Once upon a time, 862
used to run a full canopy of painted PVC with fabric panels (attachment 1). We eventually decided that this was a bad idea for several reasons:
- Tacky / unprofessional
- Not very durable
(mostly the paint, but also the fabric panels due to their construction) - Unsafe
(blocks too much light) - Intolerant of variable pit dimensions
- More trouble than it's worth
We then spent a few years trying out other combinations in varying degrees of minimalism, before we finally got our Marketing team in solid enough shape to put together a comprehensive pit redesign. Today, we run an L-shaped pit (attachment 2):
- Banner, storage shelving, & work bench on back wall
- Floor tiles
(nonslip surface, high contrast for locating dropped items, and looks awesome to boot!) - Shelves, battery cart, & support structure (for year-specific displays) on left wall
- Front edge of left wall provides mount for TV display & bins for buttons, etc
- All rolling shelves are made of wood
(we have panels that slide across the front, locking the shelves closed for transport) - All superstructure is made from Bosch EcoShape aluminum tubing
(way lighter than traditional T-slot extrusion, but just as versatile!)