Michigan State University’s (MSU) football team finished 2013 undefeated in Big Ten play and won this year's Rose Bowl. Its new North End Zone Complex not only celebrates the team’s previous success, but also looks toward future victories with a state-of-the-art recruiting center. The new facility features nearly 16,000 square feet of tile, set with Tec products.

 

Comprising 50,000 square feet in two levels, the North End Zone Complex is an inspiring home base for the Spartans. The locker room alone measures 5,000 square feet, with two 500-square-foot shower areas. The renovated space also features a prominent recruiting center for all MSU athletic teams, support spaces, media rooms, concession areas and additional restrooms.

 

To make sure the tile performed in a variety of spaces, including the locker room’s showers, installer Artisan Tile of Brighton, Mich., consulted with Tec technical sales professionals. A Tec representative worked with Artisan to help them select an array of products suited for the demanding environment.

 

“Early on, we were concerned about moisture levels on the job site," said Jennifer Panning, owner of Artisan. Our Tec representative helped us work through those issues for a successful installation. We knew we could count on Tec for support throughout the installation.”

 

Artisan used Tec HydraFlex Waterproofing Crack Isolation Membrane to protect the installation from potential moisture damage. As moisture levels change, subfloors, adhesives and tile can expand, contract and even crack. At Spartan Stadium, HydraFlex helps stop in-plane cracks at the subfloor from telegraphing through to the tile. According to the company, HydraFlex dries in just two to three hours, which kept this installation on schedule to ensure the locker room was ready for football season.

 

In the shower areas, HydraFlex also provides waterproofing. It resists mold and mildew, helping to provide a place for MSU athletes to cool down on game days. Tile can be bonded directly to HydraFlex using a suitable Tec latex-modified mortar. Artisan used Full Flex Premium Thin Set Mortar to place six-inch and three-inch tiles on the shower floors. The walls feature Spartan-green glass tile, which was adhered with Super Flex Ultra-Premium Thin Set Mortar. The green is complemented by white 8 x 20-inch white tiles, set with Tec Ultimate Large Tile Mortar. 

 

The recruiting center, which will be used to recruit student-athletes for every MSU sport, also features a variety of types and sizes of tile. Future Spartans walk into the recruitment center on porcelain wood-look tile, installed with Tec Full Flex. Tec Ultimate Large Tile Mortar, in a 3/4-inch mortar bed, adheres large-format limestone tile to the walls. The floor and wall tiles create a welcoming, yet elegant, space that reflects MSU’s commitment to its student-athletes.

 

In high-traffic corridors essential for other trades, Artisan used Quik Flex Accelerated Thin Set Mortar. According to the company, this mortar is ready for grout in three hours, which kept the installation on track and helped ensure that all contractors could reach their work areas without disturbing the tile.

 

Artisan used the Tec Installation Systems Coverage Calculator App to order setting materials for this project. This app estimates the amount of surface preparation products, mortars and grouts necessary for a project based on square footage, tile size and size of grout joint.

 

"The Coverage Calculator helps me plan, particularly for projects like this one—with tile of all types and sizes,” said Panning. “It was very accurate, so it made the ordering process easier."

 

Tec InColor Advanced Performance Grout, in Light Pewter, Bright White, Light Smoke and DeLorean Gray, was used with the many tile types in the North End Zone Complex. Specifically formulated for heavy commercial use, InColor met both the aesthetic and performance requirements of this hard-working space. “InColor is stain resistant and durable,” added Panning. “Those are essential characteristics for a busy athletic facility.”