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By Ryan Akers

Learning spaces are evolving across every level of education. From elementary schools to university campuses, today鈥檚 classrooms must support varied teaching styles, inclusive experiences, student health and well-being, long-term operational resilience, and sustainability.

In K鈥�12 settings, learning has become more active and movement-based. Students regularly transition between floor activities, small-group collaboration, and individual study, making it more common for teachers to reconfigure classrooms throughout the day. While flexibility looks different in higher education, it is no less essential. Lecture halls, labs, studios, and shared campus spaces often serve multiple departments and functions over time.

Across schools and universities, flooring plays a critical role in how spaces function, feel, and perform. Resilient flooring is frequently specified to help create adaptable learning environments that support students and are built to last.

Designing for Health and Well-Being at Every Age

Student health and well-being remain central drivers of education design, from early childhood through adulthood. While K鈥�12 and higher education have distinct needs, the built environment plays an important role in supporting both emotional and physical well-being.

Emotional Well-Being

Welcoming school environments can help students feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn鈥攑articularly in early grades, where sensory experiences strongly influence behavior and focus.

Emotional well-being is also a growing concern in higher education. Inside Higher Ed鈥檚 2025 Student Voice survey found that 29% of respondents rated their mental health as below average or poor, indicating that nearly one-third of college students may be struggling.

Material choices can contribute to calmer, more comfortable learning environments that support well-being. Today鈥檚 resilient flooring options, including LVT and rubber, are available in a wide range of styles that support biophilic and human-centered design strategies.

Research suggests these approaches can positively affect occupants by:

• Reducing visual stress through natural color palettes and organic patterns
• Adding warmth and comfort with tactile surfaces underfoot
• Supporting calmness and sustained focus through subtle references to nature

Recent advancements in LVT and rubber flooring have expanded aesthetic options, allowing designers to specify materials that feel refined and welcoming without sacrificing performance.

Physical Health

Indoor air quality, cleanability, and material emissions also affect students of all ages.

In K鈥�12 environments, reducing exposure to harmful substances is especially important as children continue to develop physically. In higher education, where students spend long hours in classrooms, labs, and libraries, healthy indoor environments support comfort, concentration, and overall learning outcomes. Research published in Cureus shows that improving ventilation and indoor air quality in schools can support cognitive performance and help reduce asthma-related symptoms. Resilient flooring can contribute to healthier indoor environments in several ways:

• Low-VOC materials help minimize indoor air contaminants
• Non-porous surfaces resist moisture and dirt, making spaces easier to clean
• Many LVT and rubber floors can be maintained without harsh chemicals that negatively affect air quality

By supporting healthier indoor environments, resilient flooring helps create spaces where students and educators can thrive鈥攆rom elementary classrooms to college campuses.

Supporting Focused Learning in a Noisy World

Noise is one of the most significant barriers to learning, particularly in flexible and open classrooms. Higher noise levels are linked to reduced attention, impaired working memory, and decreased comprehension. A 2025 meta-analysis of classroom noise spanning 21 international studies found a moderate negative impact on student cognitive and academic performance, with younger students especially affected. These findings underscore the importance of acoustics in learning environments.

Many resilient flooring solutions offer noise-dampening properties that help reduce impact sound from footsteps, rolling furniture, and daily movement. This contributes to quieter, more focused classrooms, corridors, and shared campus spaces.

Withstanding High-Traffic Learning Environments

Few building types experience the daily wear that schools and universities do. Floors must withstand constant foot traffic, frequent furniture movement, and regular cleaning.

In K鈥�12 schools, durability and ease of maintenance help minimize disruptions to learning and reduce strain on facilities teams. In higher education, long service life and life-cycle value are equally critical for large campuses managing multiple buildings and budgets.

Resilient flooring supports these demands by offering:

• Non-coated options that eliminate the need for waxing, stripping, and chemical-intensive maintenance
• Modular formats that allow individual tiles to be replaced rather than entire floors
• Long service life that helps reduce downtime and total cost of ownership

These characteristics support both school districts and higher-education institutions planning for long-term use and evolving space needs.

Lowering Environmental Impact Over Time

Sustainability expectations continue to rise across the education sector. Schools and universities are increasingly evaluating materials based on environmental impact, transparency, and longevity. According to Metropolis Magazine鈥檚 2026 Sustainable Design Report, 75% of surveyed U.S. architects and design professionals want to incorporate more sustainability into their projects. The good news? Tools such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) allow institutions to evaluate materials based on carbon impact and material health across the full life cycle.

Resilient flooring options that combine long service life with responsible material choices support these goals. Durable, high-performance surfaces like rubber flooring help reduce replacement frequency, lower maintenance demands, and minimize environmental impact over time.

Supporting the Next Generation of Learning

Flooring choices play a meaningful role in how education spaces adapt to changing needs, support learning outcomes, and endure over time. As schools and campuses continue to evolve, materials must meet shared demands for flexibility, health, performance, and sustainability.

Resilient flooring, including rubber and LVT, helps K鈥�12 schools and higher-education institutions meet these challenges by delivering reliable performance in high-use environments. When foundational materials work harder and last longer, learning environments are better positioned to do the same.

