The average life expectancy for a gym floor is around 50 years. The one we’ve had here? It’s been around for 46, and it was time for a new one.
University School’s game gym was nearing its end. It no longer had the glamorous shine nor the flaunty look it once had back in 1970. It had a past of continuous water leaks, floorboards that creaked, and just an overall gauntly, dull-looking venue not meant to accommodate the thrill and passion of University School’s sports. The installment of a new gym floor was on the school’s radar for quite some time, knowing that it eventually needed to happen. When they said they’d bring in a new court, they meant it.
Before construction had even begun, the price of the demolition became a problem. At $35,000, it seemed too much for Mike Locke, a leader of this project, when he knew great people already employed by US who could help. Saving $35,000 was wise in the long run – the budget was to be spent mainly on the installment of the floor and the new LED lighting, $170,000 and $15,000 respectively. With the cost secure, the renovation went underway.
US partnered with Robbins, a high-performance sports flooring company, to supply the construction and design of maple planks that are then assembled as part of the gym floor. These individual pieces of wood are structured in respect to the “tone” of the human body. It’s a cushioned, like “standing barefoot on grass,” as Mr. Lock compared the new flooring to the old floor, which feels similar to standing barefoot on concrete.
When we ran on the court we initially had, our bodies would tighten up subconsciously; we might not have felt it, but it’s involuntary and it would wear us down due to the tension our bodies observe. With the new court, however, the structure absorbs the tension and acts as a buffer between the impacts of our feet to the ground, making it safer for athletes in a wider range of mobility.
So, are rumors true that the new floor that we have is as good as the NBA’s?
“Nope, it’s not,” remarked Mr. Locke, “It’s better.”
The reason why the NBA can’t have this court, Mike explains, is because all forums and coliseums need to have removable 4×4 panels, which limits them from having the type of floor design we have. The technology just hasn’t been designed yet to accompany this moveable system for the NBA.
Robbins, although they can’t support the NBA with the technology they brought us, does supply 75% of the NBA teams court materials and design, especially our own Cavaliers floor at the Q.
There is no doubt University School takes its athletic program seriously: that’s why we are only the second school in the state of Ohio (next to the University of Dayton) to have this specific court. We hope we can continue to maintain this athletic pride in our school by keeping the court as nicely kept as possible. Walking on the court with cleats, dirty shoes, and wet socks can rapidly deteriorate its quality.
Let’s help this new court live its 50-year life by keeping it clean for future students and athletes that pass through the school. It’s part of our pride as US Students. Besides, the next time we may ever look to another floor could be until 2066.