Fabric Applications

Fabric Application in the Alumni Center

Looking around the Texas Tech campus there are many different applications of fabric.  The other day I had the pleasure of taking a trip to the Merket Alumni Center on campus.  The center is fairly new and the inside is very aesthetically appealing.  Even though all of the fabric applications in the building are very nice to look at, it is obvious that the designer thought about the durability of all the fabrics used.  The main application that I noticed the most was the carpeting that runs throughout most of the building. 

Although I do not know the specific make-up of the carpet used in this particular building, it is obviously a nylon based commercial grade carpet.  This means that after many years of use the carpet should continue to look new.  It is very costly to replace carpet, especially in such a huge space.  Having the durability of commercial grade carpet can save on fees of replacing the carpet sooner rather than later.

The color of the carpeting is dark which will also help with the appearance after years of use.  Lighter colors usually show dirt faster than dark colors do and can often begin to look faded or splotchy.  Sometimes permanent stains are inevitable in busy locations.  When a darker carpet is used these stains will be a lot less noticeable, if not impossible, to see.

Another great thing about this carpet is that it has a continuous pattern.  This is aesthetically appealing because it makes such a large area of flooring not look as plain as it would have had the designer used a solid color.  Patterns can also aid in hiding stains and dirt that occur from everyday use.  Many times stains and dirt can be easily cleaned out of a carpet such as this one, but it is hard to keep floors constantly clean.  It would be awkward if someone came out to clean the carpets during the middle of an event that was taking place. In times like these it is good to have something to camouflage food, dirt, and other substances that may get on the floor.   This is where the use of a pattern comes in handy.

Many people pick out their curtains, chair upholstery, and rugs based on aesthetic appeal.  Although these applications of fabric may turn out beautiful, they may not look quite as good a few years down the road.  This is because the durability of a fabric is just as important as the way that it looks, especially when it comes to high traffic volume areas, such as the Merket Alumni Center.