Weather or Not

Mr. Reigle added that terrazzo’s “low maintenance and durability are even more important than its flood-proof abilities. The reason most schools use terrazzo is because 50 to 75 years later, it will still look the same as the day it was installed”—just as it did in Central Intermediate School, both before and after the flood.

“That the school district installed terrazzo again in the new building is a testament to their recognition of its longevity and durability,” said George Reigle, project architect with Green/Associates of Deerfield, Illinois, a firm that has completed over 500 school construction projects.

Mr. Reigle explained that terrazzo’s durability stems from its material composition and its poured-in-place installation: “Its durability in the case of Central Intermediate School is extraordinary only in the fact that it’s not extraordinary.”

In response to the threat of weather-related disasters that devastate resources, which in turn significantly impacts the environment, the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) urges the use of resilient building materials. NIBS research indicates that between $6 and $11 can be saved in disaster-related costs for every $1 invested in disaster mitigation aligned with the latest building codes. Materials that are durable against wear and breakage, resistant to moisture and mold growth, and low maintenance reduce the need for replacement and repairs. The use of resilient building materials ultimately lowers the financial and environmental costs of construction, whether or not extraordinary weather events occur.