Coginchaug High School

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Viking Kitchens designed and installed the backsplashes and countertops for the Home Economics classrom at Coginchaug High School in Durham, CT.

Detail view of the backsplashes and countertops for the Home Economics classroom at Coginchaug High School in Durham, CT designed and installed by Viking Kitchens.

View of the backsplashes and countertops for the Home Economics classroom at Coginchaug High School in Durham, CT designed and installed by Viking Kitchens.

View of the backsplashes and countertops for the Home Economics classroom at Coginchaug High School in Durham, CT designed and installed by Viking Kitchens. This view shows a custom design on the countertops to fit the dishwashers.

Detail of the backsplash material and work station endcaps for the Home Economics classroom at Coginchaug High School in Durham, CT

For many, social distancing regulations have become cumbersome and inconvenient.

Others, however, have taken the opportunities they afford and run with them. Like Coginchaug High School, in Durham, CT.

Sue Gaudreau, Operations Manager, used the absence of students to update their facilities, specifically the Home Economics classrooms, in anticipation of early reopening.

Several hundred students use this teaching area on a weekly basis, requiring a no-nonsense design approach. Solid, durable materials. Countertops that can take abuse. Backsplashes that can take day-in, day-out spills, splatters, and well, splashes.

The result is an easy to maintain design based on the existing cabinets. We had to modify these existing cabinets in order to create one level for the countertops. This included a special modification for the existing in-built dishwashers.

The backsplash is Glasliner FRP wallboard. The countertops are Wilsonart White Carerra laminate with a solid oak beveled edge, which are excellent value for money. They are extremely resilient without breaking the budget. They are also very easy to keep clean—no small consideration in these times!