The Richmond Olympic Oval, a 2010 Olympic venue, has used Robbins floors for nearly 10 years, across 126,800 sq ft of hardwood and synthetic surfaces.
Results
The challenge
The 512,000-square-foot Oval draws about a million visitors a year and hosts 49 sports teams. It has two Olympic-size ice rinks, FIBA basketball and FIVB volleyball courts, indoor soccer to FIFA standards, a running track, a climbing wall and a fitness center. Each activity needs a different floor, and all of them take constant use. Beyond the rinks and courts, the building has a 20,000-square-foot fitness center, a five-lane running track and sprint lane, batting cages, a four-story climbing wall and yoga studios.
The solution
Robbins supplied All-Star Plus portable hardwood, Bio-Channel Classic, Pulastic SP and Bio-Cushion LP across the venue, with hardwood and rubberized surfaces matched to each activity. The general manager says the choice came down to confidence in the research behind the products, one supplier offering both hardwood and synthetic floors, rubberized surfaces that are easier to maintain than the alternatives, and steady service from Robbins and its dealers.
The outcome
The Oval's general manager credits the dealer's responsiveness. When the ice rink melted during a holiday closure, putting a portable hardwood floor beside it at risk of warping, Robbins responded quickly and the remediation worked, so nothing needed replacing. He also treats flooring as a safety decision, arguing that a good floor can reduce long-term injuries and extend an athlete's playing years.
About the floors used
All-Star is Robbins' portable hardwood system for quick changeovers in arenas and event venues. Bio-Channel Classic is the original Bio-Channel design, used by top NCAA and NBA basketball programs, with a plywood sleeper floating on Bio-Pads inside an anchored steel channel. Pulastic is Robbins' range of seamless, padded polyurethane floors that can be repaired and resurfaced.
Key takeaways
- A single venue used several floor types because its sports have different needs.
- The dealer's response to the ice-rink melt mattered as much as the products.
- Robbins has supplied floors here for nearly 10 years.
Project details
In their words
We go with Robbins because we’re confident their products are sufficiently well researched … and optimized. They are very professional and very responsive. When, and if, we have an issue, we can count on them to always be responsive. A couple of years ago, our ice rink melted over the Christmas holiday. We were worried about the warping of a portable hardwood floor right next to it. They were right on it. Ultimately, the remediation efforts worked and we didn’t have to do any replacement. It was great to be able to rely on them … it gave us a sense of comfort.
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