Roppe Corporation, a leading flooring manufacturer to the commercial flooring industry is located Fostoria, Ohio, a small community that relies on manufacturing partners to provide volunteers and funding to support many of its initiatives.

When state and local funding provided the opportunity for Fostoria to build a new facility that would house the Seneca County Health Agency offices, as well as the county operated WSOS Child Development preschool and daycare programs, the project was embraced by the community. The project manager, Arlen Lowery contacted Roppe once the initial plan for The Fostoria Community Early Childhood and Family Center was developed. “We wanted to involve the community in the project, and we wanted to build a facility that the community could be proud of”, said Lowery.

McCall Sharp Architects proposed a turn of the century train depot theme for the facility, as Fostoria is a major hub for the United States rail transportation system.

It was decided that the building would use the Roppe Slate Design Rubber Tile throughout the facility, with Visuellé Wall Base and Rubber Corner Blocks to complete the look. The county health office chose the SafeTcork Vinyl Tile for their exam rooms for an appealing yet durable surface that would withstand the use of medical equipment and heavy foot traffic.

In the preschool and daycare portion of the building, Wood Naturals vinyl planks were selected.

The indoor play area boasts the best use of a variety of Roppe products brought together to create a unique train track that is inlaid in the floor design. The field of the floor is Texture Design rubber tile in a Fiesta pattern designed to help hide dirt and debris between cleanings. Large brightly colored dots of Roppe Smooth Rubber Tile were used as depot stops at each classroom door. The wood planks were again used to create the effect of railroad ties and smooth rubber tile in gray was used to emulate the train rails. “The large muscle play area of the facility is the pride of the facility design. The kids can ride their bikes around on the track floor regardless of the weather outside”, noted Lowery.

“It had always been the mission of the committee to develop a showplace that represented what Fostoria was about to promote our desire to assist local youth from birth to kindergarten with a creative yet non-institutional environment where they could be stimulated to learn and thrive within our local school systems. Roppe offers a wide range of flooring products in a broad range of colors and styles that we feel greatly enhanced the appeal of the entire facility,” stated Lowery.