ECORE International


numerous considerations. “Product- cleaning requirements are one of the major concerns,” says Phillips. “Does the surface cleaning require the use of harsh chemicals? Will the flooring material break down over time and harbor bacteria?” Fortunately, he points out, “Companies are utilizing more advanced manufacturing tech- nologies that are more sensitive to the environment, making better, more attractive, choices available.” When it comes to green, one of


Everlast Sports Surfacing with Nike Grind serves Gold’s Gym in Exton, Pennsylvania


rooms, to day spa areas,” says Kee. “With the downturn in the economy, everyone is searching for ways to save money, and LVT is relatively inexpen- sive when compared to porcelain tile or real wood floor installations. Installed pricing can range from about $4 to $6 per square foot, while a por- celain tile application would run $8 to $12, or more, per square foot.”


Carpet tile is also becoming


increasingly popular, points out Phil- lips, because of its recycled content and the flexibility it provides in new construction and facility upgrades.


It’s about sustainability Function and appearance may head up the list of flooring considerations, but sustainability is quickly moving to the fore. “From our perspective in the industry, sustainable design is clearly a driving trend,” says Jocelyn Dillman, the product manager of ECORE, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based floor- ing company. “In sustainable design, the durability of the product plays an important role; the more durable the product is, the longer it will last, which helps hold down material and mainte- nance costs over its given life cycle.” Sustainability also addresses issues


Slate tiles accented with river rock welcome members at Ethos Fitness and Spa for Women


Roy Campana Photography www. ihrsa.org |


having to do with health, green environments, and, even, taxes. It deals, for instance, with health-related concerns, such as whether flooring produces no, or low levels of, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Dillman notes, for example, that ECORE’s Everlast sports surfacing is FloorScore-certified. That means that it’s met independent standards for low VOCs established by Scientific Certification Systems, an environmen- tal certification and verification firm based in Emeryville, California. Sustainability is also inextricably linked to greening, which introduces


the most impressive imprimaturs is that conferred by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED), a building-certifica- tion program adminstered by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED has rating systems for new and exist- ing buildings that are designed to improve energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site develop- ment, and water utilization. “While green and LEED have estab-


lished a foothold in institutional and school settings, the fitness market is a bit behind with respect to sustainable flooring,” observes Aten. “The green/ LEED trend does, however, seem to be a driving force among the larger club chains, and it’s only a matter of time before smaller facilities begin to focus on this, as well.” One of the offshoots has been the


development of LEED-certified floor- ing materials. “Capri Flooring, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is one of the companies that are now offering such a product,” says Maxion. “All of their products are LEED-certified, and they also have a very nice, natural look and soft wood-like colors. Just recently, they’ve come out with a cork- and rubber-flooring blend. Because cork is a wood product, it’s a renewable resource; it also has resil- iency, great acoustical properties, and is very durable.” Choosing green, Maxion notes, can


also lead to LEED points and possible certification, which, in turn, can result in rebates and tax breaks. —|


– Jon Feld, jfeld@inc.com JANUARY 2011 | Club Business Internat ional 65


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130