During the 2016 regular season, the Chicago Cubs pursued a suitable experience in their new office tower next to Wrigley Field. As the oldest team in professional baseball, the Cubs felt they had a great story to tell within their new space. Coincidently, sports architecture and design firm Populous presented their final designs to the Cubs the same week as the World Series and “HOLY COW, CUBS WIN!!” So back to the drawing board to develop a much more amazing story to celebrate—and a much more condensed time frame to create it in.
Populous, the Cubs, and Xibitz quickly brought the concept designs to life through high-quality fabrication and installation. Xibitz built everything from the World Series Trophy display to a 3,475-piece split-flap rotating image display that energizes the entry. We are proud to have been a part of this always-believed-in Chicago celebration!
During the 2016 regular season, the Chicago Cubs pursued a suitable experience in their new office tower next to Wrigley Field. As the oldest team in professional baseball, the Cubs felt they had a great story to tell within their new space. Coincidently, sports architecture and design firm Populous presented their final designs to the Cubs the same week as the World Series and “HOLY COW, CUBS WIN!!” So back to the drawing board to develop a much more amazing story to celebrate—and a much more condensed time frame to create it in.
Populous, the Cubs, and Xibitz quickly brought the concept designs to life through high-quality fabrication and installation. Xibitz built everything from the World Series Trophy display to a 3,475-piece split-flap rotating image display that energizes the entry. We are proud to have been a part of this always-believed-in Chicago celebration!
As a part of this project, Xibitz’ Engineering department developed and installed a one-of-a-kind Nostaboard to greet visitors into the space. The Nostaboard showcases 10 images featuring Wrigley Field and the history of the Chicago Cub’s franchise.
"The display provided by Xibitz serves as a warm welcome to all front office staff, players,
business partners, and fans who enter the Cubs' headquarters. The ability to rotate images allows viewers to get a glimpse of the many important moments in Cubs history."
A state-of-the-art training, competition and recreation facility calls for experiential elements of the highest quality and exacting fit. That’s what Xibitz, partnered with Perkins&Will and HOK provided for Northwestern University – in the form of custom-perforated backlit metal ceiling panels evoking the branded letter “N”; an 86-foot-long solid surface enclosure with 7-foot-high custom dimensional letters; large-scale graphics, custom-printed and mounted to canted panels with the school color in a LED lighting wash; and canted glass enclosures highlighting action figure mannequins for seven Olympic sports.
Additionally, Xibitz created a 30-foot-long wall with two towers of touch interactive displays that provide statistics, video, images and descriptions of historic moments, and more; and a 70-foot-long Hall of Honor featuring students who have become professional athletes.
It’s one of the most legendary programs in college hoops. While its elite reputation has made it a top choice for recruits over the years, Indiana University leaders recognized its facilities were wearing out and could adversely impact their ability to sign the most promising student-athletes. The response: a 67,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in which to practice, train and condition, planned and designed by Populous – formerly HOK Sports of Kansas City.
Prominently featured in the facility is a shining example of Xibitz’ capabilities: Cook Hall and the Pfau Shine Legacy Court is a unique museum and exhibit space that celebrates and chronicles the history of Indiana basketball with photographs, artifacts, trophies and interactive touch-screen kiosks that celebrate the University’s championship teams and traditions. Boldly designed with iconic displays, imagery and typography, the space evokes a sense of tradition and timelessness.
In the past, student-athletes and other visitors to the NCAA headquarters entered a lobby that did little to differentiate the office from any other. To remedy the situation, organizational leadership enlisted Perkins&Will and Xibitz to design, fabricate, and install displays that clearly reflect the NCAA values and mission. Key objectives of the branding project included the embodiment of the organization’s mission and culture, a celebration of the” One Team, One Future” initiative, and the promotion of the role of student-athletes in academics, athletics, and life.
The incorporation of the designs into the reception included a 40’ wall of 400 collegiate student-athletes, with 8 special recognition opportunities, and a 70’ wall of all 1300 collegiate membership logos. The displays were produced to allow for easy updating as the stories and membership evolve.
