Colorful design of the outdoor area at the Vocational College Kleve

Sports facility with a visual impact

At the Vocational College Kleve, around 5,000 students are taught by nearly 200 teachers. The main focus of the college lies in combining general and vocational education, implemented across 66 different programs. This makes Kleve the largest vocational college in NRW. In recent years, the main campus in Kleve has been completely renovated, modernized, and partially expanded with new buildings. This included the college's sports facility, which was upgraded with, among other things, a new 3-field sports hall. The outdoor areas were also fundamentally refurbished, requiring creative solutions due to limited space. During the implementation by planning office Geo3 from nearby Bedburg-Hau and in close collaboration with the school's sports department, we supported the project with several of our sports surfaces. A unique challenge was the colorful design of the entire facility through a differentiated color concept. The four-lane running track is surfaced with Rekortan M in Hertha Blue. The integrated sprint track is also finished in Rekortan M but in Eggshell shade, as is the high-jump area. Conversely, the long & triple jump areas impress with Rekortan M in a bright Sky Blue – also used for the interior areas and individual lines that separate the sports zones. Meanwhile, the fields for street soccer & basketball shine in the darker Hertha Blue. The consistently applied Polytan Rekortan M surface is the top choice among our sports flooring. The cast coating layer stands out for its excellent acceleration, high elasticity, incredible speed, and superior damping with outstanding sports-medical properties, making it popular among athletes and trainers alike. Its spike compatibility and water-impermeable properties make it an even more attractive option for sports facility operators. The fitness area also aligns with the overall color scheme, finished in Eggshell. Here, the Polytan PolyPlay FS shock-absorbent flooring was installed – an equally clean and safe solution suitable for various applications, from playgrounds to rehab centers. PolyPlay FS proves its worth as a cushioning surface in varying thicknesses. The sprinkled, water-permeable surface is not only low-maintenance but also protects against injuries thanks to its cushioning effect – for instance, during falls. Its weather and decay resistance form the basis of its impressive durability coupled with minimal maintenance costs. Compared to sandpits, shock-absorbent surfaces are known to be significantly more hygienic and safer. Only the mini playing field stands out as a green “highlight” within the otherwise unified color scheme in Kleve. It is designed with LigaGrass Pro, our highly robust all-rounder for football turf, perfect for year-round intensive use. The textured filaments create a particularly natural grass-like appearance in rich green. As a durable and low-maintenance turf, LigaGrass Pro retains its premium look even after prolonged use. With the modern, multifunctional sports facility, the Vocational College Kleve has fulfilled an important goal from its self-defined mission statement: to provide an inspiring space for sports and exercise on the school grounds. “This objective emerged specifically from the students themselves, who expressed a desire for outdoor sports facilities. On the journey to becoming a ‘healthy school,’ this sports facility is an important milestone, as students can also use it during breaks for physical activity,” explains Principal Peter Wolters. Tobias Knoll, Managing Director of Geo 3, emphasized the significant challenge of accommodating many sports and various needs within a confined area: “By maximizing the use of space, we’ve created a unique sports complex that will have an impact far beyond the Kleve district.” Incidentally, the facility is not only used by the vocational college but also by local sports clubs and corporate sports groups. After prior online registration, private use is also possible. For Polytan, the sports facility in Kleve holds special meaning as well: “At the Vocational College Kleve, we once again demonstrated that Polytan is capable of designing complex sports facilities,” summarizes David Schmitz, Team Leader Sales North/West. “The wide range of our surfaces for various requirements and the associated color palettes make such sophisticated solutions easily achievable. Additionally, it’s convenient for the customer to receive all surfaces from one source, avoiding the need for multiple suppliers.” To ensure that the new sports facility remains attractive and functional in the long term, the Kleve district, as the operator of the facility, has signed Polytan’s ‘Bronze’ service package for regular cleaning and maintenance.