New Outdoor Benches Make Campus Stand Out

Steel Benches 

The changeable signboards on RJ Thomas’s durable steel benches and help add unique flair to many college campuses in the University of California System.

It's become increasingly clear that outdoor amenities and landscape design are playing a significant role on college campuses across the country. Across The University of California (UC) system, durable steel benches from R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. offer a changeable sign board that can be used in many different and beneficial ways. UC Facility Manager Floyd Lawson intends to promote campus events and various academic programs. “Our benches are an ideal tool to generate awareness,” he says.

The all-steel bench is powder-coated and thermoplastic-coated in your color choice. Behind the custom sign is a supporting piece of ¾-inch marine grade plywood. The backrest includes a lockable frame to secure your custom signage. Three bench and sign sizes are available — four, six or eight feet long. All signs are 24 inches tall.

Lawson went on to say, “We like the flexibility to change the signage as often as we want, and the backrest can be saved and reused again.”

The backrest sign is a durable .040 gauge aluminum laminate with a ¼-inch polycarbonate core. Any custom graphic will be digitally printed on 3M vinyl material.

R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. makes the Pilot Rock brand of campus, park and streetscape furniture. Made in the U.S. since 1959, their product line includes many designs of campus outdoor amenities including: park benches, picnic tables, bike racks, trash and recycling receptacles, and ADA-compliant wheelchairaccessible products.

www.pilotrock.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Pangram Secures Funding for AI Detection Technology

    Pangram, which provides technology that detects AI-generated text, recently announced that it has secured nearly $4 million in pre-seed and seed funding, according to a news release. The most recent round of investments, totaling $2.7 million, come on top of the pre-existing seed fund of $1.25 million.

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

  • Fellowes Launches New 3D Modular, Product Configurators

    Contract interiors and architectural solutions provider Fellowes recently announced the launch of new 3D modular and product configurators for several of its product lines, according to a news release. The new products offer SIF file integration and pricing for the Volo, Markerboards, Sena, and Rising product lines in connection with 3D Cloud, which provides 3D product visualization and 3D digital asset management.

  • Epson Receives Seven AV Industry Awards

    Projectors manufacturer Epson recently announced that it received multiple awards across the Higher Ed AV Awards, SCN Stellar Service Awards, and InfoComm 2025, according to a news release. The company was recognized for three projectors from its PowerLite L-Series line, accessories, installation process, and its customer support team.

Digital Edition