Project Profile
USG Durock™ EcoCap™ Self-Leveling Underlayment
Name:
EcoHawks Engineering Research and
Teaching Facility
Location:
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Distributor:
Tingle Flooring, Lee’s Summit, MO
Flooring Applicator:
Barnhart Specialty Contracting and
Studio 804 graduate students
Featured Product:
Durock™ EcoCap™ Self-Leveling
Underlayment
usg.com/ecocap
Kansas University Students Share a Lesson in Sustainability With the Help of Durock EcoCap
Self-Leveling Underlayment
“Our goal is to
find sustainable
products that don’t
compromise quality.
And EcoCap fits
the bill exactly.”
Graduates of the Studio 804 program at Kansas University’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning always
consider sustainable building early in the design process because it’s something they learned early in their careers.
Studio 804 is a yearlong, comprehensive program that is part of Kansas University’s Masters of Architecture
program. The Studio is built on a foundation of creating high-quality, innovative and sustainable buildings. In fact, the
Studio has completed five registered LEED Platinum buildings over the last five years.
This year, students were tasked with creating a new structure to house another innovative program at the
University of Kansas. EcoHawks is a student program that is part of the University of Kansas School of Engineering.
Its focus is to find alternative energy for transportation. The program has been expanding rapidly and needed a new
facility that could showcase its research.
The similar ideologies and goals of both the EcoHawks program and Studio 804 made the collaboration of the two
groups a natural partnership. Using both passive and active sustainable systems and technologies, the new EcoHawks
Engineering Research and Teaching Facility was designed to be Studio 804’s sixth LEED Platinum building.
It contains designated areas for prototype testing and high-bay fabrication spaces that are completely glazed to allow
visitors to view research in progress and to facilitate maximum visibility and solar gain. The Studio 804 students also
developed a system that raises and lowers aerogel panels behind the glazed façade to offset high heat transfer and
improve energy performance.
But there are sustainable attributes to the facility that are less easy to see. Knowing that every detail of the design
mattered, students were selective all the way down to their floor prep specification. After much research, the team
chose USG Durock EcoCap Self-Leveling Underlayment.
Using proprietary technology, this revolutionary underlayment is manufactured using high-recycled content. As a
result, it reduces carbon footprint by 50% and embodied energy by 45% versus traditional Portland cement-based
or calcium aluminate cement-based underlayment products.
The finished floor epoxy was applied in
three coats and it performed very well
over the EcoCap.
“Our goal is to find sustainable products that don’t compromise quality. And EcoCap fits the bill exactly,” said Ryan
Barry, the student in charge of contacting USG.
Ryan called USG customer support using the number he found on the USG website. Within hours, he was
contacted by Joseph Cherrito, a USG Tile & Flooring representative.
“It’s a unique product. There’s nothing out there like it. It’s an ideal, sustainable and cost-effective solution. They
did look at other products, but those didn’t offer these attributes and they were almost double the cost,” said Joseph.
As part of the Studio 804 program, students were responsible for pouring the product. They were guided by Ron
Barnhart, of Barnhart Specialty Contracting, who was on site to inform them of best practices when opening the
bags, measuring the water, mixing the product and getting it onto the floor.
Students were able to see firsthand that Durock EcoCap Self-Leveling Underlayment doesn’t just shine in
sustainability, it also offers outstanding performance. It mixes easily, dries quickly, offers superior crack resistance
due to low shrinkage and features excellent thermal stability. Plus, the low surface pH of Durock EcoCap Self-Leveling
Underlayment provides enhanced compatibility with floor-covering adhesives.
Students were also impressed that it requires so much less water to mix than traditional floor prep products, as
this was another way Durock EcoCap Self-Leveling Underlayment helped conserve natural resources.
“It was a perfect match,” says Joseph Cherrito. “They were looking for a sustainable floor prep product, and at
USG, we always want to be involved in projects like this, one that strives to do good for the environment.”
Manufactured by
United States Gypsum Company
550 West Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60661
The following trademarks used herein are
owned by United States Gypsum Company
or a related company: Durock, EcoCap, USG,
USG in stylized letters.
5-13
© 2013 United States Gypsum Company
Printed in U.S.A.
Printed on recycled paper.