Ryan Akers is Vice President of Segment Sales at Interface.

Get more weekly reports and timely updates by subscribing for free at听schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.

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By听Karl Borree听

Elementary and high school floors can look听indistinguishable,听even when compared to university facilities.听Each is chosen and designed based on the specific听use case for the flooring and can vary听greatly based听on the spectrum of performance needs vs. utility. Schools are no longer choosing athletic flooring based on performance metrics alone. While performance still plays听an important role, facilities are also taking student-athlete health, sustainability and longevity into consideration when听planning听their build.听听

Over the past 15 years or so, school construction has become more holistic in its approach to building material decisions.听New builds are focusing on听how building-wide materials affect the health of students,听teachers听and听visitors.听For example, many new schools or remodels are focusing on听. It only makes sense that this same mindset would extend into school sports facilities.听However, it is important to take into consideration who the space is being built听to serve.听听

K-12听vs. Higher Education听Flooring Needs听

Elementary school gymnasiums are often multi-purpose, serving as lunchrooms, community gathering spaces and even hosting school plays. Flooring systems need to be durable to withstand moving听furniture multiple times a day, while also protecting younger children who are more susceptible to falls and injuries. Flooring systems in elementary schools are often designed听with softer subflooring听to absorb energy and reduce the force of impact, which keeps the focus on safety and durability over athletic performance.听听

Middle and听high听school sports听are more competitive and physically demanding on student-athletes. These gymnasiums are more likely to be used for sporting events only, but they are not usually sports-specific, which means they need to focus on durability and performance. Floor systems need to offer protection to athletes, while also balancing the impact and energy return that supports jumping,听sprinting听and multi-sport functionality.听听

Collegiate athletic facilities are more specialized, usually focusing on one or two sports. While athlete health and protection听are听important,听it鈥檚听athlete performance听that鈥檚听key. Flooring systems that are durable and provide a firmer subfloor provide athletes with an energy return that can improve their plays and jumps as well as protect their joints and muscles as they play at this more intense level. Regardless of education level, one factor听remains听consistent听鈥斕齱hat lies beneath the surface of the flooring is just as important as the flooring itself. Both have a significant impact on student-athlete health and long-term sustainability.听听

The Value of Subflooring听

Subflooring has more of an impact on energy absorption,听force听reduction听and student-athlete health听than people may realize.听For example, one听standard听that student health and safety is based on is the Head Injury Criterion (HIC), which measures the likelihood of an impact-related head injury. This is incredibly important, but it can vary based on the athlete鈥檚 age range.听Younger students听require听a softer subfloor that听allows them听to听prevent injury.听Firmer subflooring for older athletes allows for a more controlled energy听return but still protects them. Some flooring systems opt for subflooring that听doesn鈥檛听allow for much padding between the floor and the concrete, which means increased injuries due to the lack of 鈥渂ounce back.鈥澨齌his is a great danger to athletes and should be taken seriously when choosing a new flooring system.听听

An听aspect to consider when choosing the right flooring system is sustainability and environmental impact. Many听subfloors are made of PVC plastics,听and听floors are finished with harsh adhesives and stains, which leads to harmful听off gassing听in enclosed athletic environments. These all听greatly听impact听the听, which is incredibly harmful to children, the听elderly听and people with health conditions听such as听asthma.听For a healthier and more environmentally conscious choice, facilities can opt for a subfloor that is made of all-natural rubber or choose adhesives and stains that are water-based,听eliminating听harmful off-gassing.听听

Sustainability Considerations听

Another sustainable choice that facilities can make is to听select听natural听wood听over synthetic flooring.听Beyond the听obvious that wood occurs naturally,听it tends听to last longer than synthetic flooring. Some flooring might require full replacements during a standard 25-year building life.听Maple floors with the proper subflooring could last for听many decades, and听don鈥檛听require an entire replacement when they have aged. The flooring can be sanded down and refinished without creating any听additional听waste,听cementing the longevity of the up-front investment.听听

In a听听at Manitowoc Lutheran High School in Wisconsin,听the priority of听sustainability and athlete health听are made听evident听through thoughtful flooring design. The school was experiencing performance issues with its existing athletic floor and needed to re-evaluate what was听under听the surface.听Officials听updated the flooring system to a mixture of firm and soft subflooring that improved uniformity, vibration dampening, ball rebound and overall athlete comfort. Choosing the right subfloor paired with maple floorboards means that the school should have听this floor for decades before听any听substantial听improvements听are necessary. This project highlights听a听valuable lesson:听flooring performance, durability, and sustainable choices can improve athlete health and support long-term goals.听听

Understanding听the components of听a听floor allows schools听officials听to build better spaces for their student-athletes and听improve听the lifecycle of the building. While on the surface, flooring may look听similar,听the individual parts all come together to make the best choice for听a听specific space and athlete听鈥斕齛nd can have听a听lasting impact on safety, wellness, the听environment听and your pocketbook.听听

Karl Borree听is听Vice President听at听Action Floor Systems听LLC.听

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听听

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Everhart brings more than two decades of experience leading major consumer brands and managing large-scale operations both in the U.S. and internationally. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.听

鈥淚 am truly honored and excited to be part of the Tarkett North America team at such a pivotal time. I am eager to continue driving our momentum forward on the strong, new path that has been well established by my predecessor and our wonderful team,鈥� Everhart said in a statement in September.听

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The journey to find the right flooring for recreational spaces may feel like a daunting task with all the different flooring options and facility requirements.

