor covering thereby
enhancing the students’
ability to learn and the
teachers’ ability to teach.
This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of School Planning & Management.