Drake University replaced a patchwork of failing floors at the Knapp Center with 30,000 sq ft of Robbins Bio-Channel SB in 2018.
Results
The challenge
The Knapp Center floor was a patchwork of three floating systems: the side courts were original to the 1992 building and the center court had been replaced separately about a decade earlier. The paneled underlayment could not carry the heavy bleacher equipment rolled across it, and the building also hosts lectures, 17 graduation ceremonies and up to six volleyball courts.
The solution
Dealer Anderson Ladd installed Bio-Channel SB, which has a self-blocking subfloor that supports heavy loads. The main court uses second-and-better maple, with third grade around the perimeter for a varied look. Four logos from different eras of Drake basketball, including the 1969 Final Four team, were painted on the courts.
The outcome
Drake's facilities and operations lead says fans enjoy the throwback logos and keep coming back to photograph them. The project finished in 2018.
About the Bio-Channel SB floor
The self-blocking feature in Bio-Channel SB is built into the subfloor at the factory. Under heavy rolling or fixed loads, such as bleachers, the layers close up against each other so the floor deflects only so far. A Zero/G shockpad provides vibration control.
Key takeaways
- Three mismatched floating floors were replaced with one system.
- Heavy rolling bleachers had damaged the old paneled underlayment.
- Throwback logos tied the new floor to the program's history.
Project details
In their words
Anderson Ladd and Robbins was really helpful. We have all different kinds of events. It’s not just basketball games or volleyball games. We also have a lecture series, we have 17 graduation ceremonies, we have the ability to do six volleyball courts, so they worked with us on ensuring that we have flexibility to do all of those types of events.
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