Principal of Royal Oak Intermediate, Derek Linington says, “I strongly believe in the students’ voice and I was getting their message clearly about their playing field toilet block.”

The toilet and changing room facility, near the Auckland school’s fields, is used by the whole school but was “pretty rundown,” according to Derek. The Ministry of Education’s Five Year Agreement on funding allowed the school to make the upgrade, which was completed in time for the beginning of term one 2015.

“I’m not one who believes in band-aid repairs. Using Resco was more expensive, but it is definitely the best way to go and will be more cost effective in the long-run,” Derek explains.

Resco’s tough 7000 series cubicles and multicom wall lining were used for a finished job which everyone from students to the school's Board of Trustees appreciate, says Derek. “The children have responded amazingly and are taking immense pride in keeping it looking great.”

The age of the students, from 11 to 13, means they can be “vigorous,” but the robust structure of the cubicles is coping with everything that the adolescents can throw at them — including the number of boys who “inevitably” feel the drive to do a pull-up or two on their way in and out, reports Derek.

In addition to the ability of Resco’s range to withstand high use and abuse, the Antibac component and graffiti resistance standard in all Resco’s Compact Laminate products made the school’s decision to use Resco a straightforward one. “It’s just a superior product,” says Derek.

All Resco panels contain Antibac which is an innovative, new bacteria-repelling compound that kills 99 percent of bacteria within two hours, for the lifetime of the panel.

Resco product specialist Troy Henriques adds, “We only use rugged, solid core Compact Laminate. Our pre-finished panels are water, impact and graffiti resistant and extremely low maintenance. We supply a range of products with New Zealand’s largest choice of colours, which we confidently back with lengthy guarantees.”