CASE STUDY: High School Transitions To Contemporary Look In Restrooms

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School became the first Catholic high school in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area when its doors officially opened to its first ninth grade class in early 2017. Entirely funded by nearly $4 million in parishioner grants and donations, the school was conceived by the Diocese of Charleston to provide a rigorous college preparatory education to students in a safe and nurturing environment dedicated to character, social responsibility, and faith.
 
The 15,400-square-foot facility sits on 50 acres of a 75-acre plot and today houses classrooms, a cafeteria, administrative offices, multi-purpose art/music room, a media center, and science laboratory. Upcoming plans call for the expansion of the campus, which will eventually include a gymnasium, chapel, and elementary school.
 
“The ongoing growth of a state-of-the art learning experience that consistently expands with students and amenities is our ultimate goal,” says Ted Hanes,  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School’s principal. “This will be performed in a fresh, modern environment offering a challenging educational program.
 
“This year began with our freshman, ninth grade class. We intend to add grades 10 through 12 each year beyond this one until we become a fully-functional institution offering faith and wide ranging arts, academic, and athletic opportunities for every level.”

Based on more than 20 years of architectural experience in the commercial, institutional and religious sectors, William R. Halasz Architects in Myrtle Beach was selected to design the Catholic high school, which began construction in 2015. “We wanted a look and feel that was well beyond the norm,” said Bill Halasz of William R. Halasz Architects in Myrtle Beach.  ”This included a clean, crisp contemporary motif that extended from exterior glass and metal to strikingly fresh glow of the restroom.”
 
To seamlessly blend with each restroom’s modern gray tile and chrome fixtures, the school chose Scranton Products’  Eclipse bathroom partitions due to their bright, white finish and enhanced durability. Donated to the high school by Bill Meany, owner and vice president of the Palmetto Parts Company of Myrtle Beach, Eclipse Partitions are made from HDPE (high-density polyethylene), which is durable, easy-to-clean and extremely resistant to scratches, graffiti, and rust. Their sleek, sophisticated design also offers hidden hardware for clean aesthetics and angled door edges ensuring enhanced privacy.
 
Since HDPE is a solid composite, it also maintains a property of impermeability that does not allow the material to retain and/or absorb moisture. Because of this characteristic, the partitions resist water damage and unlike metal, there is no rust that can harbor bacteria. This makes the stalls ideal for power-washing and hose-down cleaning. 
 
If cleaned and maintained properly, HDPE partitions reduce costs in the long run. Mild stains and general soiling are often removed with a mild cleaner and water. Tougher stains are normally counteracted with solutions containing 2⁄3 cup of trisodium phosphate, 1⁄2 cup of household detergent and a gallon of water. If those solutions are not viable, a non-abrasive industrial-strength cleaner will do the job without damaging the surface of the bathroom partition.

“Our company has worked with Scranton Products for the past 25 years,” explained Meany. “If possible, we always lean towards HDPE as opposed to stainless steel. HDPE wears extremely well. They have color throughout, don’t deteriorate and most importantly, once they’re installed we tend to never hear from the customer again except when they order more products. They’ve even held up to the abuse in some very difficult situations.”

As a board member for the high school, Meany says he has a duty to do what is best for the institution. “I wouldn’t provide anything that I didn’t think would last or look great. With the Eclipse design, you can’t even see the hinges. They’re perfect for the modern look we were trying to achieve – shiny, bright exteriors with nice, clean lines.”