Eagles, dressed in the school’s orange and blue color scheme and waterjet cut from noraplan eco and noraplan logic, appear at corridor intersections in the high school’s renovated Third Hall and fly randomly down hallways in the new career technology center. “They look great, coordinate beautifully with colors throughout the building and help to brighten our hallways,” said Cammie Neill, assistant principal at Columbia High School.

As pleased as she is with the aesthetic value the floors bring to Columbia High School, Shorter and project architect Joseph Thompson also appreciate the performance features the floors deliver. According to Thompson, “DeKalb County standards include a movement to make schools as green as possible. Environmentally friendly nora products really help to move us in that direction, offering a product that eliminates the need to used harsh strippers or wax to maintain its appearance.”

Ease of maintenance attracts the attention of Neill and the school’s custodial staff. “The nora floors are so easy to keep clean,” said Neill. “Much to our staff’s delight, custodians do not need to wax or strip them. Cleaning is simple, saving our staff considerable time and significantly reducing the amount of money we spend on cleaning products.”

Durability, too, is important to Neill. “Realistically, we’re probably looking at a 20-year period before we’ll be able to do another renovation,” she noted. “So, the products we selected for this renovation need to be durable, long-lasting products. The nora floor appears to be just that.”