Coppin State University

  • 03/01/15

Project Snapshot

PROJECT: Physical Education Complex
INSTITUTION: Coppin State University
LOCATION: Baltimore, MD
COMPANY NAME: Stonhard
WEBSITE: www.stonhard.com

THE CHALLENGE

In February 2010, after five years of planning and construction, Coppin State unveiled its brand new, 246,000-square-foot Physical Education Complex. The $136-million visionary facility includes a 4,100-seat basketball arena, an NCAA regulation pool, a fitness center, an auxiliary gymnasium, a dance studio, racquetball courts and classrooms, as well as many outdoor fields and recreation areas.

When plans were drawn up for the design of the basketball arena, polished concrete floors were specified for corridors, lobbies and locker rooms. However, as work began, project managers were extremely unhappy with the unsatisfactory appearance of the first applications in the locker rooms and put a halt to the entire installation.

Coppin State University

Coppin State University

Coppin State University

The installation of decorative, eye-catching floors in Coppin State University’s Physical Education Complex’s lobbies, concourses, walkways and other spaces have had positive results, Facility planners and project managers were very satisfied by the quick and cost-effective remediation of the flooring during construction.

THE SOLUTION

Finding themselves in an unexpected situation and drawing from numerous previous positive experiences with Stonhard, the project superintendent reached out to the company for guidance. Stonhard guaranteed a long-lasting decorative floor system that could be installed quickly and at a fraction of the cost of the originally specified polished concrete.

Stonhard recommended Stonproof ME7 as a crack-bridging agent on the surface of the concrete substrate, followed by Stonhard’s TecTop UF system. The Stonproof ME7 filled all cracks in the floor surface a smooth surface for the next steps in the installation process. TecTop UF creates a seamless, stain resistant floor surface that is durable and requires little maintenance. A colored epoxy undercoat and a layer of colorful, broadcasted vinyl flakes, finished off with a clear urethane sealer, resulted in decorative, eye-catching floors in the complex’s new lobbies, concourses, walkways, restrooms, locker rooms and pool observation deck.

IMPACT ON LEARNING

Coppin State sets for itself a broad mission — a central aspect of which is to offer educational access to students whose promise may have been hindered by a lack of social, personal or financial opportunity. Primarily a commuter institution serving a local population of mostly first-generation college students, the university anticipates a 25 percent growth in enrollment over roughly 10 years. Accomplishing this mission is achieved, in part, by developing top-notch facilities. The Stonhard floors in the Physical Education Complex contribute to the university’s goals, withstand heavy traffic and wear and tear and provide an easy-to-clean surface.

Editor's Review

Top-rate facilities that are attractive, safe and easy to maintain are an integral part of any institution’s goal to recruit and retain students and provide them with a solid education. Coppin State University’s focus on developing outstanding facilities for its students with attention to detail that extends to interior features, including flooring, speaks well of its commitment to quality.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Kimball International Launches Season 5 of Alternative Design Podcast

    Commercial furnishings manufacturer Kimball International recently premiered the fifth season of its Alternative Design podcast, according to a news release. The first episode was released on March 17, and new episodes will launch monthly. The podcast discusses forces that shape built environments, from work to housing to healthcare to human wellness.

  • Florida Elementary School to Undergo $47M Reconstruction

    The School District of Osceola County in Kissimmee, Fla., recently announced a partnership with construction firm Skanska to reconstruct Reedy Creek Elementary School, according to a news release. The $47-million project will involve the new construction of a 96,000-square-foot academic center, renovating the remaining facilities, a full-site redevelopment, and demolishing portions of the existing school.

  • Rice University to Build New Student Life Complex

    Rice University in Houston, Texas, recently announced that a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Moody Center Complex for Student Life (MCCSL) will take place on May 8, 2025, according to a university news release. The 75,000-square-foot facility was designed by architecture firm Olson Kundig with Page serving as executive architect, and it has an estimated completion date of fall 2027.

  • New Kent State Academic Building Earns LEED Silver Certification

    Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently announced that its newest academic building, Crawford Hall, has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The facility was recognized for its innovative design, water conservation technologies, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction materials, among other features.

Digital Edition