Impact on Learning
Orem High School
Project Snapshot
PROJECT:
Orem High School
DISTRICT:
Alpine School District
LOCATION:
Orem, Utah
COMPANY NAME:
The Stonhard Group
WEBSITE:
www.thestonhardgroup.com
Good aesthetics and effective performance
are two of the benefits that
kitchen floor systems from Stonhard
were able to offer Alpine School
District. With great noise-reduction
properties and an an easy-to-clean
surface, the floors also benefit students,
giving them a clean, comfortable
place to eat, learn and socialize.
THE CHALLENGE
Alpine School District, the primary school district for
Northern Utah County in Utah, is one of the largest districts in
the state with nearly 75,000 students and more than 7,500 employees
in more than 85 schools. Over recent years, the district’s
tremendous growth caused its schools to become crowded.
When the district made the decision to construct Orem High
School, they once again called on Stonhard to provide flooring
for their cafeteria kitchen. The requirements were for floors to
be long-lasting and stand up under heavy use, but also provide
noise-reduction as well as comfort underfoot. In addition, they
needed floors that would protect and perform in areas where
temperature from equipment could be an issue.
THE SOLUTION
Having trusted Stonhard floors for more than a decade,
the Alpine School District knew that Stonres RTZ was the
product they preferred for their kitchen serving and storage
areas. Stonres RTZ, a urethane, seamless flooring system,
is resilient and provides excellent sound absorption and
ergonomic benefits. In addition, it is high-impact resistant
as well as stain resistant. Stonres RTZ is often found in school
libraries, classrooms and hallways, as well as healthcare and
retail environments. The Alpine School District’s history of
using this flooring system for these kitchen areas with positive
results made it an easy choice for the new “Home of the
Golden Tigers” at Orem High School.
Another flooring system was recommended for areas
where temperature could affect the structure and life of the
floor, such as coolers and under ovens and fryers. In these
areas, Stonhard installed Stonclad UT, a high-strength,
urethane flooring system. Stonclad UT is formulated for
heavy-duty environments and stands up to thermal shock
and cycling which will stress and break down the surface of a
floor without the protection this system provides.
IMPACT ON LEARNING
Despite heavy use, the kitchen floors throughout the
district continue to hold up well. Administrators and staff like
how the floors look and how effectively they perform. The sound
absorption feature in a noisy area makes working and serving students
a more pleasurable experience and contributes to a better
cafeteria atmosphere. The staff values floors that are easy to clean
as well as stand on all day. These advantages contribute to a quality
cafeteria environment in which to relax and refuel between
classes for both students and staff at Orem High School.
Editor’s Review
Cafeterias and food
service areas rank right
up there with hallways
and common areas when
it comes to heavy traffic
and constant use. These
surfaces need to not only
be long-lasting and easy-to-maintain, but, because
of the size and use of the
areas, decision makers
must also be concerned
about issues like acoustics
and user comfort for both
the students and the school
employees. Alpine School
District took all of these
factors into consideration
when making their choices
for the new school, and it
is has proved to be successful.
This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of School Planning & Management.