Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Harlequin Floors Solves Problems for UArts

  • 11/01/13
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

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • blurry image capturing students navigating crowded hallways between classes

    How Human Behavior Data Is Reshaping Campus Facilities Management

    The ebb and flow of students, faculty, and administrators across a campus have a larger impact on maintenance, cleaning, and sustainability than many realize.