Coach Prime and University of Colorado Partner with Shield Lockers for Exclusive Fan Opportunity

Kansas City, KS — October 25, 2024 — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and The University of Colorado football program team up with leading locker manufacturer, Shield Lockers, to produce an officially-licensed, limited release (x15) of Coach Prime’s custom locker directly to fans. 

Shield collaborated with Coach Prime and The University of Colorado to design a custom locker specifically for his office, which was installed earlier in the week. During the design process, the idea to create full-scale, functional versions of the locker for fans was proposed and quickly embraced.

“Coach Prime is an icon, and we created a locker that embodies that.” says Stephen Hopkins, founder and Chief Design Officer at Shield Lockers. “Getting to create something for the fans was a unique experience for Shield, and as a huge sports fan myself, this opportunity was too good to pass up.”

The officially-licensed locker is built using the same materials and finishes as Coach Prime’s locker and features integrated power and lighting, inductive charging, felt-lined jewelry display drawer, and edition plaque. In addition to building the locker, Shield will be installing them for fans as well. There will be 10 standard edition lockers released and 5 signature edition lockers, which include CU x Prime gear and the locker autographed by Coach Prime himself. A percentage of proceeds from each purchase will also be donated to 5430 Alliance, the NIL collective for Colorado Buffaloes Athletics.

Locker sales are live and available at shieldlockers.com/prime.

About Shield Lockers

Shield Casework LLC, dba Shield Lockers, is an industry-leading manufacturer of athletic lockers, located in Kansas City, Kansas. To date, they have provided custom-manufactured athletic lockers for some of the biggest names in sports, including Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Saints, The University of Colorado, and Florida State University.

SHIELD LOCKERS CREATES CUSTOM LOCKER FOR DEION "COACH PRIME" SANDERS

Kansas City, KS — October 25, 2024 — 

Coach Prime and The University of Colorado collaborated with leading locker manufacturer, Shield Lockers, to design a custom locker specifically for his office, which was installed earlier in the week. 

“Coach Prime is the biggest name in college athletics, so of course we jumped at the chance to work with him.” says Stephen Hopkins, founder and Chief Design Officer at Shield Lockers. “We designed a custom locker that is a great reflection of him and his impact on the University of Colorado football program.”

Shield worked collaboratively with the Buffaloes to deliver a truly unique locker for Coach Prime and Head of Equipment Michael “Smitty” Smith. Features include integrated power and lighting, inductive charging, backlit signature and quote panel, bench with custom stitched cushions and soft-close lower drawer, chaise lounge, direct-print logos, and a wardrobe cabinet with felt-lined jewelry display drawer and backlit shoe cubbies.

This is the fourth collaboration between Shield Lockers and The University of Colorado. Previously Shield manufactured lockers for volleyball, men’s basketball, and women’s soccer. 

About Shield Lockers

Shield Casework LLC, dba Shield Lockers, is an industry-leading manufacturer of athletic lockers, located in Kansas City, Kansas. To date, they have provided custom-manufactured athletic lockers for some of the biggest names in sports, including Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Saints, The University of Colorado, and Florida State University.

Leading locker design manufacturer, shield casework, relocates and expands to fairfax district

Kansas City, KS — September 3, 2024 — The nation’s leading locker design manufacturer, Shield Casework LLC, dba Shield Healthcare and Shield Lockers, is moving and expanding its manufacturing facility in the Fairfax District. Previously operating in multiple sites throughout North Kansas City, Shield has consolidated its production at 3150 Chrysler Road, Kansas City, Kansas.

“We are excited to have the additional space and machinery to meet the market demand for our products. The last few years have been challenging to keep up with our growing business across multiple, smaller locations throughout the Kansas City metro area,” says Stephen Hopkins, Founder and Chief Design Officer, Shield. Shield launched in 2014 and has grown into a $12M operation with 50 employees over the last 10 years.

The new facility offers more than 40,000 square feet of production space, nearly doubling the combined footprint of its previous facilities. In addition to the increased space, Shield is adding to its automated material handling and cutting equipment. “We expect to increase our capacity by 33% this year and by 100% in the next three years. This facility will bring our entire team back under one roof and enable us to handle the additional staff and machinery to grow with our clients,” said Hopkins.

