shield commercial lockers: the breakdown

Here at Shield, we’ve perfected the athletic locker. What began in 2014 as a one-off project for the Charlotte Hornets, has become an empire of providing countless collegiate and professional teams with durable, solid surface lockers. But athletes aren’t the only ones who need reliable storage. Nearly everyone carries important items with them throughout the day, which means providing secure and accessible storage can make a huge difference.

Unfortunately, in many spaces you’ll find subpar storage solutions that quickly wear down while failing to meet the needs of the business, consumer or employee. That’s why we’re bringing our top-tier lockers to your doorstep. By prioritizing functionality and aesthetics, our products require minimal maintenance and are built to last without the need for replacement.

With options ranging from pre-designed models to fully customizable solutions, our commercial locker line is designed to make finding high-quality storage easier than ever, because kickass lockers shouldn’t be confined to athletics.

why shield commercial lockers?

Don’t other companies make commercial lockers? Sure, but that doesn’t mean they’re created equal. 

Many businesses create their commercial lockers out of laminate or phenolics. While both materials can create aesthetically pleasing products, the durability of these designs can be less than desirable. 

Made of multiple layers, laminate has the very real risk of delamination. Delamination begins when one layer, usually the top of the material, becomes damaged which then leaves the other layers exposed to the elements. Once delamination occurs the material significantly decreases in functionality and durability, often leading to necessary replacements only a few years into the product's lifespan.

While phenolics have a similar durability to solid surface, the material is not easily customized, which can elongate the design process. 

Solid surface has no middle material, which means there is no chance for delamination or any similar process to take place. Instead, the material is 100% homogenous with a non-porous and microbial resistant surface that offers the look of laminate without the possible damage. 

By choosing solid surface, you are also cutting down on eventual waste that may come from choosing laminate lockers. Instead of having constant replacements, your one time purchase is better on the environment.

example of delamination

solid surface & laminate combined

We've established that fully laminate lockers generally don't last, so why are we including the laminate within our designs at all? While solid surface does offer superior durability, we also recognize the utility of high quality laminate in some methods of construction.

Within our commercial line, we strategically use laminate for the body and back of the lockers in order to provide a cost-effective foundation without compromising on overall quality. To keep durability and impact resistance high, we clad areas such as the shelving, face and doors with solid surface.

This combination ensures that the parts of the locker most susceptible to wear and tear are reinforced with the strongest materials, while allowing us to offer the products at a more accessible price point. 

pre-engineered models & builds

We’ve created these lockers for your convenience, so we’ve made the choices convenient as well. With four different locker models and three different builds, you have the options at your fingertips. However, if none of our models are exactly what you want, that's where our custom design process kicks in.

Each of the models come with a range of customizable features including color, exterior laminate, interior laminate, locks and interior hardware.

Each of our locker builds are crafted with a warranty, however there are a few differences in how we create these products. Our commercial locker build includes solid surface doors, shelving and faces while dadoed to a laminate body and back. With this build we are able to offer commercial lockers at a lower price while keeping quality intact and it is covered by a one year warranty.

The athletic build offers all of the solid surface features of the commercial locker but also includes a solid surface body which adds even more durability to the product. Our medical build is the ultimate solid surface locker build with no laminate involved, though it does come at our highest price point. Both the athletic and medical builds are covered by a lifetime warranty.

With our building process, we use laminate to make our products more accessible to your business without sacrificing quality. Unlike an entirely laminate locker, these builds provide solid surface where it counts, specifically to areas of the locker that are exposed to the highest levels of consistent impact such as doors and shelving.

breaking down locker builds

Commercial Build

Say goodbye to flimsy storage. Featuring a laminate back and body with solid surface cladding on the face, shelving and doors, the commercial build creates stronger durability on the parts of the locker that take the most damage. Created to be cost-effective yet long lasting.

Athletic Build

Built with only a laminate back and solid surface everywhere else, the athletic build brings a stronger durability and lasting power while also providing quality storage space. Largely clad in solid surface, this build is perfect for first-responders or high-traffic, stressful spaces.

Medical Build

Fully fabricated from solid surface, the medical build is the strongest commercial locker we have created. With a non-porous and microbial resistant surface, the build promises infection resistance and easy cleanability, making it perfect for lab spaces as well as patient facing healthcare facilities.

custom options

Don’t see your exact locker vision, that’s alright… we’ll work with you to get there. While we have created the four pre-engineered lockers, there is always a way to shift our designs to reach your goal.

We've done some pretty incredible custom work within both sports and healthcare, if you need proof just check out the examples below.

cost breakdown

Solid surface is a more expensive option within the world of materials. One of the main reasons laminate is commonly used within locker design is because of its low price point. However, as the saying goes, you often get what you pay for.

Laminate lockers will inevitably break down throughout the lifespan of the product. Though it may not be in the first year, eventually you will find yourself having to make multiple product replacements which takes a one time cost and turns it into multiple.

With solid surface builds, you can have the peace of mind that once the product is installed, you’ve got a warranty behind it. No replacements and no need for large repairs. Our one time costs really are one time only.

We know your business deserves the best in storage solutions, which is why we have brought our lockers into the commercial sphere. Let the experts make your storage convenient for everyone involved.

Locker room design is one of the major cornerstones in training, recruiting, performance, and recovery. It’s one of the major places where organizations can showcase their efforts to identify player and coaching needs. Make sure that whatever your next locker rooms ends up becoming, It starts by listening to current players and staff and bringing their ideas to the table.