The Background

Johnson College revealed its latest architectural marvel, Ideal Saldi Hall, in April 2024. The new facility, just under 19,000 square feet, contains classrooms, program labs, student-facing departments such as enrollment and financial aid, the registrar, administration offices, and a state-of-the-art conference room. It has an industrial, modern appearance that features exposed interior building elements for intuitive learning experiences.

That design trend continues into the building’s four restrooms, which feature Scranton Products Hiny Hiders. This classic style of restroom partition offered an attractive, economical solution for the college, where durability is a top priority. The project architect specified Hiny Hiders because of its good looks and durability, which would save on maintenance costs.

However, the relationship between Scranton Products and Johnson College has a deeper connection. Located just 10 miles from each other, Scranton Products frequently employs Johnson College graduates. Ideal Saldi Hall was designed to be student-oriented, so Johnson College prioritized working with local companies that hire their students to be involved in its construction.

“We’re a Technical College focused on getting our students ready for industry,” said Roger Orlandini, Associate VP of Facilities and Campus Projects at Johnson College. “Scranton Products falls right into the line of work we train our students for, and we’re always willing to work with local companies to help them get the staff they need.”

“We labeled some of the building and restroom elements to highlight how things go together. Classes can walk through the building and trace how everything connects. Training the students as the building was going up was pretty neat.” ” said Stephen Peterson, Project Engineer at L.R. Costanzo.

It was determined that Scranton Products® Hiny Hiders® were the right solution for the complex retrofit. According to Biese-Carroll, one of the standout features of the Hiny Hiders product line was its versatile design options and commercial high-grade quality. “We were at a loss for how to modernize the restrooms while maintaining the building’s integrity,” she said. “Scranton Products and the installers took that burden off of us.”

The availability of various door styles allowed the facility to maintain its architectural integrity while providing a timeless and cohesive appearance. The shower doors that were installed match the overall 1860s style of the building as well as the individual style of each restroom. Because Hiny Hiders allowed The DeKoven Center to closely match the shower doors to the toilet stalls, those were not replaced, saving time and costs.

“The bathrooms look very flashy and new. It stands out as very well done because of the exposed elements and custom details to fit the partitions, It matches the industrial look of the building.” Brister said.

The project involved getting students and their instructors out of the classroom to observe construction so they could understand the building in the context of their chosen career paths and get a glimpse of the day-to-day work they may soon be doing.

Construction was led by L.R. Costanzo, whose staff frequently spoke with the students and demonstrated various facets of the construction process, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of career opportunities within the industry.

“Our general contractor partnered with us to help teach and train students while the build was going on,” said Orlandini. “Welding students watched the welding of the building’s steel frame. The architecture and design students compared the blueprints with how the actual construction was progressing. We left the building elements exposed because we teach skills for building trades and technology. It’s an important opportunity for our students to see how things come together in a new build.”

Even in the restrooms, the walls were left exposed for ongoing learning and reflection. For example, through a glass window, you can see the insulated water line, furnace, ventilation systems, and electrical lines.

“We labeled some of the building and restroom elements to highlight how things go together,” said Stephen Peterson, Project Engineer at L.R. Costanzo. “Classes can walk through the building and trace how everything connects. Training the students as the building was going up was pretty neat.”

The non-standard design led to a few construction challenges that were expertly addressed by L.R. Costanzo and the subcontractor who handled the restroom installation, Scandale Associated Builders & Engineers. Due to the building’s exposed structure, the skin and the insulation layer are situated outside the structure itself and a narrow steel girt stands between the interior and flat wall. When installing the Hiny Hiders restroom partitions, the contractors had to navigate around the exposed structure to access the exterior of the wall.

“The physical installation was difficult because the new metal building has exposed steel girts within its structure,” said Brian Brister, Project Manager at Scandale Associated Builders & Engineers. Unlike a uniform flush wall, these metal girts created gaps between the wall and Hiny Hiders partitions. To address this issue, additional panel pieces were ordered and custom-cut to fill these gaps, creating a polished and private appearance.

Additional challenges included maintaining the budget during the COVID-19 pandemic and following a tight schedule that was based on the academic calendar.

“The bathrooms look very flashy and new,” said Brister. “It stands out as very well done because of the exposed elements and custom details to fit the partitions, It matches the industrial look of the building.”

To learn more about Scranton Products Hiny Hiders, please visit www.scrantonproducts.com or call 800-445-5148.

About Scranton Products:

With more than 30 years of experience, Scranton Products is the industry leader in plastic bathroom partitions and lockers. Endless design options and an array of designer colors and textures provide confidence and elegant style in every project, creating a lasting impression. Proudly made in the USA and constructed from premium-grade solid plastic, our products’ unmatched durability withstands impact, corrosion, graffiti, and mildew. Backed by sustainable technologies and industry-leading warranties, with our partitions and lockers you are investing in peace of mind.

*About our brands’ health and safety: https://www.scrantonproducts.com/better-safety/