Shield’s increased capacity and job creation brings a welcomed boost to the local economy as well. "We are thrilled to welcome Shield Casework to Wyandotte County, where their $6 million investment and plans for a 46,000 square-foot facility underscore our area's appeal for business expansion. The creation of 25 high-paying jobs will undoubtedly strengthen our workforce and economy, reinforcing Wyandotte County as a hub for innovative industries,” says Greg Kindle, President, Wyandotte Economic Development Council.

“Kansas continues to attract innovative companies such as Shield Casework that are changing the landscape of advanced manufacturing,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The company’s expanded facility in Wyandotte County will move them closer to the healthcare customers they serve as well as provide a solid boost to both the local and state economies.”

Shield operates in three markets to meet the needs of diverse industries. Shield Healthcare creates clinical and patient storage solutions, headwalls and behavioral furniture for healthcare facilities. All of Shield’s products are created using patented technology to connect acrylic solid surfaces - a material that is waterproof, microbial resistant, and infinitely repairable. Shield is proud to partner with many healthcare facilities, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Kansas Health System, University of California San Diego, North Kansas City Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to name a few.

Operating in the athletic space, Shield Lockers creates custom lockers for collegiate and professional sports teams. Shield has created lockers for some of the biggest names in sports, including the Kansas City Current, Florida State University, Los Angeles Clippers, Sporting Kansas City, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Broncos, UCLA, and the New Orleans Saints. Creating lockers that stand up to tough environments, Shield designs, manufactures and installs in-house to ensure that its products look great and last forever.

Additionally, Shield has recently launched a commercial-grade locker line to bring the durability of their custom athletic lockers to the civic, healthcare, and commercial locker markets. Learn more at Shield Commercial Lockers.

About Shield Casework, LLC

Shield Casework LLC, dba Shield Healthcare and Shield Lockers, is an industry-leading manufacturer of hospital patient room furniture and athletic lockers. Founded in 2014, the company has grown into a $12+M operation with 50 employees. In 2024, the company moved their headquarters to a 45,000 square foot facility to meet the needs of their growing operations. To date, they have provided custom-manufactured healthcare furniture and athletic lockers for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, The University of Kansas Health System, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Saints, and Florida State University. Visit https://www.shieldcasework.com/contact/ for more information.

Digital nameplate technology: THE FUTURE OF THE LOCKER ROOM

Ready to bring your locker room into the future? For years nameplates have been a thorn in the side of many coaches and equipment professionals. Every time a player joins or leaves a team, it’s a hassle - ordering new nameplates, waiting for them to arrive and hoping they’re correct. Players deserve to feel special and staff members deserve equipment that works for them without adding more to their plate. So we’ve found a solution.

Here at SHIELD, we’re excited to introduce our new digital nameplate technology. This innovative solution is designed to streamline locker room management, enhance team communication and create a more personalized experience for everyone involved. From coaches to equipment staff and players, our digital nameplates make every detail count, ensuring a smoother and more efficient locker room environment.

Whether it’s welcoming new talent or managing team details, our digital nameplate tech helps create a more connected and motivated environment for everyone. Get ready to see your locker room in a whole new light.

digital nameplate breakdown

The SHIELD digital nameplate system helps solve several common locker room pain points;

• Quick Changes: Easily update player names when they join or leave the team. No more buying new nameplates and waiting for them to arrive.
• Cost Efficiency: Save money by eliminating the need to constantly buy new nameplates and not having to involve other professionals.
• Accuracy: Avoid issues like typos on nameplates. You control the content, so errors can be a thing of the past.
• Simplicity: With no need for a graphic designer or other individuals working with materials, the process of customizing content is made seamless.
• Remote Management: Make changes to nameplates from anywhere. No more USB drives or complex setups.

• Integrated Communication: Display messages to team players directly on their nameplates, reducing the need for sticky notes or additional screens.

