Enviromentally Preferable Products
Magic Carpet Ride - 36 years and counting.
The year was 1967 and the Monkees were "Daydream Believers," the Turtles were "Happy Together" and a radical new school was being built in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Peace, love and carpet were on the agenda for Prospect Valley Elementary School, winner of the very first Antron® Sustainable Flooring Performance award.
What was at first deemed a luxury by some citizens, carpet proved to be a logical choice for the space. It provided a comfortable seating surface, reduced ambient noise levels and could withstand heavy foot traffic from little feet. It also offered safety benefits, providing greater traction than hard surface flooring, cushioning slips and falls and providing comfort for teachers who stand all day. Not to mention, carpet would save the school a great deal of money in replacement and maintenance costs. Anne Rutkofsky, now retired, started as a first-year teacher in 1967 when the carpet was installed. "Carpet has proven performance, standing up to 35 years of crayons and spills," she said. "It even outlasted me!"
"By specifying and maintaining durable products that last longer and perform exceptionally well throughout their service life, Jeffco Public Schools has demonstrated a true commitment to sustainability," said Dave Bouton, business director, INVISTA™ Commercial Flooring. "When carpet can remain on the floor for an extended period of time, less energy is used, fewer raw materials are consumed and less waste is generated. The specification of Antron® and a well-planned maintenance program yields the best life-cycle costs and the lowest total environmental impact."
As the winner of the 2002 Antron® Sustainable Flooring Performance award, Prospect Valley demonstrated how well its original C & A Powerbond carpet selection has continued to meet performance and design objectives and its ability to meet challenges over time through sustainable material selection. The award recognizes sustainable interior design practices through the use of performance driven flooring in commercial carpet applications.
Upon winning the award, word quickly spread about the 35-year old carpet, which has become part of the school's identity. In fact, when camera crews rolled in to film the school for a video shown at the 2002 Antron® Design Award ceremony, one child remarked, "Oh, it's just about the carpet. It's, like, ancient."
