Close-up of locker room floor, gray carpet with Salisbury Soccer and a large eagle in center. Red lockers and two wood benches are visible Close-up of locker room floor, gray carpet with Salisbury Soccer and a large eagle in center. Red lockers and two wood benches are visible

Salisbury University

2010 | SALISBURY, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES | EDUCATION

According to the Association of Higher Education Facility Officers, nearly half of students entering college said they considered classrooms and residence halls to be extremely important in their school selection. At the same time, 26 percent of respondents said they’d rejected an institution because an important building was inadequate, and parents listed facilities as the top reason they’d immediately reject an institution. The leadership at Salisbury University in Maryland understands the heavy influence architecture and design have on enrollment rates. So when it was time to renovate existing residence halls and design new ones, their first step was research.

Can Carpet Perform in Student Housing?

A student survey at Salisbury had already told the university that soft surfaces were preferred over resilient flooring in residence halls—both in individual dorm rooms and common spaces. But could carpet hold up to the wear and tear of student housing? Only a Life Cycle Costing Analysis would tell them for sure. The goal of the analysis was to determine whether or not Powerbond® by Tarkett could perform throughout residence halls—with just a single annual cleaning and the use of existing equipment. The team suspected Powerbond’s hybrid construction could provide both the comfortable surface students desired, and the longevity of a resilient flooring.

