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IONA COLLEGE SPORTS NEW ATHLETIC &
RECREATIONAL FACILITY
ATLANTA , GA, JULY 27, 2006 – Iona College, an NCAA Division I ranked school, chose 15,000 square feet of two of Taraflex® Sports Flooring’s newest surfaces for its state-of-the-art athletic center.
The $14 million Hynes Athletic Center opened on Iona’s New Rochelle, NY campus in early 2006, just 15 months after construction began. Open 18 hours a day, the center’s facilities offer the college’s 3,100 undergraduate students expanded recreational, intramural and wellness opportunities. The versatility of the flooring is already evident.
“The floor has been great for us,” says Assistant Athletic Director for Recreation & Intramurals Matt Glovaski. “Definitely, the floor allows us to host a variety of sports including basketball, volleyball, wiffle ball and dodge ball. We’ve had no injuries and the floor is really resilient. Plus it cleans up very well.”
Iona ’s Assistant Director of Facilities Management Rich Murray played basketball on the new floor and notes, “It was comfortable and better than some of the harder surface floors I’ve played on.”
The new facility draws students constantly.
“Since we’ve opened, I’d say everyone has been in here at some point,” says Glovaski. “We get a ton of traffic in here,” adding that during the regular academic year hundreds of students participate weekly on up to 50 different intramural teams. For the summer, the center switches to camp activities for children.
Taraflex® Sport Performance Plus in Maple Design bordered by a Forest Green running track was installed in the 11,000 square foot gym. The gym features two courts adaptable for basketball or volleyball with one NCAA regulation size court within them. The Core Studio on the second level with Taraflex® Sport M Plus Maple Design provides 2,000 square feet of space for students involved in the Wellness Program and using Physio-balls, yoga mats, step-ups and other equipment. Taraflex® Sport Performance Plus is also installed in the Aerobics Studio, which has more than 2,000 square feet for aerobics and dance classes and Iona’s cheerleading and dance team’s routine rehearsals.
“These new Taraflex® surfaces will benefit all students whether playing in an intramural game or just shooting hoops during a break between classes,” says Stephane Leudet, Gerflor national sales manager. “They will immediately notice the increased shock absorption and comfort that enables them to play better and longer.”
The center serves as the hub of the college’s Intramural and Wellness Program. Other uses have already included a grand opening ceremony, banquets and student events.
Additional amenities at the center include a cardiovascular room, selectorized equipment, a rowing tank, locker rooms with a lounge, the college’s Hall of Fame and coaches’ offices. The flooring was installed by Advantage Sport USA, Inc. of Winooski, VT.
Founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, Iona College is a private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of American Catholic higher education. Iona, currently listed in the US News and World Report's annual " America's Best Colleges 2006" and The Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges 2006 edition, offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as master of arts, master of science and master of business administration degrees and numerous post-graduate certificate programs.
All Taraflex® synthetic floors are designed for safety and comfort. Their multi-layered construction includes 100% pure vinyl, a reinforced fiberglass grid and closed-cell foam backing to provide shock absorption, help fight fatigue and deliver consistent ball bounce. Product treatments ensure easy maintenance, stain resistance and prevention of mold and bacteria growth. Taraflex® floors meet and exceed the stringent performance standards mandated by all major flooring associations.
For more information, call 800-727-7505.