Few environments are rowdier than a sports arena, but that hasn’t stopped Scranton Products’ Hiny Hiders bathroom partitions from standing up to whatever joys or frustrations the KFC Yum! Center’s Louisville, KY, fans might vent. The sparkling new $258-million, 722,000-square-foot arena seats 22,090 fans, replacing Freedom Hall near the Kentucky Fairgrounds built in the 1960s.

Located on the Ohio River, the KFC Yum! Center is home to the University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as ice shows, circus performances, and concerts.

According to Jason Slone of Atlas Co., whose company sourced the high-density polyethylene partitions, the contemporary, clean lines of the center’s architecture needed to be reflected in every detail, right down to the restrooms. “The architects and arena owners went with the Black EX product, a sleek black color with a modern texture,” Slone said. “The Hiny Hiders partitions resist bacteria, are easy to keep clean, and are very impact and sports fan resistant.”

Finding the Right Bathroom Partitions

Working through commercial builder M.A. Mortenson of Minneapolis, MN, and Populous, a worldwide architectural firm based in Kansas City, MO, Atlas Co. supplied Hiny Hiders bathroom partitions for close to 300 stalls with some supplemental metal. After two years of planning and construction, the new arena was completed in 2010 and turned over to the owners just in time to host an Eagles concert.

Tracy Tapp, an associate at Populous and interior designer, said the KFC Yum! Center is her proudest achievement in her 13-year career, and using the best materials was key to achieving her design vision. “From a design perspective, we were excited to find the solid HDPE partitions with a sporty yet sophisticated texture, and the black color is classic and timeless,” she said.

Tapp explained that a contemporary design has to carry through every room and not lose the color scheme or upscale feel.

With a focus on satisfying customers, Tapp also noted the importance of leaving the job knowing that the stalls are a durable and low-maintenance option for the arena staff and owners. “The Scranton Products partitions were above and beyond typical bathroom products, allowing us to step up in quality and stay within our budget,” she said.

Partitions That Won’t Rust or Dent

Ted Nicholson, general manager of the KFC Yum! Center, said he’s very happy with the choice of partition products in the center’s restrooms. “We’ve had no rust or dents in any of our bathroom stalls and are thrilled with the performance of the Scranton Products partitions.”

Scranton Products continues to develop products that meet the higher design aesthetic that architects look for, but that also endure the unnecessary roughness of sports fans. “This is an environment in which our bathroom partitions really show their durability while retaining their great looks,” said the director of sales for Scranton Products. “They’ve survived one Louisville basketball season, with many more events ahead.”