When it comes to building the latest and greatest, multi-million-dollar sports stadium or arena, it’s often the small details that make the difference. Railing systems are an integral part to any venue, yet they can easily go unnoticed, which for one company is the whole idea.
Trex Commercial Products is an expert in decorative railing systems and has provided its designs to a number of professional sports venues such as the recently opened Chase Center, as well as Audi Field and State Farm Arena.
With railing required in a number of places around a venue, including concourses, aisles and front of seating, Trex has detailed how it has worked alongside the architects and construction companies to provide a safety necessity, while also maximizing space and ensuring sightlines are clear.
The Chase Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena for sports and entertainment located in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. Home to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the new complex is the city’s largest indoor venue, featuring an 18,064-seat arena, 100,000 square feet of mixed-use/retail space, and underground parking. The amenity-rich facility also includes 44 club suites, 32 courtside lounges, 60 theater boxes, premium lounges, and concourse areas with an array of food and beverage options.
Inspired by the design team’s vision to build a better fan experience, Trex Commercial Products engineered 18,000 linear feet of architectural railings for the arena, including Track Rail, Cable Rail and a variety of custom drink rail applications to optimize views and fan enjoyment.
Point supported glass Track Rail can be found on the concourse stairs and overlooks, complementing the sleek, modern architecture of the space. The concourse staircase blends seamlessly with the glass overlook railings. An aluminum handrail is attached to the glass infill and adjacent wall to safely guide patrons. Glass is used as front-of-seat railing to create a sense of openness and to optimize sightlines, while its Griprail provides a graspable handrail in between aisles.
With more inventive seating options being introduced by venues that offer even greater viewing and access to the action, having to create railings that do not obstruct can be a challenge.
Following a US$200m renovation at the State Farm Arena, home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, it was a major shift in the way spectators take in basketball games, concerts and other events. 20 years of disjointed nonexperiential viewing have been replaced by a half-dozen different seating options designed to accommodate various price points – from the NBA’s first courtside club to party suites with sliding doors for a more communal experience. To ensure safety and enhance the viewing experience for fans, Trex Commercial Products custom engineered architectural railing systems, using Track Rail, Tensiline Cable Railing and Griprail, that are featured throughout the arena.
Fans in the upper seating bowl enjoy clear views of the action below, thanks to the surrounding Track Rail featuring tempered glass infill with SGP interlayer. Viewing optimizing Tensiline Cable Railing with aluminum anodized framing guides fans in safety and style to and from their seats.