Example of DIGITAL NAMEPLATE PROCESSES

digital nameplate benefits

PLAYERS

COACHES

Tired of team communication being a headache? We’re here to help. Our digital nameplate system lets you update player info, game plans or motivational messages quickly, keeping players constantly updated. Onboarding becomes a breeze, with tailored welcome messages and stats for new players, allowing for a smooth and comfortable transition into the team.

If you’re looking to enhance recruitment, digital nameplate tech is a fantastic tool. Put up special messages when prospective players come to visit, showing them exactly why your team is the one for them. No more waiting for shipments when players enter or leave - just quickly update the information.

EQUIPMENT

It’s time to streamline your workflow. Digital nameplate tech allows you to manage locker assignments easily, ensure players’ names are correct and quickly fix any errors. Misspelled name plates can be a nightmare, but with digital nameplate tech you control the content. Real time notifications allow you to keep on top of locker updates and equipment changes, making your job more efficient and players’ and coaches’ days easier as well.

Here at SHIELD, we’re bringing the future of locker room technology to your door. No more waiting on nameplate shipments or fixing errors. Focus on making your players feel like top priorities and keeping equipment management a breeze. You won’t just be keeping up with the times - you’ll be setting the trend.

Ready to lead the charge? With SHIELD’s digital nameplate technology, you can make every moment in your locker room count. Learn more about our digital nameplate technology on our website or contact our sports salesman, Danny Lewis, to see how digital nameplate tech can improve your sports facility.

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.

meet the athletic build locker: the ultimate storage solution

Here at SHIELD, we’ve set a high bar for sports lockers. Now, we’re bringing that expertise to personal storage. Engineered to withstand the toughest conditions, the commercial lockers offer unmatched durability, functionality and style.

Let’s face it: basic storage solutions aren’t great. They’re flimsy, lack visual appeal or are not purpose made for the facility in which they will be placed. Crafted from heavy-duty materials, our commercial lockers stand up to daily use. With features like reinforced doors, secure locks and customizable set-ups, SHIELD’s commercial line provides reliable storage necessary for high performance settings.

The SHIELD commercial line includes three distinct builds; commercial, athletic and medical. Designed with the rigorous demands of first responders in mind, the athletic build can be used in any challenging environment. In this blog we will break down the features of the athletic build, showing how the robust design and top-tier construction make it the ultimate choice for durable and dependable storage.

What is the ATHLETIC LOCKER BUILD?

Glad you asked. A functional, yet cost-effective option, the athletic build is crafted with a laminate back while being clad in solid surface for the body, face, doors and shelving. Though we have spoken at length about how laminate alone often does not hold up, often succumbing to delamination, in combination with solid surface it can be the perfect option for storing essential items in demanding environments.

By strategically combining laminate with solid surface, we ensure the parts of the locker most susceptible to wear and tear are reinforced with the strongest materials, while allowing us to offer the product at a more accessible price point.

Example of delamination

Ideal Uses

Professionals in demanding environments need secure storage for their equipment and personal belongings. Sure, you could just offer cubbies or standard metal lockers, but these solutions may not provide the durability, space or security necessary.

Our athletic build was created with the unique needs of first responders and other demanding professions in mind, ensuring access to spacious, secure and easy-to-use storage. While phenolic lockers have often been the go-to choice for durability, we offer something even better. SHIELD’s solid surface lockers are designed to not only match, but surpass the quality of phenolic lockers, bringing superior longevity, cleanability and aesthetics.

Providing top-tier storage is just one way to create a more attractive and efficient facility, which can draw more professionals into your team. No matter what high demand environment the athletic build ends up in, unmatched quality and reliability will be delivered.

ATHLETIC BUILD DETAILS

What are the Benefits of the ATHLETIC Build?

Durability

Reinforced with solid surface, our athletic build resists strong impacts and wear and tear. These qualities are incredibly beneficial in high traffic areas where durability is essential. Made from robust materials, our lockers can withstand daily demands and potential collisions that come with  busy environments.

Cleanability

Though the athletic build includes both laminate and solid surface, the solid surface face is epoxy sealed, preventing moisture from seeping into the joints. When it’s time to clean, you can have peace of mind knowing the materials will keep their like-new qualities.

