Project Strategy
A 1960’s era common room with asbestos tiling has served as both cafeteria and gymnasium for the approximately 250 children attending the K-6 grade Maya Angelou Elementary School in Harvey, Illinois. Safety concerns related to the asbestos and degrading performance from years of use were forcing the school to explore floor updating and replacement. The significant cost and time required for conventional asbestos abatement procedures were not feasible for the small school’s tight budget and constant room use demands. The situation called for an innovative solution that only experienced experts could provide. A collaboration between Mr. Davids Flooring International and Gerflor delivered an ideal solution: a floating vinyl floor using Gerflor Attraction interlocking tiles. This inspired solution would resolve the asbestos safety concerns, provide superior floor performance and appearance, was within budget, and, with experienced installers, could be completed over a weekend. Thrilled with the solution, the school authorized the project to take place over a weekend in August, 2019, between the summer school session and the start of the new school year. The Attraction tiles were installed and the Gerflor Game Line Paint system was applied to create required gymnasium floor markings. Thanks to Mr. Davids and Gerflor Game, school administrators were able to create a safer and more enjoyable schoolroom experience that children will enjoy for many years to come.
Unique Installation Challenge Strategy
This elementary school project had to overcome several challenges, including budget, safety, limited installation time, performance and durability, and appearance. The Maya Angelou Elementary school’s multi-purpose cafeteria and gymnasium space had a decades old asbestos tile floor. On a limited budget and in a very limited timeframe, the school had to find a solution that would remove the asbestos safety concerns and provide a durable, high-performance floor. Experienced, highly-knowledgeable product specification paired with craftsman-level installation overcame all of these challenges to deliver a floor that exceeded the school’s expectations.