It鈥檚 likely these spaces within your school may be used for sports- and non-sports related activities, which is why versatility, durability and ease of maintenance are all attributes to look for in addition to performance benefits for athletes.

By understanding common synthetic floor types, and why facility managers and athletic directors choose some over others, you will be able to make a well-informed synthetic flooring recommendation that will benefit everyone 鈥� down to athletes, students and the janitorial staff.

The Common Contenders

As a decision maker for flooring for recreational spaces, you may be considering materials such as carpeting, vinyl modular tile or vulcanized rubber for multi-purpose areas. These recreational spaces may include gyms that serve as a cafeteria or auditorium, or tennis and pickleball courts and weight rooms that double as spaces for activities in addition to their intended purpose.

Carpeting is sometimes used in multi-purpose areas. While it is an economical choice, it has significant downfalls. It is harder to keep clean and the fibers create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and allergens to hide. Most importantly, it does not provide the proper surface friction for sports applications and rug burns are common.

Vinyl modular tile is a more common, inexpensive alternative. Minimal shock absorption can be added underneath; however, without an optional cushioned pad, it can be hard on athletes鈥� joints. Cleaning below the tiles is challenging and if not done, it can become a host for germ and mold growth. Yearly maintenance, as well as cracked tiles and loose tiles, are an ongoing nuisance.

A third option considered is vulcanized rubber flooring. Though it provides some shock absorbency, a concern with vulcanized rubber is that it must be completely replaced at end-of-life. Additionally, the fact that this floor has seams, means moisture and bacteria can soak into the floor, creating an unsanitary environment and causing the floor to degrade quicker.

For these reasons, we have found that the optimal synthetic sports floor is a padded polyurethane floor because it addresses the athletic and maintenance issues typically found in alternatives.

Where to Install Padded Polyurethane Floors and Why

Many schools find that padded polyurethane floors are a quality investment due to the versatility, durability and performance attributes. Padded polyurethane floors are comprised of a base mat with a polyurethane surface. This type of synthetic floor provides shock absorption, which is a critical flooring attribute facility managers and architects should look for when selecting and specifying a floor 鈥� it protects users鈥� joints and can help minimize injuries and fatigue. It鈥檚 something that coaches, athletic directors and rec center managers appreciate as well during class, activities and games.

Specific synthetic sports floor systems can withstand the abuse of heavy rolling loads providing a reasonably easy-to-maintain surface. Therefore, padded polyurethane floors are often selected for multi-purpose gymnasiums that double as a cafeteria or a gathering place for a multitude of events.

Outside of the gym, weight rooms are recreational spaces that reap the benefits of a seamless, non-porous floor option. Non-porous synthetic flooring, like a padded polyurethane floor, does not soak up the bacteria and perspiration of athletes. A spilled water bottle or sweat building up around a machine can make for more tedious clean-up work as this moisture soaks into porous floors. A non-porous system keeps moisture out and offers time-saving efficiencies for janitorial staff.

In weight room settings, durability is also a critical component. While most weight room floors offer acceptable protection for concrete, padded polyurethane floors can easily be resurfaced for longevity. The objective of weight room flooring is to protect the user, minimize noise, protect the equipment and reduce chipping of the concrete.

Many athletic directors and coaches are discovering the performance attributes of padded polyurethane for tennis courts outside of the common surfaces. Traditional tennis hardcourts have an asphalt or concrete base and are coated with an acrylic top coat, which does not offer shock absorption. Padded polyurethane cushioning is a much-appreciated characteristic to minimize injury and soreness of knees, hips and ankles, allowing for more comfortable playing and reduced recuperation times.

Finding the Best Synthetic System for Your School

There are many flooring solutions that work in schools and recreational centers of all sizes and purposes. Padded polyurethane floor systems provide users with comfortable cushioning, are durable and can be resurfaced. The non-porous characteristics also make maintenance an easier task than ever before.

To ensure you find the right floor for your project, take time to understand all considerations and requirements from both a short- and long-term perspective. Finally, work with a trusted and reputable flooring manufacturer that will guide you to find a synthetic sports floor system that makes things easier and more efficient for all the floor鈥檚 uses.

Cory Corullo is director of synthetic sales for Action Floor Systems.

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Tailor Grace is a durable floor covering that provides sound reduction, indentation resistance and comfort under foot in 6鈥�7鈥� x 65鈥� rolls and two thicknesses.听 FloorScore听certified and 100% phthalate-free, it is a resilient vinyl flooring manufactured with water based inks and no heavy metals in an ISO 9001 and 14001 certified facility.

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