Category Athletics

Cleveland Guardians

by Xibitz Athletics
Modern reception area in Cleveland Guardians facility featuring team logos, green accent wall, wood finishes, and a display featuring baseball bats.
Photo © RiseDBI

Transforming the Cleveland Guardians' Administrative Building

Client: Cleveland Guardians   I    Design: RiseDBI   I   Fabricator: Xibitz

Progressive Field opened in 1994. The Cleveland Guardians administrative building hasn’t been renovated since. As part of a larger revitalization to the ballpark, the administrative building received a well-deserved modernization. With RiseDBI leading the experience design, we fabricated and installed a suite of elements, graphics, and displays across the five floor building.

The scope included custom millwork, environmental branding, display cases, and experiential elements. Every detail needed to be cohesive and precise. When telling the story of a franchise dating back to 1901, quality is everything.

Large, 3-dimensional Guardians logo mounted on a faux-turf wall.
Photo © RiseDBI
Red shelves flanking a photo of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. The shelves contain rows of player bobbleheads.
Photo © RiseDBI
Lounge area with tables and chairs featuring dark blue walls with photos of the Cleveland Guardians.
Photo © RiseDBI
Diagram of a baseball bat display. Bats are hung vertically in a long row.
Front office with baseball-themed decor.

One of our favorite elements is the bat display, comprised of 85 Louisville sluggers. The mounting rails are machined to fit each bat, making them appear to float off the wall. It’s small details like these that make all the difference.

The result is an inspiring work environment that celebrates the Guardians and the people who make game day, and every day, possible.

We also installed a 60-cell Nostaboard in the ballpark’s Terrace Hall. Featuring player photos, quotes, and iconic Cleveland imagery, the split-flap display levels up the fan experience outside the Terrace Hall cafe. The Nostaboard depicts the Guardians’ excellence, legacy, and deep connections to Cleveland—bringing it all back to focus on what really matters: the game.

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Duke Tennis

by Xibitz Athletics
A large blue wall display with a backlit "D" logo surrounded by dark blue tennis balls, creating a textured surface.

Game, Set, Match: Transforming Duke’s Tennis Center

Client: Duke Athletics  I  Design: ZEBRADOG   I  Fabricator: Xibitz
An interior hallway with a blue wall on the left featuring an elevator and a white wall on the right with a large stylized face design. The floor is wood-toned. A green "EXIT" sign is visible above.

The Challenge

We teamed up with the creative masterminds at ZEBRADOG to give the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center a major redesign. Our mission was to turn the facility into a place that not only better accommodates the needs of the staff and the men’s and women’s teams, but also into a place of pride for the esteemed program.

As the fabrication partner, we were responsible for carrying out that bold vision. From the signature blue tennis ball wall that greets guests at the entrance to the thoughtfully-designed team lounge, the details in this space are breathtaking.

A bright blue wall with white text reading "HOME OF THE BLUE DEVILS". Below the text are five blue-tinted tennis racket shapes arranged in a decorative pattern. A wooden door is visible to the left.

The Result

Tennis rackets and other materials combine with more traditional acrylic, metal, and wood to create an interior that is truly unique and intentional. Every element pays homage to the sport and the program: the tennis-ball inspired locker room light fixtures, the larger-than-life Hellraiser face, the mirrored Blue Devils wall.

It was a pleasure working with our partners at ZEBRADOG on this project, and of course we are tremendously grateful to the staff at Duke Athletics for all their hard work and support.

This redesign transformed the facility from top to bottom. The new space is a celebration of Duke University and the tennis program that is modern, energized, and inspired.

Want to see more? Check out our other Athletics projects.

Howard University

by Xibitz Athletics
A basketball court with moody red lighting. The space features a large Bison sculptural logo on the wall, emitting smoke for dramatic effect. "HOWARD BASKETBALL" and Jordan brand logos are displayed prominently on the walls.

