No matter the budget, there is almost always a solution. Whether you decide to fully replace your bleachers or do a partial upgrade, there is a solution out there for you. You want to make sure you’re talking to the experts though, especially when it comes to upgrades and/or partial replacements so that you are code compliant. For example, simply adding aisle rails to your telescoping seating doesn’t automatically meet current safety and code requirements. On existing bleachers, you’ll want to be sure that the aisle ways can support your aisle rails – which means, you have to have a minimum of 23” on each side of the aisle rail to be code compliant. This is most always an easy fix though, especially if you have Hussey Seating Company Courtside seats that can be taken out to expand your aisle way.
Also, by checking in with an expert, you may find ways to save. Where you may have thought you needed a full outdoor bleacher replacement, you may be able to use the existing structure or you may be able to salvage some of the aluminum planks to use in the upgrade such as with Greenfield Exempted Village School District below.
The most common solutions are Replacement, Partial Replacement, Renovation, and Upgrade:
Replacement: Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School Bleacher Replacement
In early 2014, Nate Zavorek, the Vikings current Athletic Director, contacted FEC saying the project was ready to move forward. We worked with Nate to finalize what he and the alumni ultimately wanted in the seating layout and re-designed the seating to meet their requirements. They wanted enough room for spectators to walk behind both the scorer’s table and the team chairs on the floor. VASJ set the end court bleachers back for the safety of the players and went from portable backstops to two new main court Gared single posts backstops that are front braced with 4000+ Collegiate Breakaway Goals and blue pro-mold padding that opened end court site lines. The overarching goal of the project was to give the Vikings gymnasium the feel of an arena with seating on all sides of the court.
With a net seating of 1308, the Vikings maximized their space with two Hussey Seating Company Maxam26 Series bleacher banks for their Home and Visitors’ sides, both free standing with rear guardrails for maximum safety of patrons. To add to the arena feel, and multi-functional use of the gymnasium, under the basketball backstop and facing the gymnasium’s stage, there is another Maxam26 bleacher with 9 tiers that is attached to the wall.
At the stage, a Maxam+, manual Telescopic Platform with four tiers was installed with transition steps. The platform is multi-functional, being used as stairs to the stage as well as a place for VIP seating with chairs purchased by a sponsor.
The original concrete seating in the balcony was given new life with Hussey’s CourtSide Seats, aisle rails, and aisle steps. The original balcony seating had wood planks/benches to sit on attached to concrete risers. The wood planks were removed and the concrete risers and treads were painted grey. Hussey Seating Company’s CourtSide Seat Modules were directly installed onto the concrete for a more comfortable and visually appealing seating option.
Partial Replacement: Greenfield Exempted Village School District | McClain High School
McClain High School upgraded their home side bleachers for safety and code compliance. Not only did we help McClain High School have a safe environment to root on their team – we helped them stay within their budget too.
Superintendent, Terry Fouch shared with us:
“This project would never have been realized within the budget established without your assistance. Helping us locate used aluminum planks, making the fabrications to fit the existing steel framework and making the necessary adjustments to incorporate the new aluminum with the used resulted in a tremendous savings to the district. The project for both the home and visitor bleachers came in at a fraction of the cost for all new. Your attention to detail and working to insure proper installation made this project hassle free for the superintendent. We now enjoy a safe, virtually maintenance free, spectator seating at our football and soccer field. Please do not hesitate to use our district as an example of your work. We are extremely pleased with the end product.”
The new outdoor grandstands feature aluminum planks with closed decking and guardrails. Aisle ways were added with handrails and tread for ease of access and safety. The press box guardrails were modified by closing in the gaps with fencing to keep spectators and officials safe.
Renovation: Southwest Local Schools | Harrison High School
After calculating the price to replace the visitors’ bleachers with new, the school district was facing a cost of nearly $200,000. Being mindful of what that investment would mean for the facility and the taxpayers, they were either going to have to put the project on hold or look for other options. Farnham Equipment Company approached the district with an alternative that would save them nearly 75% of the cost by using new and reclaimed aluminum to upgrade their existing bleachers. The district, through Farnham Equipment Company, purchased used aluminum from a Northern Ohio school district as well as new materials and used their own employees to prep the bleachers for the Farnham Equipment Company upgrade.
Wooden seat planks and floor boards were replaced with aluminum planks and aluminum riser boards were added to close the gaps to prevent the passage of a 4-inch sphere. Fencing along the guardrails was upgraded also to prevent the passage of a 4-inch sphere and to withstand a concentrated load of 200lbs. The original unit did not have adequate egress on the aisle ways, preventing the district from adding appropriate handrails. Aisles were widened and aisle rails were added for code compliance and safety.
Upgrade: East Clinton Local Schools | High School
In the summer of 2013, East Clinton Local Schools expanded their visitor’s bleachers from 5-rows to 15-rows. The project included dismantling the bleachers to pour a concrete pad, reassembling the original 5 rows and adding 10 additional rows to the back giving the new bleacher a sleek look with a splash of color. To further upgrade the visitor’s bleacher, an access ramp and three ADA spaces were added.
Up Next… Budgeting
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