On-court rivals share off-court storage solution

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke University Blue Devils may not see eye to eye on the court, but in their basketball storage areas they are on the same team. We had the opportunity to visit our installations at both universities recently, and it was truly a basketball fan’s delight.

In Chapel Hill, recent renovations to the Dean E. Smith Center caused the basketball storage room to be moved to a smaller, and somewhat odd shaped room. Storing the same amount of stuff, like uniforms, socks, t-shirts, shoes, towels, supplies, basketballs and game day items, in a new room that was 1/3 the size of the old one presented a challenge that even running the 4-corners couldn’t solve. An electrical high-density mobile shelving system and stationary storage shelving from Spacesaver did the trick. Not only were the Tar Heels’ storage needs solved, but the electrical mobile system provided the additional benefit of securing their stuff by limiting access to the system. “We have folks in and out of here all the time, so it has been a big help to be able to lock down certain aisles so everything stays where it belongs” Ken Crowder, Basketball Equipment Manager at UNC said. “When I first saw this room, I thought there was no way we could get everything stored in here, but it has all worked out really well.”

Meanwhile, over in Durham, the Michael W. Krzyzewski Center, a new 56,000 sq. ft. athletic and academic facility was built. The facility combines academic space, an events center, and athletic training and practice areas including 2 basketball courts. Just off the courts is a large storage room, and inside that room is a large Spacesaver electrical high-density mobile shelving system, and stationary shelving with Rollok doors. Coach Krzyzewski (Coach K) camp items, and autographed basketballs, men’s and women’s basketball uniforms and shoes, t-shirts, basketballs, supplies and archived basketball uniforms are all stored in there. David McClain, Director of Athletic Equipment, at Duke, called several schools around the country including the University of Wisconsin, and Oklahoma University, to get input on the type of storage system that would fit his needs. “They were all very high on Spacesaver storage systems, and that played a big part in our decision to go that route. We are glad we went that direction, because it has been a great solution for us.”

We wondered if David ever called Ken at UNC? “Oh yeah, I talk to him all the time. It is my understanding that our Spacesaver system is quite a bit larger than the one they have over there,” he said with a smile. Ah, the rivalry continues.








Look who’s in the house… and in Architectural Digest.

It’s not very often that a storage system shows up in Architectural Digest. That’s why we were so excited to see Spacesaver in the October 2009 Issue. Check out the story about a “retreat” house that was built in Lake Tahoe. The house, designed by TVA Architects in Portland, Oregon, is pretty incredible. It features two mirror-image structures housing a guest residence and a studio/library, where the Spacesaver system is used. The studio/library can be seen below, and you can check out the other photos and read the full article here: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2009/10/natural_dialogue_article


Introducing Wheelhouse from Spacesaver

Wheelhouse is the low-profile high-density mobile storage system that combines strength and adaptability in a low-profile modular system. It will make the most of every inch of your space - and its ramp-less! This rigid system packs more of whatever you’re storing into the available space. It can easily be reconfigured to fit new requirements and new spaces. Its efficient design uses less steel and is manufactured from a high percentage of recycled material and low-emitting finishes - it's both durable and sustainable. Wheelhouse is lighter, stronger and smarter. Simply put, it fits right in! For more information http://www.thatsjusthowweroll.com/.


 

AnMed Heart and Vascular Center

During the planning phase of the AnMed Heart and Vascular Center (a 37,000 sq ft. $70 Million project in Anderson, SC), a need for cabinetry in the Heart Catheterization (Cath) Lab was uncovered. This storage solution needed to be functional, to be easily cleaned/sterilized, and to be aesthetically pleasing. A patient friendly look instead of a clinical look of the cabinetry was stressed. Space was at a premium, and additional storage for stents, catheter wires, and supplies was also needed.

Our solution: modular casework for the four cath labs. The casework provided organized and quickly accessible storage, and the rich, wood finish provided the warm feeling that was desired. Glass-front doors were included for added functionality, allowing the units to be closed – supplies remained visible while being protected from contamination. The modular casework also provided superior resistance to contamination and ease of sterilization. In the alcove area, a high-density mobile shelving system tripled the storage capacity for the additional supplies, which are needed to be kept close by.

The modular casework was the hit of the Grand Opening tours, receiving rave reviews. Tom Fraser, Manager - Invasive Cardiovascular Department stated, “This was the perfect storage solution for us. The modular cabinets allowed us to concentrate and protect our supplies, and they created the comfortable, warm atmosphere we were looking for. Everyone is very pleased.”




 

Stuff Matters

Welcome to Patterson Pope’s new blog - Stuff Matters. Our goal here is to provide you with relevant and up to date information on what is going on in the world of storing stuff, including: new product updates, project highlights and maybe a video or two. Why “Stuff Matters”? Because we will be discussing matters of “stuff”, and…well, because your stuff matters to us! Hope you find this forum helpful.