AGOURA AND CALABASAS JOIN MOVEMENT IN CALIFORNIA TO HELLAS’ ORGANIC INFILL

Austin, TX (June 6, 2017) – Las Virgenes Unified School District is joining other California cities, school districts, and organizations, moving to a greener, organic infill by Hellas Construction. The Agoura High School Chargers and Calabasas High School Coyotes are the latest high schools to join the green movement by choosing Hellas’ Matrix® Turf and organic Geo Plus® infill.

LVUSD Superintendent Dan Stepenosky said, “We were looking for a different company to replace our turf and one of our coaches recommended Hellas, after seeing the work they did at Oaks Christian School.” Stepenosky said, “I personally went around to a lot of the schools and checked out the turf. We were impressed with the presentation and quality of the product and the relationship Hellas had with the schools.”

Agoura High School Athletic Director Garrett Lepisto said, “A lot of people were involved in the selection process. We had looked at Oaks Christian School, only a few miles away, and even though it was an older field, it still looked great. Actually, it still looked new,” he said. “That really impressed us.”

Hellas manufactures and installs its Matrix® turf in schools and universities across the United States. Hellas Construction is the trusted turf provider of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium and The Star in Frisco, TX.

Both Stepenosky and Lepisto also liked the idea of getting away from the traditional rubber infill and were excited about the organic infill option Hellas offers.

Stepenosky said, “I wanted to go in that direction. If we have a chance to surround our kids with organic products, we should do it.”

Geo Plus infill is an organic combination of cork and coconut. When combined with silica pea gravel, the infill will stay put, with less “splash out.” It has optimal shock absorption and excellent traction in all weather conditions. It is 100% organic and recyclable, containing no industrial or artificial components, and can be reused for agricultural or gardening purposes at the end of a field’s life.

Lepisto said, “In Southern California, in the summer and in the fall during football season, the temperature can reach 100 degrees. The cooling properties of the organic infill definitely played a factor in our decision.”

The Geo Plus infill is UV resistant, resisting breakdown and deterioration even at high temperatures. This infill does not retain heat but instead retains moisture to cool the surface temperature of the field, similarly to how sweat cools the skin on the human body. Surface temperatures on a synthetic turf field with Geo Plus will be up to 40 degrees cooler compared to a synthetic turf field with the black crumb rubber.

“We are one of the hotter locations in California, next to LA,” Stepenosky said. He said there were many reasons to select organic infill and he was glad the facilities committee agreed and selected Hellas. “It just seemed like the way to go,” he said.

Schools like Paso Robles High School, Robert F. Kennedy High School, Junipero Serra High School, Kings Academy High School, Madera High School, Skyline College, Canada College, and Viewpoint School (also in Calabasas) to name a few, along with the cities of Avalon and Petris, have all joined the transition from the traditional black crumb rubber to the Geo Plus infill with Matrix turf.

“We were just awarded the California Green Ribbon Award for use of green initiatives,” said Stepenosky. “This organic infill will be added to our list of initiatives going forward for future applications. He said selecting the organic infill reinforces their commitment to green initiatives.

Hellas continually uses “green” approaches to produce the best products and facilities that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient, because to Hellas, more than the game matters. Hellas is a silver level member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which helps to advance spaces that are better for the environment and healthier to live, work, and play in. Hellas can use their expertise, products, and technology to help districts or organizations across California and the United States earn points and discounts on LEED certification of their projects. Hellas is helping to make sure all communities can conserve natural resources and reduce their carbon footprint.

Lepisto said, “I have gone around and talked to the students in the different departments that will be using the fields.” He said Agoura High school will be sporting new blue end zones and a new horsehead logo in the middle of its field. “We are all very excited.”

Product Links
Matrix Turf with Helix Technology
Geo Plus Organic Infill

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