Austin-based Hellas Construction will install a top-of-the-line turf system at three facilities in one of the largest school districts in the Lone Star State. Safety is the main priority at Katy Independent School District. The turf, infill, and shock pad are designed to provide longevity and an improved experience for all who participate on it.
Hellas’ gold-standard Matrix® Turf with patent-pending Helix™ technology is being installed with Ecotherm™ over Hellas’ patented pea gravel ballast infill (US Patent No. 6,800,339) and a paved-in-place Cushdrain® shock pad at the 9,768-seat Jack Rhodes Stadium, Mayde Creek High School, and Seven Lakes High School. During installation, all field markings will be reinforced with FieldLock®, a system of specialized rivets injected into the turf for added durability (US Patent No. 7,838,096).
“Katy ISD holds student-athlete safety in the highest regard. That priority is made clear by their decision to go with the top-of-the-line Matrix Turf with Helix technology, Ecotherm, and Cushdrain at all three of these facilities,” says Hellas Business Development Manager Tony Heath.
Matrix turf fibers are manufactured at Hellas Fibers in Alabama and tufted into a triple-layered, dimensionally stable backing at Hellas Textiles in Georgia (US Patent No. 7,364,634). The backing is fused with a polyurethane coating from Hellas Polymers in Texas creating an exceptionally strong tuft bind. The fibers have a natural look and feel, providing a soft yet strong surface with a long lifespan. Helix technology delivers memory and tenacity to a turf system, allowing it to spring back after use. The shape memory in Helix helps each fiber to curl and secure the infill. The curled monofilament fibers deliver a uniform, aesthetically pleasing playing surface. Helix has a unique shape design, making it the most resilient and durable monofilament fiber on the market. Matrix Helix is the same turf system used by the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Ecotherm infill reduces the temperature of the field up to 20 degrees cooler than a synthetic turf field with black crumb rubber or REALFILL™. With no irrigation required, a school district can save close to 3 million gallons of water per field annually. With the installation of a Cushdrain pad, drainage of the field will improve substantially keeping athletes, band, ROTC, cheer, dance and other participants on the field with decreased downtime due to inclement weather.
Katy ISD procured the projects through Hellas’ Sourcewell Cooperative. Hellas has been an approved vendor of Sourcewell (formerly known as NJPA) since 2014 giving access to preferential and pre-priced quality synthetic sports fields, running tracks and tennis courts to the hundreds of Sourcewell members throughout the US.
Katy ISD, which has tripled in size since 1994 with over 75,000 students, has a long history of excellence in athletics and commands respect from around the state. Work is scheduled to begin in January, and the completion date is targeted for the end of spring in 2020.
Hellas Construction, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX, is the largest vertically-integrated sports construction contractor in the United States, specializing in the general construction of sports facilities and sports surfaces. Hellas champions innovative synthetic turf manufacturing, base construction, field, track, and tennis planning, along with installation and maintenance. hellasconstruction.com
Katy ISD is located in Katy, Texas just west of Houston in Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County serving 181 square miles with 70 schools including 10 high schools. katyisd.org
Houston Texans headquartered in Houston, TX at NRG Stadium, part of the NFL's AFC South Division. houstontexans.com
Media Contact: Jeff Power
Hellas Construction Content Writer
(512) 297-5708