A Fresh Look For Howard University's Practice Facility

Client: Howard University  I  Design: ZEBRADOG  I  Architect: The Beck Group  I  Fabricator: Xibitz
A door to the Howard gymnasium featuring Howard's bison head logo on a red door, and an illuminated display with an inspiring Nelson Mandela quote about the power of sports printed on the adjacent wall.

Old Gym, New Style

ZEBRADOG led the charge on this bold redesign of Howard University’s 1963 practice facility. Affectionately known as The Burr, this gym is now home to Howard’s DI basketball and volleyball teams. A refresh was sorely needed. Not just to update the old building, but also to celebrate the past and current achievements of these programs.
A long, navy blue sign that says "RESPECT THE PAST" along with the university's name and logo of a bison in Howard University's Burr Gymnasium
A 20-foot tall interactive sculpture of the Howard Bison mascot head that blows steam from its nostrils when activated.

A Little Steam Goes a Long Way

Statement graphics throughout the building celebrate Howard’s spirit in a modern style. Xibitz produced and installed window treatments, vinyl lettering, banners, wall panels, and more. 

The star of the show is the 20-foot-tall Bison head that blows real steam from its nostrils when activated. Our team laid the complex statement piece seamlessly to create the perfect photo-op moment for prospective Bison athletes.

The final result is a celebration of Howard’s legacy and proof of their commitment to their students. It was an honor to contribute on this renovation, and we hope that the new look inspires the next generation of Bison athletes!

#BleedBlue #GoBison

Want to see more? Check out our other Athletics projects.

Michigan State Football

by Xibitz Featured Athletics

Lansing, Michigan

Unveiling the New Michigan State Tom Izzo Football Building

Xibitz partnered with Jack Porter to revamp the Tom Izzo Football Building for the Michigan State Spartans. A program with six national championships needs an awe-inspiring transformation, and Jack Porter delivered. Using Jack Porter’s designs, Xibitz fabricated and installed new display cases, interactive pieces, and more.

 

A Social Hub

One of the most notable areas is the Nike equipment room. The finished product includes meticulously-crafted custom floating shelves to house Nike gear available for the players use along with a modern lounge space. An interactive LED display invites visitors to personalize their experience by customizing a Spartan jersey. As visitors approach what seems to be a black screen, a motion-activated sensor reveals transparent glass, showcasing MSU’s three distinct jerseys while an LED array highlights the visitor’s personalized selection, immersing them in the team’s identity.

 

Celebrating Program Achievements

In the corridor leading to the Nike equipment room, our team installed high gloss panels that showcase the players’ accomplishments, emphasizing the rich history and achievements of Spartan football. We also crafted bespoke awards for the National Award Winners Hallway to honor individual achievements. This addition reinforces the culture of excellence within the team.

Upon entering the main foyer, visitors are greeted by a striking LED array mounted on a faceted wall, accompanied by four National Championship awards. These awards, an ingenious and unique design by Jack Porter, serve as a powerful testament to the team’s success.

Our collaboration with Jack Porter and our meticulous attention to detail have transformed the football facility into a space that reflects the legacy of Spartan football—and also fosters a profound sense of pride and connection for players and visitors alike.

Chicago Cubs

by Xibitz Athletics

Chicago, Illinois

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!

custom design fabrication chicago cubs xibitz

Chicago Cubs Nostaboard

by Xibitz Athletics, Nostaboard

Chicago, Illinois

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. 

cubs ticker board xibitz nostaboard
cubs ticker board xibitz nostaboard
cubs ticker board xibitz nostaboard
"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."
Pat Manaher
Chicago Cubs

Return to Nostaboard 

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Northwestern University

by Xibitz Athletics

Ryan-Walter Athletics Center

Evanston, Illinois

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.

Indiana University

by Xibitz Athletics

Cook Hall and Pfau Shine Legacy Court

Bloomington, IN

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.

NCAA

by Xibitz Athletics

Headquarters Lobby

Indianapolis, IN

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.