Cost Effective

Though solid surface alone is generally not a cheap option, deliberate use of laminate allows us to create a product that remains incredibly durable without breaking the bank. The long-lasting nature of the product means you will only be paying a one-time fee as opposed to constant replacements, providing budgetary relief and less environmental waste.

User Experience

With a spacious design, we create our lockers to be functional for anyone who interacts with them. From smooth-opening doors to secure locks, our athletic build allows professionals to quickly secure storage and retrieve gear.

Customization

Don’t see your design preference? We can make it. At SHIELD, customization is a key part of our process. If you have a space that needs precise specifications, we can easily work to make our products fit your exact needs.

Aesthetics

The athletic build can be custom-built exclusively for your facility’s design, ensuring they seamlessly blend with your interior while providing a professional and organized look.

At SHIELD, we’ve set the standard of sports locker craftsmanship, building over a decade of expertise. Now we’re bringing our excellence to everyday storage. Designed with the strongest durability, hygiene and aesthetic appeal, our athletic build lockers are the ultimate choice for any high-demand environment.

Ready to upgrade your storage? Our dedication to creating exceptional sports lockers has driven us for years, now we’re expanding our reach. Check out our website or connect with our commercial locker sales specialist, Adam Eastwood, for a deep dive into the world of high-quality storage solutions that will transform your facility.

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.

meet the MEDICAL build locker: the ultimate HEALTHCARE STORAGE

Here at SHIELD, we diagnose and cure bad storage solutions with style. For the past 10 years we’ve been hand-crafting top-tier casework, storage and patient room furniture for medical facilities. With designers by your side through every stage of the creative process, we ensure that each piece is not only functional but durable while seamlessly integrating with the unique needs of your healthcare facility.

In our days of healthcare manufacturing, we’ve seen a significant demand for better storage solutions. Many existing designs fall short in so many ways - they break down, lack aesthetic appeal or fail to meet rigorous standards required within medical environments. Patients and staff alike carry important items with them throughout the day, which means providing secure and accessible storage solutions is crucial to the functionality of a facility.

Within our commercial line we’ve created three different builds; commercial, athletic and medical. The medical is fabricated entirely from solid surface, which ensures the highest standards in cleanability and longevity. In this blog we will be covering the medical build and how its qualities make it the perfect fit for any healthcare facility, whether in patient facing areas or more secure spaces.

What is the MEDICAL LOCKER BUILD?

Glad you asked. A premium and highly durable option, the medical build is crafted entirely from solid surface, making it exceptionally easy to maintain. Designed specifically for the demanding environments of medical facilities, the build ensures superior hygiene, durability and longevity.

By using solid surface throughout the entire locker, we ensure the strongest resistance against impacts, wear and tear and microbial growth which makes it an ideal choice for medical environments where maintaining sterility is critical. 

MEDICAL BUILD DETAILS

Ideal Uses

Everyday, healthcare staff begin their shifts carrying essential gear, uniforms and personal belongings that need to be stored in secure spaces, while patients bring in items that need to easily stay safe. Sure, you could just offer cubbies or standard metal lockers, but these solutions may not provide the durability, space or security necessary.

Our medical build was created with the unique needs of medical staff and patients in mind, ensuring they have access to spacious, secure and easy-to-use storage for their equipment and personal belongings. 

While opting for other storage solutions may seem tempting, SHIELD lockers set the gold standard in safety and hygiene. Crafted from nonporous, antimicrobial materials, our storage solutions are equivalent to phenolic options but with enhanced durability and cleanability. By investing in quality medical grade lockers, you’re choosing increased safety for both patients and staff as well as a more comfortable and welcoming environment. Why settle for anything less than the best?

What are the Benefits of the MEDICAL Build?

Durability

Created fully from solid surface, our medical build resists strong impacts and wear and tear. These qualities are incredibly beneficial in high-traffic areas where staff need to move quickly and efficiently. Made from robust materials, our lockers can withstand the daily demands and possible collisions that come with these jobs.

Cleanability

Solid surface is anti-microbial which means better infection control for healthcare staff and the patients they serve. Having strong cleanability ensures a longer product lifespan with minimal maintenance needed to keep a like-new appearance, essential for maintaining hygiene standards in medical settings.

