flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Enhancing university life: The smart shower bead

Sponsored Content University Buildings

Enhancing university life: The smart shower bead

Residential spaces that need to meet high traffic demands while accommodating an ever-changing populace creates a unique set of obstacles for any educational institution’s housing.


By Trim-Tex | October 3, 2016

Seven buildings are part of the University of Kentucky Residential Revival project, once complete they all are seeking LEED certification.

Living on campus during college becomes as much a part of any students’ academic growth as attending classes. In the race to attract the best and brightest minds, universities are focusing on creating spaces of comfort and productivity. Residential spaces that need to meet high traffic demands while accommodating an ever-changing populace creates a unique set of obstacles for any educational institution’s housing. Additionally, demonstrating leading environmental thoughts by constructing with green building initiatives top the priority list.

For the University of Kentucky Residential Revival project, expanding student living quarters to include seven buildings and 3000 additional beds tasked contractors Messer and Quality Interiors with maintaining a hypo-allergenic environment that withstands extensive use, while installing with ease. Upon completion of the five-year project, campus housing will seek LEED Silver certification, so Messer and Quality Interiors sought out environmentally conscious products.

Between the high volume construction, varied hypo-allergenic needs of the students, green initiatives, and the desire to create a lasting professional finish, Messer and Quality Interiors searched for durable products with environmentally-friendly manufacturing. Using shower bead constructed from vinyl rather than metal became an obvious choice. Vinyl bead prevents rust, kinks, dents, and maintains a professional look for longer due to its flexible and durable nature. For finishing shower surrounds, they chose Trim-Tex’s Shower Bead.

 

Step 1 Shower Bead is installed around the surround, Step 2 finish with mud compound, Step 3 remove the tear off strip and caulk the gap for a clean finish.

 

The unique vinyl construction of Trim-Tex Shower Bead replaces paper tape, thereby eliminating the food source for mold and maintaining a hypo-allergenic environment long-term. Shower Bead also features an extra-long 2¼" mud leg that requires less mud to span the gap between the drywall and flange. A tear away strip protects the shower enclosure from mud and leaves a crisp, finished edge with no mess. Using staples instead of screws, Trim-Tex Shower Beads save time on labor while guaranteeing a professional finish.

Trim-Tex manufactures all of its products in the USA using 70% recycled material. This helps keep millions of pounds of plastic out of landfills each year and contributes to an overall green construction initiative. By selecting Trim-Tex Shower Bead for the University of Kentucky Residential Revival project, Messer and Quality Interiors provided a long-lasting, hypo-allergenic, environmentally-conscious solution that will withstand the rigors of university residential life for decades to come.

For more information visit Trim-Tex.com.

Related Stories

University Buildings | Aug 7, 2023

Eight-story Vancouver Community College building dedicated to clean energy, electric vehicle education

The Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation, to be designed by Stantec, will house classrooms, labs, a library and learning center, an Indigenous gathering space, administrative offices, and multiple collaborative learning spaces.

Market Data | Aug 1, 2023

Nonresidential construction spending increases slightly in June

National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Spending is up 18% over the past 12 months. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.07 trillion in June.

Market Data | Jul 24, 2023

Leading economists call for 2% increase in building construction spending in 2024

Following a 19.7% surge in spending for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings in 2023, leading construction industry economists expect spending growth to come back to earth in 2024, according to the July 2023 AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel. 

Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023

5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings

For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.

Adaptive Reuse | Jul 6, 2023

The responsibility of adapting historic university buildings

Shepley Bulfinch's David Whitehill, AIA, believes the adaptive reuse of historic university buildings is not a matter of sentimentality but of practicality, progress, and preservation.

University Buildings | Jun 26, 2023

Univ. of Calif. Riverside’s plant research facility enables year-round plant growth

The University of California, Riverside’s new plant research facility, a state-of-the-art greenhouse with best-in-class research and climate control technologies, recently held its grand opening. Construction of the two-story, 30,000 sf facility was completed in 2021. It then went through two years of preparation and testing.

University Buildings | Jun 26, 2023

Addition by subtraction: The value of open space on higher education campuses

Creating a meaningful academic and student life experience on university and college campuses does not always mean adding a new building. A new or resurrected campus quad, recreational fields, gardens, and other greenspaces can tie a campus together, writes Sean Rosebrugh, AIA, LEED AP, HMC Architects' Higher Education Practice Leader.

Standards | Jun 26, 2023

New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings

The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.

Laboratories | Jun 23, 2023

A New Jersey development represents the state’s largest-ever investment in life sciences and medical education

In New Brunswick, N.J., a life sciences development that’s now underway aims to bring together academics and researchers to work, learn, and experiment under one roof. HELIX Health + Life Science Exchange is an innovation district under development on a four-acre downtown site. At $731 million, HELIX, which will be built in three phases, represents New Jersey’s largest-ever investment in life sciences and medical education, according to a press statement.

Engineers | Jun 14, 2023

The high cost of low maintenance

Walter P Moore’s Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE, and Webb Wright, PE, identify the primary causes of engineering failures, define proactive versus reactive maintenance, recognize the reasons for deferred maintenance, and identify the financial and safety risks related to deferred maintenance.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category



Mass Timber

Bjarke Ingels Group designs a mass timber cube structure for the University of Kansas

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and executive architect BNIM have unveiled their design for a new mass timber cube structure called the Makers’ KUbe for the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. A six-story, 50,000-sf building for learning and collaboration, the light-filled KUbe will house studio and teaching space, 3D-printing and robotic labs, and a ground-level cafe, all organized around a central core.


halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021