Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Grounding Innovative Learning

  • 05/01/17
North Carolina State University 

NJPA and Milliken helped North Carolina State University give its students durable and colorful flooring in the award-winning James B. Hunt Jr. Library.

As versatile as the needs of a public library are, so must be the interiors. A prime example: The award-winning James B. Hunt Jr. Library — located on North Carolina State’s Centennial Campus in Raleigh.

Snøhetta, an international architecture and interior design office based in Oslo, Norway and New York City, worked closely with Executive Architect Clark Nexsen to specify Milliken floor covering in the library.

The building is mostly composed of large, open spaces that flow from floor-to-floor, and features a variety of brightly colored study and learning environments with dynamic furnishings. Because of the open, flowing concept, being intentional of where and how material and color changes occurred was very important. Carpet, the preferred floor finishing within the majority of the library, was instrumental in tying together the building’s overall look and feel.

“Rich, intense colors were a key factor in the development of the library design, and once we found the Paste Up series we knew it was the right product,” shares Elaine Molinar, the managing director for Snøhetta.

Milliken’s Paste Up collection comes in 50cm tiles with Comfort Plus cushion backing, making them 10 times more efficient in reducing noise compared to other flooring options.

“Our tiles feature built-in antimicrobial protection, exceptional appearance retention ratings and high indoor air quality rating,” notes David Potter, a senior territory manager for Milliken’s global floor covering division.

Reflecting on the project, Molinar is pleased with how North Carolina State’s student body has embraced the space: “The library has been overtaken by students, who are extremely enthusiastic and appreciative of their new ‘home away from home.’ This was our purpose.”

Milliken is a contract-awarded vendor of the National Joint Powers Alliance®. NJPA cooperative purchasing offers choice, value and peace of mind.

www.njpa.co/aboutus

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.

  • ed tech conference calendar

    Upcoming Awards, Events & Webinars