Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Madison Campus, Madison, IN

Sometimes, projects go according to plan, without a hitch. Other times, especially with remodels and expansions, projects end up completely different from their original plans, but still produce something spectacular.

Initially specified and priced as tile, the expansion of the Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Madison Campus Academic Building was slated to come in way over budget. A radial pattern and the costs for water-jet cutting of the tile made the project much more expensive and difficult than originally anticipated.

“I offered, as a value engineering option, to use terrazzo,” said Anna Tatman of Rosa Mosaic & Tile Company.

The specifications for the job were revised and to the surprise of the designer at The Estopinal Group, it was possible to save a large percentage on the installation costs by going with terrazzo.

The center atrium, library, the second floor mezzanine, and the staircase easily transformed from a radial tile pattern to a radial terrazzo pattern. Changing products didn’t pose a problem for coloring either, because the colors of the tile were easily replicated in terrazzo to maintain the original design intent.

“Terrazzo is easy to match because the colors that you can get with epoxy terrazzo are almost limitless,” Tatman said.

Neutral tones of blue-gray, tan, white, and taupe terrazzo complement the modern feeling of the building. Large amounts of light, combination metal and glass railings, and columns add to the linear, contemporary atmosphere of the student gathering space.

Because Ivy Tech had used terrazzo at other campuses, the designers and the school system were
thrilled to use it again as a way to give the Academic Building a sleek, modern feel and save on installation costs.

“This project solidified how beneficial terrazzo flooring is to an institution like Ivy Tech,” Tatman said.

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