With more than 30 years of experience in education design, Charlottesville, Virginia-based architecture firm, VMDO, designed Manassas Park Elementary to incorporate educational opportunities and environmentally responsible components in every aspect of the school. All spaces that would traditionally be hidden or blocked off, such as retention ponds, corridor ceilings, mechanical rooms, are exposed and explained to the children with signage and active conversation.
“Each aspect of the design was carefully considered for the well-being of the children as well as their extended environmental education,” said Wyck Knox at VMDO Architects. “Already the students are taking steps to use their knowledge and naturally assuming the responsibility that is expected of them.”
VMDO selected Johnsonite’s iQ Optima homogeneous vinyl flooring, a high performing solution that helped meet design, maintenance and budget requirements. “When we suggested the iQ Optima tile they were thrilled. It surpassed their environmental goals and was budget friendly,” said Jim DellaFranco, Regional Business Manager with Johnsonite.
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The Manassas Park Elementary School and Pre-K was recognized as an American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) 2010 Committee on the Environment (COTE) Award Winner due to its excellence in sustainability and design quality. Projects were evaluated for their architectural quality, green performance and contribution to the community, respectively, and Manassas Park Elementary is one of only ten American-architect-designed buildings in the world selected for this honor. The school, which measures approximately 122,000 square-feet, houses approximately 100,000 square feet of iQ Optima tile.
Certified as LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the school has also won the Platinum Design Award from the Virginia School Board Association and the national AIA 2010 Educational Facility Design Award of Merit. “Johnsonite has a longstanding commitment to creating products and solutions that contribute to LEED certification points,” said Donna Sisson, Solutions Development Consultant for Johnsonite. “It’s always great to be included on a project that shares our values.”
Project Facts:
Country: USA
City: Manassas Park, Virginia
Type of Project: New Construction of School
Installation Period: 2009
Architect: VMDO Architects
Contractor: Hess Construction
Total Flooring Surface Installed: 100,000 sq. ft.
Commercial Flooring Products Installed: iQ Optima homogeneous vinyl tile
About Johnsonite
For more than 100 years, Johnsonite has been a leading provider of innovative flooring solutions that integrate function, design, life safety, and sustainability to enhance productivity in commercial spaces. Johnsonite is the North American commercial brand of the Tarkett Group, which manufactures and markets integrated flooring, flooring accessories, wall base and sports surface solutions to professionals and end users in 100 countries, from 30 production sites. And, with 2010 revenues of €1.9 billion, Tarkett Group is a leading global flooring supplier. Since January 2007, Tarkett has been owned by the Deconinck family (50%) and private equity funds affiliated with KKR (50%). Tarkett and its Johnsonite brand are committed to providing solutions that balance each component of the triple bottom line: people, the environment and economics. Johnsonite‘s mission is geared toward enhancing the productivity and well being of the people who design, manufacture, distribute, live and work with their products daily. Johnsonite is headquartered in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, with operations located throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.johnsonite.com and www.tarkett.com. Follow Johnsonite online via Twitter, @Johnsonite, and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/johnsoniteflooring.
