As with every new project we complete, we are proud to announce the successful finalization of a transformative project for St. Kateri Catholic School in London, Ontario. In partnership with our esteemed colleagues at Worldwide Turf, we designed and installed two state-of-the-art, barrier-free bleachers to complement the school’s new artificial turf sports field and running track, as it prepares to host major sports and track & field events for the region during the upcoming school year and beyond.

Located in the Masonville area, St. Kateri Catholic Elementary School is named after Kateri Tekakwitha, a Native North American who converted to Christianity and devoted her life to faith and sacrifice. Established to serve the growing community in North London, the school reflects a commitment to Catholic education and community engagement.

Bourgade Catholic High School was founded back in 1962 by Bishop Green to serve Catholic students on Phoenix’s west side and is named after Archbishop Peter Bourgade, a French missionary priest. Boasting a 27-acre campus that offers a college-preparatory curriculum with a strong emphasis on Catholic formation, the school enrolls around 350-400 students in grades 9-12. 

In addition to its academics, Bourgade ranks in the top 20% of Arizona private schools for sports and extracurriculars, offering 12 interscholastic sports including football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball along with clubs like Student Council, which earned National Gold Council Excellence Awards from 2013-2016. Serving as home to the Golden Eagles, the school unfortunately had two of their outdoor bleachers recently handed failing grades after being inspected.

While renting bleachers might initially appear to be a budget-friendly option for sporadic or even annual  events, a deeper analysis reveals a multitude of drawbacks compared to the long-term benefits of investing in permanent bleachers. For many facility owners and operators out there,  the bleacher rental game can, at times, feel like a hamster wheel that you can never get off. 

There is little doubt that the initial cost of ordering and installing permanent bleachers may seem daunting (and expensive), it’s worth noting that the long-term cost savings can be substantial. Rental bleachers undoubtedly come with a long list of drawbacks including recurring expenses, availability among many other factors. Permanent bleachers, on the other hand, are a one-time investment that have the ability to eliminate these ongoing costs and headaches almost instantly.

In addition to the above, here’s a few other costs associated with bleacher rentals which can make you feel as though you are running in circles.

Nestled along the shores of Lake Huron lies the city of Sarnia. Long known as the largest city along the great lake, it also serves as a hub for trade and its burgeoning petroleum industry. Aside from the trade industry, the area has blossomed into a family-oriented community and is home to a number of beautiful parks and recreation areas.

As part of a recent project, we were brought on board to help the city with some upgrades to Norm Perry Park, closely situated to the city’s bustling port. Looking to equip this popular park with some new barrier-free seating, the city came to us in search of a fully-accessible and code-compliant bleacher option for the park.

If you, like our friends at the Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, are looking for a fully accessible and elevated bleacher, this might be something you’ll want to have a look at.

With the ability to seat 366 people - including four barrier-free seats complete with companion seating - we designed our new 8-row bleacher model (BL-8TB-81- 8 x 24-36E-BF4) almost specifically for this project. With a fence and a track separating the bleacher from the action on the field, the Algoma District School Board came to us to help them design the right solution for their unique situation.

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.