The Best Seats
In The House

With the global pandemic affecting businesses around the world, times have changed when it comes to both international and local business. With many operations having ground to a halt at some point during the year, it’s been a tough battle for each and every one of us.

With projects completed in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and many other areas around the world, we were more than ready for an exciting project in beautiful South America. Hooking up with our new Peruvian partners at Sensei Sports, we took on a large project at Colegio de Alto Rendimiento (COAR) which was in the market for some new bleachers. 

Working closely with school boards and a variety of other athletic and healthcare facilities, we have spent plenty of time designing and installing specially padded rooms around the world. With an increasing need, whether they be simple timeout or calming rooms or complex sensory environments, we are delighted to lend our expertise wherever required.

When it comes to the great game of basketball, there is not much equipment needed to play that isn’t subject to a fair bit of wear and tear. The balls are constantly being shuffled, dribbled and tossed while the backboards, rim and net are subject to abuse from the ball and from the often large-sized humans playing the game.

With such a fast-paced sport, plenty goes into the design of the products that are used in these intense matches. With this high level of play and contact, selecting the right backboard can be a challenge, especially for those who are conscious of budgetary constraints.

Situated just west of the great city of Omaha lies the small village of Boys Town. Established in 1917, the village also has served as the headquarters for the Boys Town organization since its inception.

Founded by Father Edward J. Flanagan, the national organization dedicates itself to the care, treatment and education of at-risk children. Today the organization offers an array of youth care and health care services including helping children in crisis, treating complex conditions or helping parents locate the resources they need to help their families heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.

Controlling Equipment from the Floor

Stand on any gymnasium floor and look up – way up. At first glance, it doesn’t take much to imagine the level of sophistication in some of the equipment located overhead, not to mention the process of safely installing it. But with today’s technology and automation being built into so many of these products that are used on a daily basis, the question that often comes up is how to manage it all.

Many choose to have manual systems and equipment in place for reasons such as simplicity or with budget in mind. While there is nothing wrong with this type of operation and equipment, in terms of operational optimization, many are trending in the opposite direction.

With everything from basketball backstops that fold up into the ceiling or off to the side, to gym divider curtains, scoreboards and even volleyball systems, the modern gymnasium is becoming a connected one. With most of these products coming with independent electric controls, innovative solutions to manage them are now on the forefront.

Located along the Rideau Canal, one of our most recent projects brought us into Canada’s national capital to work on another gym partition that needed replacing.

Originally founded as an all-girls school in 1928, Immaculata High School opened with an initial enrollment of just 85 at the site of the former Christie mansion. The following year, enrollment nearly doubled, and a new building was quickly constructed, and the school’s first commencement followed. 

It wasn’t until 1978 that male students were enrolled at the school as enrollment swelled to nearly 1,000 students towards the end of the 1980s. After 65 years of education, the school officially moved to its current location along the canal and currently serves as home to the school’s sports team, the Immaculata Saints.

In search of a new set of rugby goals for one of their biggest athletic parks, the City of Toronto once again came knocking at our door. Having done a few projects together in the past, they are a group that we truly always enjoy working closely with. When the time comes to outfit an outdoor venue, we are always flattered to make the short list of potential partners. In early 2020, the city was in search of a new set of rugby goals for Eglington Flats, located in the York region. Constructed on the Humber River Floodplain in 1954, today the park is heavily focused on sports, with six soccer fields, four field hockey pitches, a football field, winterized tennis courts and of course, the rugby field.

While we all certainly enjoy watching something come to fruition, there is something extra special about being involved in the revitalization of something as well. Over the years, we’ve been blessed to be involved in a number of these types of projects ranging from local community centres and schools all the way to nationally recognized institutions such as Queen’s University.

We’ve been granted access to stripped out gymnasiums and open athletic fields to design and eventually install state-of-the-art athletic equipment and infrastructure. From simple bleachers, to basketball systems to complete grandstands designed to accommodate tens of thousands of fans, these projects have and always will hold a special place in our hearts.

Reminiscing about the summer of 2019, we are delighted with the classic thoughts of summer, including sunny days and time spent with friends and family. While those memories are stark in contrast to the pandemic-stricken summer many of us experienced this year, we remain faithful that we will get through this together, stronger than when we entered it.

One of the most noticeable changes to our spring and summer season was the absence of tradeshows. With many operating on an annual basis, our team looks forward to these events where we are all able to congregate with friends new and old and talk about our business.