New Orleans, LA – Louisiana sports construction specialists and certified AstroTurf distributor T3 Global Projects recently completed the installation of the new synthetic sports turf and track for Edna Karr High School. The Algiers’ high school regularly makes headlines thanks to its winning athletic program and talented players. With the completion of this project, the school’s athletes will have safe, high performing surfaces as they continue to chase state titles.
The Cougars won four consecutive football state titles under coach Brice Brown, with their most recent big win in 2019. In addition to this feat, the Edna Karr track and field team, led by the 2018-2019 Louisiana track and field coach of the year, Tonya Allen, brought home five consecutive titles from 2015 to 2019.
A full design and build project, T3 Global Projects made sure Edna Karr experienced a seamless experience for such a major sports renovation. Weathering Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and Katrina in 2005, the school is no stranger to transformation. After Hurricane Katrina, Edna Karr was one of the first six public schools to reopen. In 2016, plans began to build a new campus for the Algiers’ community. The new school was finished in 2019.
The sports turf and track upgrade at Behram stadium, the second oldest prep facility in New Orleans, seals the future of the Edna Karr Cougars, giving athletes a high-performance system so they can keep doing what they do best – bringing home championships.
“T3 Global Projects did an outstanding job for us at Edna Karr. Their consultation on this design-build project, financing recommendations, and an outstanding line of brands such as AstroTurf and Rekortan, gave us everything we needed from concept to completion,” said Sam Bear, Director of Facilities for Inspire NOLA Charter Schools.
The newly installed turf is one of AstroTurf’s most reliable products. Edna Karr opted for the Rhino Series, a highly durable synthetic turf system that features multi-ply primary backing for dimensional stability and an innovative polyurethane secondary backing system. The Rhino Series turf is a favorite of high school and college football programs throughout the United States.
Rekortan®, creators of the original track system and the first synthetic tracks used at the Olympics, are renowned for producing world-class systems designed to support athlete performance. Edna Karr chose the Rekortan BS, a two-layer, 13-mm permeable spray-coat track.
PNC Vendor Finance provided a customized and innovative finance solution for Edna Karr. With financing from PNC, the school was able to build a three-lane track, providing even greater scope for high-level training.
“Using PNC’s financing was extremely beneficial for this project. It allowed the owner to break ground earlier than anticipated, and it allowed T3 Global to receive timely payments despite several tropical events experienced during the project. T3 Global is looking forward to using PNC Finance in as many projects as possible,” stated Roberto Sanchez, T3 Global Managing Partner.
Despite being hit by four major hurricanes during the installation process this fall, the project was finished on time. The sports field and track are ready for action and serve as a reminder of the strength, grit, and perseverance of New Orleans and its inspiring athletes.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.
About Rekortan®: Designed for the current day athlete, the Rekortan track system is a diverse, world class series of polyurethane running tracks that are unmatched in quality and performance. The Rekortan debut in 1969 revolutionized the track world with quality and innovation, forever crowning our systems as “the fast tracks”.