Wall Coverings

How To Make Walls Safe and Sound

If walls could talk, they would describe constant contact with backpacks, computer bags and feet, as well as blows from mobile classroom carts. These occurrences can cause scrapes and dents on wall surfaces and corners. Because of the abuse they receive, walls in classrooms, hallways, gyms and cafeterias must be durable and easy to clean, requiring little to no maintenance. They must also be manufactured from material that is environmentally sound and maintains safe indoor air quality.

New product offerings deliver all the functional elements required of walls without compromising style. In fact, custom photos, wayfinding, mascots, logos and other art can now be preserved on walls behind impact-resistant, environmentally preferable rigid material that is PVC-free and contains no PBTs and halogenated or brominated fire retardants. The material acts as a protective shield that safeguards against damage while making cleaning easy, so walls remain beautiful for years.

Reviews from schools using the material are beginning to come in, and the grades are impressive. “The hallways of our school get an A+ for design, function and durability,” says Steven Fleming, principal of Pasadena Independent School District’s new Dr. Kirk Lewis Career & Technical High School in California. “Students are motivated and energized even before they enter the classroom. School officials can rest easy knowing that our custom walls can stand the test of time and high school wear and tear.”

In fact, based on the quality of the walls at its high school, the district used the wall protection product for a mural at its elementary school. “We knew that we had an opportunity to do something special and long-lasting at our elementary school,” says Israel Grinberg, the district’s construction manager. “You just can’t get that kind of quality and durability with a hand-painted mural.”

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Amy DeVore, is the Acrovyn Business Development manager for Construction Specialties, Inc.

Featured

  • Secret to Efficient, On-Time School Infrastructure & Modernization Projects is All in the Preparation

    Warmer weather and longer days make summer the ideal time for construction and modernization projects at educational facilities. School boards and construction firms must coordinate effectively to ensure that these projects do not extend even a single day into the school year and impede classroom operation.

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.