Cost Effective

Though the medical build is fully made from solid surface, which means a higher up-front cost, it offers unparalleled longevity. We ensure that you won’t have to constantly buy replacements which means the one-time fee is where the payments end. 

By investing in a single, adaptable locker system, you ensure durability, security and easy cleaning which works to promote the promise of lifetime usage. 

Customization

Don’t see your design preference? We can make it. At SHIELD, customization is a key part of our process. If you have a space that needs precise specifications, we can easily work to make our products fit your lab or OR requirements.

User Experience

With a spacious design, we create our lockers to be functional for every technician and patient that interacts with the product. From smooth-opening doors to secure locks, our athletic build allows staff to quickly and securely store and retrieve their equipment and personal items.

Aesthetics

The medical build can be custom-built exclusively for your facilities design, ensuring they seamlessly blend with your facility’s interior while providing a professional and organized look.

At SHIELD, we know medical storage well. After over a decade of being a provider within the industry, we’re bringing our expertise and craftsmanship to lockers for patients and staff alike. By combining unmatched durability, hygiene and aesthetic appeal, the medical build locker is the ultimate choice for any healthcare environment.

Ready to upgrade your healthcare storage? Exceptional casework and patient furniture has been our mission for years and now our storage solutions have expanded even further. Check out our website or connect with our commercial locker sales specialist, Adam Eastwood for a deep dive into the world of high-quality, medical facility storage.

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.

meet the commercial build locker: the ultimate storage solution

Here at SHIELD, building lockers is what we do best. For the past 10 years we’ve been hand-crafting beautiful storage for collegiate and professional sports organizations that showcase teams’ unique branding while lasting for a lifetime.

So why not stick with sports? In our days of being a manufacturer we’ve come across many commercial locker designs that, quite frankly, kind of suck. They break down, lack aesthetic appeal or aren’t purpose-made for their intended facility. Nearly everyone carries important items with them throughout the day, which means providing secure and accessible storage solutions for all types of facilities can make a huge difference. 

The SHIELD commercial line includes three distinct builds; commercial, athletic and medical. Crafted for maximum durability and versatility, the commercial build is perfect for high-traffic spaces that need secure storage solutions making it ideal for offices, gyms and civic centers. In this blog, we will be breaking down the features of the commercial build and how it can be an essential part of your facility.

What is the Commercial Locker Build?

Glad you asked. Our most cost-effective option, the commercial build features a laminate back and body with solid surface cladding on the face, doors and shelving. Though we have spoken at length about how laminate alone often does not hold up and succumbs to delamination, combining it with solid surface creates a durable, more-affordable everyday solution.

By strategically combining these materials, we reinforce the parts of the locker most susceptible to wear and tear with the strongest materials, while allowing us to offer the product at a more accessible price point.

example of delamination

Ideal Uses

Whether it’s in offices, public facilities or recreational centers, people need secure and reliable storage. Our commercial lockers provide comfortable space and security for people’s belongings, far surpassing basic cubbies or metal lockers.

While we know phenolic is a popular choice for projects in this space, at SHIELD we’ve taken locker design and durability a step further. The commercial build offers all the advantages of phenolic material while providing superior resistance to impacts, wear and tear and microbial growth, all of which ensures a cleaner and safer environment for users of the product.

Commercial Build Details

What are the Benefits of the Commercial Build?

Durability

Reinforced with solid surface, our commercial build lockers withstand strong impacts and wear and tear, making them incredibly useful in high traffic areas.

Cleanability

Though the commercial build includes both laminate and solid surface, the solid surface face is epoxy sealed, preventing moisture from seeping into the joints. When it’s time to clean, you can have peace of mind knowing the materials will keep their like-new quality.

Cost Effective

Though solid surface alone is generally not cheap, deliberate use of laminate has allowed us to create a product that is incredibly durable but won’t break the bank. The long lasting nature means you avoid constant replacements, saving money and reducing environmental waste.

User Experience

With a spacious design, we create our lockers to be functional for everyone. From smooth-opening doors to secure locks, the lockers are dependable and easy-to-use.

