Impact on Learning
Beaver Local High School
Project Snapshot
PROJECT:
Dant Clayton and NJPA
Elevate the Fan Experience
at Beaver Local High School
INSTITUTION:
Beaver Local High School
LOCATION:
East Liverpool, Ohio
COMPANY NAME:
National Joint
Powers Alliance
WEBSITE:
www.www.njpacoop.org
Aesthetic features and handicap accessibility were two benefits Beaver Local Schools were able to enjoy when working
with Dant Clayton and NJPA. The district updating the bleachers to make them code complaint ensured that students of
every ability would be able to enjoy football games. Dant Clayton and NJPA were able to help make this a reality on a tight
deadline, without delaying the season.
THE CHALLENGE
In Ohio, Friday nights are made for high school football.
When the current bleachers at Beaver Local High School, located
in East Liverpool, Ohio, were deemed non-code compliant in
mid-May 2015, due to the absence of ADA-approved seating and
general deterioration, things looked glum for the Beavers. The
team’s first home game was scheduled for Sept. 11, giving the
school less than four months to come up with a seating solution.
Because of the time needed for a traditional bid, it looked like the
team would be unable to use its home field for the bulk of the
season, and instead, rent space elsewhere for football games.
THE SOLUTION
It was through discovery talks with a Dant Clayton
sales rep that treasurer/CFO of Beaver Local Schools, Stacy Williams,
realized there was a viable option to not only meet the
deadline, but also have the ability to purchase from a reputable
company. A current member of National Joint Powers Alliance®
(NJPA), but with no prior purchases, the school board was quick
to agree with the procurement method as it was deemed to
satisfy competitive process requirements, and thus placed an
order for a 1,500-seat home side with a press box, and a nearly
900-seat visitor side. Each offered many safety and aesthetic
features, such as slip-resistant decking, handicap forward seating
and powder-coasted risers with closure panels.
IMPACT ON LEARNING
It is safe to say that the community is very pleased
with the new venue, but perhaps none are as appreciative of
the newly designed bleachers as one particular young man:
a former Beaver Local High School football player who was
paralyzed in a car accident his senior year.
“The elevated handicap-accessible bleachers were a real
game-changer for our former student,” Williams says. “For
the first time, he was able to watch the game from the front
row without any obstructions thanks to the raised bleacher
design. It was a wonderful game!”
Creating a solution for Beaver Local High School was
about more than adhering to building codes and meeting a
tight schedule; it was about finding a way to give all fans the
full experience of the game.
NJPA members have access to Dant Clayton’s event
seating solutions through contract 100814-DCT. Learn more:
http://njpa.co/DantClayton.
Editor’s Review
The International Code
Council (Document ICC
300-2007) 501.2 Inspection
states: “All existing
tiered seating SHALL be
inspected and evaluated
at least once a year by
a qualified person for
compliance with the provisions
of this chapter….”
Hazardous incidents on
bleachers can be caused
by older designs, incorrect
manufacturing, incorrect
installation or lack
of routine maintenance.
Fortunately, Beaver Local
High School administrators
were able to not only
find a safe and reasonably
priced replacement for
their antiquated seating in
a timely manner, but also
did so in a way that allows
for greater accessibility for
spectators.
This article originally appeared in the issue of .