![Minnesota locker room [photo courtesy Wenger/GearBoss]](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/2018/10/ab.Gopher%20Football%20locker%20room%20empty%20by%20GearBoss%20.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
SOURCE: Wenger Corporation
New custom team lockers at the University of Minnesota are unequaled in the Big 10
Log in to view the full article
SOURCE: Wenger Corporation
New custom team lockers at the University of Minnesota are unequaled in the Big 10
MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 23, 2018) – Wenger Corporation announces the installation of new GearBoss customized lockers for both men’s and women’s sports throughout the Minnesota athletics department, including new Athletes Village locker rooms housing football, and men’s and women’s basketball.
“There’s a wow factor in these locker rooms and it’s deliberate,” says Associate Athletic Director Scott Ellison. “They’re a great way to recruit students to consider playing at the University of Minnesota and let them know how much their presence means to the school.”
“This was a huge and complex project for us,” says Mike Mills, Athletic Sales Manager. “We’re excited to showcase the latest technology and style throughout the campus. Our products save time, space and effort. They’re durable, flexible and customizable, offering more solutions than any other brand on the market.”
Above all, the lockers have to serve the student-athletes’ needs, which is why GearBoss customizes each locker room per sport. Efficient locker design maximizes space usage for extra-large shoulder pads, bats, cleats, sticks, skates or whatever equipment the sport requires. An interior lockable cubby provides security, as well as USB ports for personal electronics.
On the sanitation side, ventilation ducts are integrated into each locker, and are tied into the locker room’s main HVAC system to accelerate the equipment-drying process and clear out odors. Antimicrobial surfaces help prevent bacteria and viruses from penetrating into the wood, reducing the spread of germs.
The wow factor comes in the design. For example, the 4,200 square-foot football locker room is set on a radiused layout with both concave and convex curves affecting all 123 lockers. Nameplates are backlit and LED light strips within the lockers provide better visibility. Solid surface pocket doors tuck back out of the way and feature a hole-punched cityscape that extends to the back of the room. Machine raised University of Minnesota Block Ms line the metal footlockers and a massive maroon Block M spans the entire ceiling, surrounded by a bright gold ring of light, illuminating the room.
In keeping with the high tech theme, the lights can be dimmed, raised or accented a number of ways. Sophisticated sound systems let coaches make announcements or enable the student-athletes to play their favorite motivational music.
Locker rooms designed by the GearBoss team include football, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, volleyball, baseball, and women’s soccer. There are also dry stall locker rooms where student-athletes leave their street clothes, and coaches’ locker rooms, all of which are custom built by Wenger Corporation.
“What impressed us most was the quality of workmanship and the customer service Wenger provided,” Ellison says. Working with a Minnesota company was a priority for the University. “They listened to what we wanted and made adjustments to make sure we were happy with them.”
To learn more about Wenger and GearBoss products with customizable options, please visit https://www.gearboss.com/.
About Wenger Corporation
Wenger Corporation provides innovative, high-quality products and solutions for music and theatre education, performing arts venues and athletic programs. Our products include the Wenger, JR Clancy and GearBoss brands of equipment. Products include; theatrical rigging systems, acoustical shells and treatment, acoustical doors and sound-isolating practice rooms, fixed and portable audience seating, and portable and mobile staging systems. Our furniture line includes music posture chairs, music stands, conductor’s equipment and a full line of high-density and portable storage solutions for instruments, garments, sheet music and media equipment. We also offer a complete line of athletic lockers, equipment storage and transport products. For more information call +1.507.455.4100 or visit www.wengercorp.com.