Customization

Don’t see your design preference? We can make it. At SHIELD, customization is a key part of our process. Our designers work with clients, to ensure each locker will fit their precise specifications.

Aesthetics

The commercial build lockers can be custom-built exclusively to match any design preference, ensuring they compliment the facility’s interior.

At SHIELD, we’ve set the standard of sports locker craftsmanship, building over a decade of expertise. Now we’re bringing our excellence to everyday storage. Designed with the strongest durability, hygiene and aesthetic appeal, our commercial build lockers are the ultimate choice for any facility.

Ready to upgrade your storage? Our dedication to creating exceptional sports lockers has driven us for years, now we’re expanding our reach. Check out our website or connect with our commercial locker sales specialist, Adam Eastwood, for a deep dive into the world of high-quality storage solutions that will transform your facility.

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.

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.

lockers designed for the pros: a look inside nba spaces

March Madness is over. After weeks of unexpected upsets and incredible shots, we’ve had to say goodbye to one of our favorite times of the year. But as one door closes, another opens and right now that door is the NBA playoffs. It’s time for the pros to take the stage and show ‘em how it’s done.

This year, we wanted to begin the playoffs celebration with a look behind the scenes of some of the most prestigious NBA teams' locker rooms and understand not only how they support their players on, but also off of the court. Equipment and facilities have become a huge focus over the past decade and now, more than ever, teams are sparing no expense to be sure they have the best and brightest of spaces for their players.

For professional players, it’s all about honoring their journey by giving them the tools they need to succeed. Here at SHIELD, we provide the lockers that allow them to stay organized and keep their belongings in top shape, that way they can worry about what’s really important - delivering fantastic plays every. single. game.

BROOKLYN NETS LOCKER ROOM

MOVING THE PROS FORWARD

In 2019, the Brooklyn Nets were looking to revamp their facilities and slated SHIELD as the designer for the lockers along with Dimensional Innovations and Generator Studios as the architect. Though the previous space had some amenities, waiting to renovate in sports can mean falling behind and then sprinting to catch up.

“You don’t want to fall behind,” said Joe Cuomo, Director of Equipment and Travel at the Brooklyn Nets. “You don’t want to be the team that doesn’t have the up-to-date amenities and standards. You’re always looking to improve and renovate in an appropriate amount of time.”

For the Nets, the renovation specifically focused on futuristic design. It can be common for refurbishments to only come around every decade or so, which means when creating your space, thinking into the future is a necessity. By forecasting trends and keeping up with other teams, you can know that your lockers and locker room won’t be old hat by next year.

"It's like walking into your closet in the year 2046... it's unlike anything i've seen around the league," said Kristian Winfield from ESPN about the new and improved Nets locker room.

Though professional teams aren’t looking to recruit in traditional terms, these facilities can still convey to competitors that they mean business.

“It can be a recruitment tool, in a non-traditional sense,” said Cuomo. “The opposing players don’t necessarily see the locker room, but they do practice at our facility. So in a subtle way, other teams do see the aesthetics of the building and what we have done.”

Within these spaces, the locker room can often be the heart and soul of the team. Where every player begins and ends practices or games means camaraderie is built and relationships are boosted. In the past few years, locker rooms have been getting the same treatment as every other part of a facility. Making sure only the highest quality equipment is installed. That’s where we come in.

brooklyn nets locker room reveal

WHAT MAKES A PROFESSIONAL LOCKER?

Great Question.

For Max Reza, Director of Team Operations at the LA Clippers, it’s all about functionality first and then finishing with stellar aesthetics.

“I think a large difference between professional and college lockers is that with the pros, you need a little more function,” said Reza. “You need a locker that is spacious and has all of the necessary pieces to properly accommodate your player.”

A recurring partner of SHIELD, the Clippers first redesigned their lockers within Crypto.com Arena (then Staple's Center) in 2016 to reach the caliber of the athletes and boost team unification along with Gensler as the architect. In one of the fastest timelines SHIELD has worked under to-date, the lockers were designed and installed within 60 days to meet the needs of the team.