Image Gallery

  • Looking down from balcony into sitting area with brown overstuffed sofa and two chairs, light tan carpet with custom eagle mascot design Looking down from balcony into sitting area with brown overstuffed sofa and two chairs, light tan carpet with custom eagle mascot design
  • Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides, Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides,
  • Low angle view of seating area with 4 brown upholstered couches, two light wood coffee tables, neutral pattered carpet Low angle view of seating area with 4 brown upholstered couches, two light wood coffee tables, neutral pattered carpet
  • Red carpet with custom S U logo, wood reception desk beyond Red carpet with custom S U logo, wood reception desk beyond
  • Exterior 5-story building with medium brown bricks, rows of double windows, large clock tower in center Exterior 5-story building with medium brown bricks, rows of double windows, large clock tower in center
  • Open room with light gray linoleum and brown carpet, wood table and chairs next to a black leather couch and wood coffee table. Exterior windows on two walls Open room with light gray linoleum and brown carpet, wood table and chairs next to a black leather couch and wood coffee table. Exterior windows on two walls
  • Locker room with red lockers on each side, wood benches in middle. Gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Track & Field Cross Country" on floor Locker room with red lockers on each side, wood benches in middle. Gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Track & Field Cross Country" on floor
  • Locker room with red lockers on right side, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor Locker room with red lockers on right side, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor
  • Locker room with red lockers on right side, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor Locker room with red lockers on right side, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor
  • Team lounge with 3 brown couches around a flat screen tv on wall, tan carpet with custom eagle logo in center Team lounge with 3 brown couches around a flat screen tv on wall, tan carpet with custom eagle logo in center
  • Locker room with red lockers on right side, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor Locker room with red lockers on right side, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor
  • Locker room with red lockers at back wall, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor, eagle graphic on wall to right Locker room with red lockers at back wall, gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury Baseball" on floor, eagle graphic on wall to right
  • Gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury" text Gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury" text
  • Gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury" text Gray carpet with custom eagle logo and "Salisbury" text
  • Dorm room with multi-colored patterned carpet, two wood desks and chairs on flanking walls Dorm room with multi-colored patterned carpet, two wood desks and chairs on flanking walls
  • classrom with two rows of folding seats facing large whiteboard at front of room. Beige carpet and white walls classrom with two rows of folding seats facing large whiteboard at front of room. Beige carpet and white walls
  • Large classroom with 8 rows of tan stationary folding seats, dark tan carpet and white walls. Wood door at back of room Large classroom with 8 rows of tan stationary folding seats, dark tan carpet and white walls. Wood door at back of room
  • Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides, Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides,
  • Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides, Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides,
  • Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides, Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides,
  • Row of auditorium folding seats, medium tan patterned carpet, white walls Row of auditorium folding seats, medium tan patterned carpet, white walls
  • Row of 4 black rolling chairs at long table, light tan carpet, white walls Row of 4 black rolling chairs at long table, light tan carpet, white walls
  • Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides, Large library seating area with rows of wood tables with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along sides,
  • Large library seating area with rows of wood tables, some with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along right side, Large library seating area with rows of wood tables, some with computer monitors, with wood upholstered chairs. Rows of bookshelves along right side,
  • Long, wide corridor with tan, black and brown striped carpet, light tan walls. Long, wide corridor with tan, black and brown striped carpet, light tan walls.
  • Long, wide corridor with tan, black and brown striped carpet, light tan walls. two blue chairs and coffee table through passageway Long, wide corridor with tan, black and brown striped carpet, light tan walls. two blue chairs and coffee table through passageway
  • Corridor with low wall to left, two sets of two blue chairs and a coffee, gray carpet Corridor with low wall to left, two sets of two blue chairs and a coffee, gray carpet
  • Corridor with low wall to left, two sets of two blue chairs and a coffee, gray carpet Corridor with low wall to left, two sets of two blue chairs and a coffee, gray carpet
  • Overhead view of library work area with rows of wood work tables with computer monitors, long row of bookshelves to left, gray carpet, thin cylindrical pendants hanging from ceiling Overhead view of library work area with rows of wood work tables with computer monitors, long row of bookshelves to left, gray carpet, thin cylindrical pendants hanging from ceiling
  • Hallway with patterned carpet transitioning to solid carpet through passageway, two blue arm chairs and coffee table to right Hallway with patterned carpet transitioning to solid carpet through passageway, two blue arm chairs and coffee table to right
  • Hallway with patterned carpet transitioning to solid carpet through passageway, two blue arm chairs and coffee table to right Hallway with patterned carpet transitioning to solid carpet through passageway, two blue arm chairs and coffee table to right
  • Built in table top with 3 white plastic chairs along half wall, tan patterned carpet next to light carpet Built in table top with 3 white plastic chairs along half wall, tan patterned carpet next to light carpet
  • Built in table top with 3 white plastic chairs along half wall, light carpet exterior windows beyond Built in table top with 3 white plastic chairs along half wall, light carpet exterior windows beyond
  • Dining room with long light wood table and 12 green upholstered chairs, burgundy and cream patterned carpet, light tan walls with tall windows Dining room with long light wood table and 12 green upholstered chairs, burgundy and cream patterned carpet, light tan walls with tall windows
  • 1 wood and green upholstered chair, burgundy and cream patterned carpet 1 wood and green upholstered chair, burgundy and cream patterned carpet
  • Dining room full of wood tables with green upholstered chairs, burgundy and cream patterned carpet Dining room full of wood tables with green upholstered chairs, burgundy and cream patterned carpet
  • Vacuum cleaner on black, gray and cream patterned carpet Vacuum cleaner on black, gray and cream patterned carpet
  • gray and cream patterned carpet gray and cream patterned carpet
  • Elevator lobby, red carpet with cream border, silver elevator doors to right, window on far wall Elevator lobby, red carpet with cream border, silver elevator doors to right, window on far wall
  • Lobby, red carpet with cream border, window on far wall, wood entry double doors to left Lobby, red carpet with cream border, window on far wall, wood entry double doors to left
  • Sitting area with two black leather couches and a wood coffee table, medium brown patterned carpet, light walls with large windows Sitting area with two black leather couches and a wood coffee table, medium brown patterned carpet, light walls with large windows
  • red and cream textured carpet transitioning to light tan checked carpet, legs of wood coffee table to right red and cream textured carpet transitioning to light tan checked carpet, legs of wood coffee table to right
  • Long hallway with cream carpet and red carpet border. wood door and two large windows on right wall Long hallway with cream carpet and red carpet border. wood door and two large windows on right wall
  • Classroom with 5 tables with 3 chairs each facing the front, lcd tv and white board on wall, tan carpet Classroom with 5 tables with 3 chairs each facing the front, lcd tv and white board on wall, tan carpet
  • Classroom with 5 tables with 3 chairs each facing the front, lcd tv and white board on wall, tan carpet Classroom with 5 tables with 3 chairs each facing the front, lcd tv and white board on wall, tan carpet
  • Building entrance with glass partition walls, gray tiled floors, white columns to the left Building entrance with glass partition walls, gray tiled floors, white columns to the left
  • Corridor with tile floor, large white columns, tow cafe tables with two chairs each, large windows Corridor with tile floor, large white columns, tow cafe tables with two chairs each, large windows
  • Long hallway with gray textured carpet on floor and lower part of wall, white walls Long hallway with gray textured carpet on floor and lower part of wall, white walls
  • Corridor with tile floor, large white columns, tow cafe tables with two chairs each, large windows Corridor with tile floor, large white columns, tow cafe tables with two chairs each, large windows
  • Building entrance detail above doors with arched window and lettering for Salisbury University on white header Building entrance detail above doors with arched window and lettering for Salisbury University on white header

Results from Salisbury University

Over the span of four years, the Salisbury team compared two high-rise residence halls—one that was renovated with Powerbond, and one that kept its existing resilient flooring. Every detail of the care and maintenance of the two buildings was controlled, recorded and compared, including time and cost of labor, chemical usage, equipment, student experience and staff perceptions. In the end, everyone on campus—from students to housekeeping to the office of sustainability—was in favor of installing Powerbond throughout the school’s residence halls. Since conducting its Life Cycle Costing Analysis, Salisbury University has established Powerbond as its standard specification for all on-campus student housing.

Designer / Architect: Ayers Saint Gross Architects et. al.

Solutions at Work Guide

Want to save it for later or view it offline? Download a Solutions at Work guide PDF for this project.

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