Stem School

Located in Northern Ohio, this local landmark was originally designed to house the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a museum showcasing inventors throughout U.S. history. With unmet expectations the building was repurposed and began a new mission as an innovative public middle school serving grades 5-8.

Its new resident, a STEM school, was an appropriate tenant. Their school vision: to provide the highest quality education experience for students ensuring creativity and inventive thinking through a focus on science, mathematics and technology.

“For a school focused on creative problem solving, the design and construction of the school was in itself an example of finding imaginative solutions to complex challenges,” commented Scott Lukens, AIA, LEED AP of Hasenstab Architects. Existing on 1.8 acres, with a 35-foot drop in grade from east to west, the architects were challenged to add the additional floor area necessary to the existing facility to meet the space requirements for the new school.

The result is a six-story school with two floors falling below ground. As the site is arranged vertically, school grades are divided by floor with the younger students starting on the ground level and progressing upward each year. Taking advantage of the below ground floors, noisier areas such as music rooms, a gym and cafeteria were situated on these lower floors to alleviate sound interference with classrooms.

“Tarkett’s rubber tiles provided us a longer lasting product with less maintenance requirements compared to alternative flooring materials.”

Old carpet was also removed. New Powerbond® Cushion RS was installed. Powerbond hybrid resilient sheet flooring is a heterogeneous construction of nylon and closed-cell cushion. The cushion and nylon are fused together through heat and pressure creating a floor covering that is integral and inseparable. Closed-cell cushion ensures that seams can be fused, which provides a waterproof barrier. It’s “peel & stick” installation method does not require adhesives, which enhances indoor air quality within the learning environment.

“Powerbond is a non-flow through flooring product, and it’s built to last. It will also compliment a rather historic space in need of refresh,” Williams said. “The Tarkett product is required for this kind of job.”