CLIPPERS LOCKER ROOM IN 2016

In 2019 we installed new lockers into the Clippers training center, Honey Training Center. Now in the midst of a rebrand, the Clippers have once again asked us to create lockers for their space that match the goals of their shifting brand identity and fits with the new Intuit Dome, teaming up with AECOM.

“Everything we did for this project was based on monitoring our players and their trends,” said Reza. “How many shoes do they have? Where do they like to place their clothes? How do they like things arranged? We took all of those ideas and then modeled a locker that would actually help our players.”

As a locker manufacturer, we also monitor our jobs in order to provide the most up-to-date locker information with State of the Locker. Through this process, Shield is able to provide top of the line design to teams like the Clippers who are looking to completely revamp their image.

But why rebrand? For the Clippers, they knew it was time. With their old logo often being panned as “bland” or “generic,” the team wanted to move in a more serious direction, but keep the flair.

Named in 1978 after the move from Buffalo to San Diego, the team chose Clippers after the clipper ships often seen in the bay. Though now in Los Angeles, the team holds it’s origins close to their heart and wanted to see that vision through within the re-brand for the logo and the lockers.

Now the logo takes inspiration directly from the clipper ship and the lockers take a few of those notes as well.

“We definitely encouraged the architects to incorporate basketball and our brand into the design,” said Reza. “For us, we included that nautical clippers theme in there but we did it with small, thoughtful and artistic touches.”

la clippers updated logo

To Reza, when creating professional sporting lockers, it’s all about owning your designs and being honest about what can be done.

“Honesty throughout the process is so important,” said Reza. “We want a manufacturer that is honest about what they can actually do, not over promising or under delivering. With SHIELD there’s ownership throughout the lifecycle of the lockers and that partnership is really enjoyable. There’s genuine care and they’re always looking for ways to improve.”

meeting player needs

As a locker manufacturer, ultimately we are creating for the player. Having a good looking locker room can be great for media shots and showcasing your branding to the world, but if your players aren’t happy with the way the product functions, it hasn’t met its goal.

Players aren’t always naturally organized or perfectly clean, so having a piece of equipment with drawers and compartments for all of their items can mean giving them peace of mind off the court.

“A lot of these guys aren’t super neat and so by having a structured locker with multiple compartments, drawers, hooks and hanging bars… All of that allows you to help them have an organized locker,” said Cuomo.

There is also a heavy emphasis on making sure these pro level players are being given the respect and utilities they deserve for their journey to the top.

“That’s one of our guiding principles,” said Reza. “These players have worked so hard to get to this level, so let’s honor that with a very nice facility where they feel like they have their own dedicated space. We want them to have a workspace they can be proud of.”

what comes next?

It seems clear that as functionality grows within locker design, technology and ways to make using the piece more convenient will also become commonplace. Many teams are now moving to paperless operations and would like their teams lockers to include the tech that can help them flow through the day.

"You want to be able to go paperless for everything," said Reza. "You want to be able to change things electronically. There's so much information and things change daily for us, sometimes even hourly. You want to be able to effectively communicate to your players in a quick timeline."

Teams are also looking to be able to welcome in new athletes and say goodbye to ones that are leaving without needing to buy new nameplates or supplies. As the number of players teams can have gets larger, there is more of a need to make lockers quickly and easily able to update.

"Our rosters keep getting bigger and bigger so that is a definite challenge when it comes to figuring out what you can do with a given space," said Cuomo.

Ultimately, teams need lockers that will provide their players simple storage that requires minimal thought so the players can focus on their actual job of bringing fire to the court every day.

pro basketball partners

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.

Groundbreaking to Game-Changing: Innovating Spaces for Women in Sports

Here in Kansas City, making history is kind of our thing and March 16th 2024 was no exception. Since its inception, KC Current has been a trailblazer in the world of women’s sports; putting their money where their mouth is by making substantial investments into projects that elevate the team to elite status. In 2022 they unveiled the first NWSL specific training facility and merely two years later opened the very first stadium purpose-built for women’s sports in the entire world, CPKC Stadium.

Behind the scenes of this incredible facility is Generator Studio, an architecture and interior design firm local to Kansas City. With a multitude of professional renovations under their belt, Generator knows a thing or two about bringing women’s sporting facilities to life.

