Small Project, Large Impact

by Mark Robins | July 1, 2022 12:00 am

Located in the back lot of an active steel fabrication shop, this passion project was initiated by the owner’s desire to construct an easily accessible court for everyday use that could increase the popularity of squash in the U.S. by making it more accessible and visible.

SQUASH AND METAL

For this type of robust project, which is outdoors and unroofed, material toughness was a priority and that’s why metal was chosen. It had to withstand the varied seasonal climates of New York City. “Outdoor glass courts exist as a solution for private and temporary tournament use, but have not proven successful in public parks,” says Sari Chang, principal at Jacobschang Architecture, New York City. “The choice of metal was the natural result of its location in a steel fabrication facility and the abundance of available steel laborers. Because of the steel court’s popularity, it has become a model for what could be successfully utilized in a public setting. Pros who have used the Maspeth Squash Court say it plays ‘true’ in squash parlance, in that the surface is consistent with no seams—the steel panel joints have been grinded smooth—and playing outdoors adds a new dimension to the sport.”

The court is constructed with series of seam-welded wall panels mounted to a framework of H-shape steel posts and cross members. Hot-rolled steel metal is mounted to steel framing and provides the surfaces of the court. For the court surfaces, 5/16-inch-thick, clear-coated carbon steel was used.

The metal was sealed to maintain a smooth and durable surface for play. A marine-grade raised floor with a heavy water-resistant paint finish is mounted to steel floor joist and a viewing enclosure is set aside for spectators. A clear coat finish is periodically re-applied to the interior steel surface, but otherwise very little maintenance is required to keep the court playable. A sliding gate, constructed of twisted steel bar provides a safe zone for spectators, away from the adjacent activities of vehicle loading and the moving heavy structural steel in the fabrication yard. For the exterior surfaces and gate, weathered structural steel was used.

JUDGES REVIEW

2022 Metal Architecture Awards judge Rand Elliott, FAIA, principal at Rand Elliott Architects[1], Oklahoma City, calls the Maspeth Squash Court stunningly beautiful. “Talk about somebody thinking about steel and using it in a positive way that was intentional. This is a piece of art. Maybe someone had a vision and got a welding torch, and fabricated and made this in-situ. It’s truly inspiring. If you were going to teach a class about what is possible, there’s a realization that even a squash court can be a piece of art. It’s beautifully detailed and says something about its purpose and use. Even the proportions and scale are right.”

Awards judge Mark Roddy, FAIA, principal, Mark Roddy Architects[2], Sacramento, Calif., was impressed how the repurposed space was used. “It’s like a ruin and then this detail of the metal where the plate is morphed. It’s so simple—the materiality of it. The simplicity of the materials and how they relate to the rusted artifact ruin of the structure is so authentic; super interesting.”

Awards judge Lee Calisti, AIA, principal of lee CALISTI architecture+design[3], Greensburg, Pa.,calls the squash court utterly beautiful. “It’s really well done and it’s the kind of thing I would want to go to and look at more closely. If you were to happen upon it, you would be delighted more than if you happened upon a larger project. It’s at a scale you can appreciate.”

A NEAR-PERFECT SIMULATION

The squash court is a prototype, and the materials and details continue to evolve. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first outdoor squash court designed with steel playing surfaces,” Chang says. “Ultimately, Maspeth Squash has far surpassed our goals. It was completed just as the COVID-19 pandemic created a demand for outdoor sports. Through social media, word of the unique steel squash court spread quickly. Much to the satisfaction of all squash enthusiasts who have played at Maspeth Squash, the steel surfaces provide a near perfect simulation of the typical fiber-resin wall panels found on indoor courts. The venue has become a magnet for squash enthusiasts at all levels.”

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/maspeth-squash-court-small-project-large-impact/

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