Living on campus during college becomes as much a part of any students’ academic growth as attending classes. In the race to attract the best and brightest minds, universities are focusing on creating spaces of comfort and productivity. Residential spaces that need to meet high traffic demands while accommodating an ever-changing populace creates a unique set of obstacles for any educational institution’s housing. Additionally, demonstrating leading environmental thoughts by constructing with green building initiatives top the priority list.
For the University of Kentucky Residential Revival project, expanding student living quarters to include seven buildings and 3000 additional beds tasked contractors Messer and Quality Interiors with maintaining a hypo-allergenic environment that withstands extensive use, while installing with ease. Upon completion of the five-year project, campus housing will seek LEED Silver certification, so Messer and Quality Interiors sought out environmentally conscious products.
Between the high volume construction, varied hypo-allergenic needs of the students, green initiatives, and the desire to create a lasting professional finish, Messer and Quality Interiors searched for durable products with environmentally-friendly manufacturing. Using shower bead constructed from vinyl rather than metal became an obvious choice. Vinyl bead prevents rust, kinks, dents, and maintains a professional look for longer due to its flexible and durable nature. For finishing shower surrounds, they chose Trim-Tex’s Shower Bead.
Step 1 Shower Bead is installed around the surround, Step 2 finish with mud compound, Step 3 remove the tear off strip and caulk the gap for a clean finish.
The unique vinyl construction of Trim-Tex Shower Bead replaces paper tape, thereby eliminating the food source for mold and maintaining a hypo-allergenic environment long-term. Shower Bead also features an extra-long 2¼" mud leg that requires less mud to span the gap between the drywall and flange. A tear away strip protects the shower enclosure from mud and leaves a crisp, finished edge with no mess. Using staples instead of screws, Trim-Tex Shower Beads save time on labor while guaranteeing a professional finish.
Trim-Tex manufactures all of its products in the USA using 70% recycled material. This helps keep millions of pounds of plastic out of landfills each year and contributes to an overall green construction initiative. By selecting Trim-Tex Shower Bead for the University of Kentucky Residential Revival project, Messer and Quality Interiors provided a long-lasting, hypo-allergenic, environmentally-conscious solution that will withstand the rigors of university residential life for decades to come.
For more information visit Trim-Tex.com.
Related Stories
School Construction | Oct 23, 2016
As construction rebounds, education sector spending flattens
Post-recession slump suggests a settling in at a “normal” level similar to the mid aughts.
University Buildings | Oct 19, 2016
UC Merced to nearly double its size by 2020
Its growth strategy includes adding 1.2 million sf of space for teaching, housing, and research.
University Buildings | Oct 12, 2016
The new Hancher Auditorium opens on University of Iowa campus
The building replaces the previous Hancher, which was irreparably damaged in the 2008 flood.
University Buildings | Oct 11, 2016
The University of Iowa gets a new Visual Arts Building
The building was a collaborative effort between BNIM and Steven Holl Architects and marks the sixth facility the two firms have worked together on
Sponsored | University Buildings | Sep 29, 2016
UWM’s Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex: The most distinctive building on campus
The largest building on campus, it was designed by Flad Architects to comply with LEED Gold Certification standards and to meet a wide range of current and future academic needs.
University Buildings | Sep 12, 2016
The University of Chicago’s newest residence halls are designed to be more like home
Abundant common spaces give students more chances to interact.
University Buildings | Aug 17, 2016
Supporting communities of motivated learners: reflections on SCUP-51
The two themes that were consistently woven into different topics were institutional transformation and connection with students.
University Buildings | Aug 16, 2016
New images of Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts revealed by Michael Maltzan Architecture
The arts center will foster creativity for making and presenting works across all disciplines
| Aug 10, 2016
UNIVERSITY GIANTS: Facing money woes, the nation's colleges double down on innovative ideas
Budget constraints are compelling some public institutions to pursue alternative methods of financing their major building projects.
| Aug 9, 2016
Top 70 University Engineering Firms
AECOM, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Jacobs top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest university sector engineering and E/A firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.