“A lot of these spaces are gearing towards a hospitality approach rather than a sports forward perspective,” said Kaitlyn Mahnken, lead interior designer at Generator Studio. “Clients want a tailored high-end look, especially when it's a facility specifically for women. By incorporating soft curves, vibrant patterns and striking contrasts it brings forward a woman-centric charm.”

Sports as an industry is often considered a “man's world.” It’s a place for the bros and has, for many years, given the feeling that it's not always an incredibly diverse space. Sports design is no different, but the women within the field are coming to change that. 

At Shield, working with kickass women is par for the course, so we wanted to sit down and pick the brains of these professionals who are opening doors and making waves with us as well as with others. We’re not just here to go, “woo women,” we’re here to showcase the achievements of these architects and interior designers who are bringing equality to the sporting world one facility at a time.

kc current locker room

cpkc stadium: the first, but not the last

Kaitlyn Mahnken was just leaving college as the Covid pandemic hit and found herself a bit in over her head as a new interior designer. After stumbling upon the opportunity to work at Generator Studio she took the chance and immediately began working on what would become CPKC Stadium.

“I was only a year and a half out of school when Covid hit,” said Mahnken. “The firm I worked at underwent a substantial reduction in workforce and I was lucky enough to be one of the few they kept. During this time, I didn't always get to work on the most exciting projects, so when the opportunity arose to work at Generator, I took it.”

CPKC Stadium is purpose-built for women’s sports, which means that there were aspects taken into consideration that sometimes aren’t when creating a men’s arena or a combined facility. From physicality to body build to belongings, women’s spaces must be created with these differences from men in mind. Any change that can be made to make a player’s day in the facility more efficient (even down to the lockers) was made a priority.

“Height was a huge factor when we were looking at the lockers,” said Mahnken. “We had to do sit/stand tests and utilize diagrams due to the average NWSL player being only 5’7, whereas your average male soccer player may be 5’10-5’11. We needed to create a design where they could reach their storage gracefully, without having to step on the bench compartment.”

The lockers also included more space for street clothing and a smaller central section to account for the jersey size. Showing off your gear as a player is incredibly important and can be a great way to bring personalization into the space when the media takes photos.

“The ownership group really specified that they wanted to have their kit facing forward,” said Mahnken. “Female jerseys tend to be much smaller than male jerseys, which allowed us to allocate more space for their street clothes, while also figuring out how large the kit display space was going to be.”

CPKC Stadium is the beginning of an era. With a renewed focus on women’s specific sporting facilities, Generator hopes that other teams will see what Kansas City has done and run with the inspiration.

shield lockers employees who worked on the kc current lockers

“While we were working with the Kansas City Current ownership team they would always say, ‘we are the first but we’re not the last,’ and that’s really all we can hope for,” said Mahnken. “I hope that teams take what KC Current has done, elevate it and make it their own.”

Working alongside Generator to create the lockers for CPKC Stadium was an absolute dream, but professional teams shouldn’t be the only ones whose facilities get the focus. Collegiate athletics are moving in their own new direction.

investing in equality

kansas state university volleyball locker room

Looking to the future

As we look towards the future, it's clear that women's teams are beginning to get their much deserved flowers. Building CPKC Stadium wasn't just a project - It was a statement, a declaration that women in sports deserve their own spaces to flourish and become their very best.

But it's not just the women on the field that are watching their industry expand. The professionals building these incredible facilities are also watching as sports design becomes a field that is more welcoming to women as a whole. For some, coming up in the industry was tough, and many of the women we spoke to hope that things don't have to stay the same for the women who are working to break in.

"At the start of my career, it took a little longer to gain respect and trust because I was one of the only women in the room," said Ostertag. "But now we see clients expecting more female presence on female projects."

For women with a passion for sports design, the professionals say go for it! Things change when more ideas get thrown into the mix, and more ideas can only be brought in if people decide to take the chance and reach into the industry.

"Be confident and trust your gut," said Rand. "A lot of times there's not many women in these spaces so knowing you are an integral member of the team is so important."

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.