Looking to “wow” visitors, spectators and recruits when they came through the football facility, athletic leaders called on Gator Boosters, whose overwhelming response led to the ability to create the Heavener Football Complex. Together with design partner Downstream, Xibitz helped turn the facility into a cutting-edge showcase and work area.
Called “Gateway of Champions,” the facility is a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly spectacular environment that will help the Gators on and off the field. Interactive displays allow visitors to discover, and dive into Florida’s storied past. The “Players in the NFL” interactive display celebrates post-Gator NFL success with touch-screen statistics and highlight videos. Coaches’ suites and experiential theater tell the social, academic and athletic stories of Gator Football. Trophy cases and high-definition televisions displaying highlights from the Gators’ national championships and heritage are woven throughout offices, locker rooms, the weight room and a 4,000-square-foot “Gator Room.”
Schnellenberger Football Complex | Cardinal Sculpture
Louisville, KY
When Jack Porter redesigned the University of Louisville’s Schnellenberger Football Complex entrance, they turned to Xibitz to fabricate a bold and inventive experience. Inspired by the school’s mascot, Louie the Cardinal, a massive wall treatment reminiscent of a bird’s wings was assembled in the lobby.
Measuring 29 feet high, each wing spans two walls for a total of 54 feet each. 64 feathers create the sculpture and combined, weigh nearly 4,600 pounds, the heaviest weighing 252 pounds. The sculpture is made primarily of ACM, an aluminum-clad material of thin sheets of brushed aluminum cladding on a composite material. Built around existing fire suppression controls, heating/cooling vents, environmental controls, and an ID scanner, the sculpture was successfully installed without detracting from the overall look of the project. The result is a cutting edge, sleek, and powerful entrance to the university’s football building.
The Angels MV Bourbon Club in Louisville, Kentucky, features a new centerpiece in the form of a a large cardinal sculpture suspended from the ceiling. This newly designed focal point for the space demonstrates the tie between the Bourbon club and the Louisville Cardinals. Created with welded aluminum and a carefully engineered structure, this geometric bird dominates the space. Also observed are 8ft chucks of wood with metal and copper color clading portraying barrel staves surrounding the cardinal.
It’s critical for a college athletics program to build and capitalize on a brand that attracts future recruits. And a key to a storied program’s brand is its past accomplishments. Working with design partner Downstream, Xibitz leveraged the Florida Athletics’ brand, by showcasing the Florida basketball story while seamlessly creating brand continuity across the athletics department – through original graphics, digital media, technology and specialty fixtures distributed throughout the facility.
Xibitz’ execution of this dynamic and inspirational experience is seen throughout the complex’s atrium and lobby, men’s and women’s coaches’ offices, the men’s practice gym and locker room, the media center and the players’ lounge. Xibitz provided project and vendor management, design solutions, value engineering, production of all brand elements, fabrication, and installation strategy/execution.
When the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they were upgrading the Rocket Mortgage Field House Arena in downtown Cleveland, Xibitz was given the contract to work with the General Contractor, Whiting-Turner, and their design team, Infinite Scale, to help develop and produce exciting new elements in the arena concourse. The “Flex Walls” include beautiful graphics, big screens, interactive elements, cases with team artifacts and other engaging visuals and stories about the team and its history. The newly renovated arena will be a centerpiece for sports and entertainment in the ever-changing landscape of Cleveland.
When Xibitz was awarded the contract to work with RISE, a full-service project management company, for a project with the Toronto Blue Jays/ Player Development Complex, our custom fabrication team began a productive and successful relationship that created a welcoming environment for the team at their complex in Dunedin, FL, near Tampa. The complex included the following:
Reception Area
Logo Feature Wall
Locker Room Entry and Locker Room
Lenticular Wall
Weight Room
Major League Dining Room
Minor League Dining Room
The entire project was fabricated in our Grand Rapids, MI shop and then shipped to Dunedin, Florida and met by our installation crew. We worked closely with RISE and the Blue Jays and after months of collaboration and teamwork, the new complex is ready for players and coaches.