The Best Seats
In The House

Heading out to western Canada one of our latest projects landed us just outside of Vancouver in beautiful Coquitlam, British Columbia. Working closely with one of our newest partners at Smithscape Construction, we were brought in to help design a 10-row bleacher as part of some major upgrades to a local park.

One of our recent projects had us working closely alongside our partners at Seating Safety Solutions back in the beautiful Tar Heel state. Working out of Liberty, North Carolina, Seating Safety Solutions has developed a reputation for being the best in bleacher seating throughout both North and South Carolina.

This unique project involved an existing bleacher structure at a school we had worked at previously. As is the case with many older seating structures across the country, this bleacher was still in great condition, but lacked ramps and barrier-free seating areas and was without any allowances for accessible seating. With more inclusive seating structures becoming the norm, many are turning to us to help them add on to existing structures in an effort to make them ADA compliant. Ensuring that all spectators can enjoy the action on the field is an initiative we can all get behind and one we take seriously.

Operating as the only school in the province of Ontario for blind and deafblind students, W. Ross McDonald School draws students from across Canada to its location in Brantford and also offers a residence to accommodate students from out of province. In addition to providing a supportive curriculum to enrolled students, the school also provides various programming through short-term programs for neighbouring school boards.

The school has a number of special features designed to aid students in navigating around the buildings. Varied materials and textures in walls and flooring as well as eye-level windows further enhance the experience for students at the school. In addition to these features, the school is also equipped with an athletics program for the student body.

Sports play a significant role in the lives of many students ranging from elementary school through high school. While encouraging coaches, new uniforms and exceptional facilities contribute towards the positive experiences of players, the support of family and friends is what ultimately makes or breaks their time on the field or court. Understanding the importance of family and friend involvement during athletic events, a school in Blind Brook, New York reached out to Sports Systems and requested help in better accommodating their visitors.

Intentional planning plays an important role in our everyday lives. While spontaneity can be exciting, planning ahead helps us be ready for a myriad of situations and can lead to a more sustainable way of living. From meal preparation to time management, thinking ahead helps maintain healthy and efficient lives. Proper planning can also eliminate the unintentional exclusion of others. Anticipating the needs and potential limitations of visitors, York Stadium Park has taken action in creating a more inclusive outdoor environment for their spectators.

Growing up, many of us took our local parks for granted. In parks with playgrounds for example, the biggest concerns for many children were splinters, bee stings, and the static electricity produced by going down a slide. There was minimal thought to accessibility, and these parks were embraced for providing a free activity for families. However, it has become increasingly evident that not every community has had the same accessibility to and experience with local parks.

Named one of the best places to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2008, St. Peters,
Missouri continues to top their list as a wonderful place to live with a reasonable commute to St. Louis.

As what is heralded by many as the crown jewel of St. Peters, we were recently brought in to aid in the design and installation of new arena bleachers for the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

The midwestern region of the United States is often associated with open land, hearty meals, unique accents, and friendly, hard-working people. When it comes to education, however, the school systems in these states have historically been regarded as mediocre. Disproving this assumption, however, are the schools found in Valley, Nebraska.

For one of our recent projects, we  found ourselves in the picturesque city of Owen Sound, in Southwestern Ontario. Located on Georgian Bay, Owen Sound is a popular tourist destination for Ontario residents, particularly during the summer months.

From a tourist perspective, Owen Sound is known for its access to water in many shapes and forms and for camping and beaching it along the shores of Georgian Bay. The area is also known for a number of spectacular waterfalls located just outside of the city that are perfect for day trips for visitors.

When it comes to planned expenditures, our friends over at Recreation Management Magazine conduct annual research that is helpful in more ways than one. Their annual report takes a deep dive into annual trends for spending with regards to colleges and universities across the United States.

While the 2019 edition of their annual survey indicated little to no changes with regards to planned features and upgrades, there was certainly some movement up the ranks for certain products such as bleachers and seating.

While planning for the development of synthetic turf sports fields remains at the top of the list for the second consecutive year, bleachers and seating took honours in the third spot for the most planned additions to colleges and universities. Jumping up from sixth position in late 2018, it is no secret that the building boon for planned seating will continue through 2020.