2022 SUNDEK Project of the Year
Wayne State UniversityFieldhouse Plaza
See how SUNDEK used custom textures, stains, and craftsmanship to create a one-of-a-kind basketball court-inspired entrance at Wayne State University.
See how SUNDEK used custom textures, stains, and craftsmanship to create a one-of-a-kind basketball court-inspired entrance at Wayne State University.
When Albanelli Concrete contacted Chris Klemaske, SUNDEK's Director of Commercial Development, about a "complicated" project in Detroit, Michigan, Klemaske teamed up with SUNDEK's National Commercial Accounts Manager Rae Cerasoli to meet with them and find out more.
The project was for Wayne State University's Fieldhouse. The school wanted a unique design for the outdoor entrance plaza: a surface that would mimic the look of a basketball court — complete with flooring that looks like hardwood, striping, recessed lighting along the 3-point line, and a logo at the center of the court.
Through many late-night and weekend phone calls, Cerasoli and Production Manager Michael Mercado came up with the perfect product and approach. They planned to use SUNDEK's Tuscan finish to create the appearance of Parquet Wood Plank, which is the same style of hardwood used on basketball courts. Mercado's team created samples for the client, and after several iterations, the design was approved.
The crew faced a challenge right from the start: Albanelli Concrete needed to install the recessed lighting before SUNDEK could begin work. The lights were being delivered from out of the country and a shipping delay pushed the project start date back by three days. This compressed an already tight schedule with a hard opening day deadline.
The design itself was also a significant challenge — replicating the look of a Parquet Wood Plank basketball court on outdoor concrete required custom staining techniques, precise color layering, and careful application across the full surface. Several design adjustments were made along the way during execution.
Despite the late start and ongoing design adjustments, SUNDEK Commercial Contracting crews worked diligently — completing the project not just on time, but three days early. The design team, Wayne State University representatives, and Albanelli Concrete were blown away by the result.
SUNDEK applied the Tuscan coating with tan oxides to the entire surface, with the exception of the free-throw lines and the area reserved for the center logo. The team then opened the control joints and scored the pattern. Custom SunH2O water-based stains were applied with an airless sprayer to create a faded, layered look. This technique gives the surface the depth and variation of real hardwood.
After completing the staining, the team found the planks appeared too dark. To resolve this issue, they fogged the area with Sienna Rust to lighten them. Then they sponged on Golden Harvest for added complexity. Their final step for coloring was applying Select Finish Coat in Bone White and Green at the free-throw lines, 3-point line, and border. Crews applied this multiple times to avoid bleed-through.
SUNDEK applied the center logo using a vinyl template created with another company. The large template arrived in three pieces and needed to be carefully lined up before application. To protect the completed surface, SUNDEK applied two coats of eco clear with aluminum oxide.
SUNDEK applied their Tuscan texture effect with custom hand-troweling to create the look of Parquet Wood Plank. They applied tan oxides to the base, followed by SunH2O stains in Antique Moss, Sienna Rust, Sable, and Golden Harvest to achieve a layered, faded hardwood appearance.
Before they began their work, SUNDEK waited for Albanelli to install the recessed lighting. At the free-throw lines, the 3-point line, and court border, SUNDEK applied Select Finish Coat in Bone White and Green, using multiple coats to prevent bleed-through.
The center logo was installed using a custom vinyl stencil produced by another company. The stencil was carefully positioned to ensure precise alignment. Once the design was complete, two coats of Eco-Clear with aluminum oxide were applied to help protect the surface.
From raw concrete slab to a fully branded arena entrance plaza, this project was completed ahead of the opening day deadline.
Watch the full project walkthrough of the Wayne State installation.
"This was a complicated, high-profile project with a lot of pressure and a short time frame — and it was great. From the first phone call to the final piece of the installation, the whole team has been fantastic. I look forward to having many more projects with them in the future."
— Wayne State University Project TeamSUNDEK's commercial team works directly with architects, GCs, and institutions on complex, high-profile decorative concrete applications.
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