Play to Win: Nominate Your School or Center to Receive a New Play Surface

Chicago — The Rio Games might be over, but the spirit of achievement should never cease for our kids. The quality and safety of the surfaces they play on makes a difference. This is why Gerflor USA, a leader in resilient sports floor manufacturing, is searching for a U.S. school or community center that will benefit from receiving its TARAFLEX® floor, the world’s most widely specified sports surface, and the same flooring selected for 10 consecutive Olympic Games through its partnerships with IHF and FIVB.

Through its Play Safe on TARAFLEX program, Gerflor will give one deserving U.S. school or community center a new TARAFLEX floor for its gymnasium or athletic area (installation included). Nominations are being accepted at playsafeontaraflex.com through October 14.

“Sports, play and exercise activities often bring communities together. They also provide kids with opportunities to learn life skills, such as teamwork, perseverance and determination,” said Benjamin Bachman, CEO of Gerflor USA. “We want your kids to have every advantage to play safer and aim higher. Our Play Safe on TARAFLEX program is Gerflor USA’s way of giving them that opportunity.”

Because of its safety benefits, TARAFLEX is a leader in indoor sports flooring for U.S. schools, installed in over 70,000 gymnasiums worldwide. The winning school or community center will receive the same TARAFLEX floor featured at the London Games, or an equivalent TARAFLEX Sport M Plus floor.

Nominees will be evaluated based on financial need, condition of the current playing surface and facility and facts submitted in the nomination statement. Finalists, chosen by a jury of five respected professionals, will be posted to Gerflor USA’s Facebook on November 7, 2016. A public voting period will follow to determine the winner, who will be contacted on November 28, 2016.

To learn more about the Play Safe on TARAFLEX program, visit www.playsafeontaraflex.com. For additional information about Gerflor USA or its award-winning TARAFLEX flooring, visit gerflorusa.com.

Featured

  • 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.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.