AZZ Inc’s Post

7 Things you might not know about one of our favorite Connor hardwood portable courts: Parquet Design: The court’s distinctive parquet pattern consists of small rectangular wood tiles arranged in a checkerboard layout, originally designed in the 1940s to make use of scrap lumber during wartime shortages. Historic Origins: The original parquet floor was installed at the Boston Garden in 1952 and became synonymous with the Celtics' dominance in the NBA. Unique Bounce: The interlocking parquet floor pieces created unpredictable ball bounces, which the Celtics used to their advantage at home. Legacy Replication: Although the original parquet floor was retired in 1999, the design was replicated for the Celtics’ modern portable court to maintain the franchise's historical identity. Easy Transport: The portable court is designed to be disassembled into small panels for efficient transport, enabling the team to host games in different locations if needed. Environmental Focus: The latest versions of the court incorporate sustainable sourcing practices for the wood, ensuring an eco-friendly approach. Iconic Branding: The parquet court features the Celtics’ iconic center-court logo, the "Lucky the Leprechaun" mascot, alongside bold team branding, making it instantly recognizable. Check out this outstanding article for additional info - Link is below.

"A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule." - Michael Pollan. The Art of a Lawn: Nature Perfected Discover how lawns embody nature under control, blending beauty with human artistry. Embrace the joy of cultivating a lush, green landscape. Cultivating Perfection A lawn is more than just grass; it’s nature under totalitarian rule. We shape and control every blade, creating an idealized version of the wild. It’s where human order meets natural beauty. #NaturePerfected #LawnCare Lawn: A Canvas for Human Mastery Just as an artist molds clay, we mold our lawns. Every trim, every watering, is a stroke of genius. This process transforms nature into a living canvas. Our lawns become symbols of our ability to harmonize with the natural world. #GreenArt #LandscapingGenius The Balance: Order Meets Organic Growth While we impose structure, the lawn remains alive, growing, and thriving under our guidance. This balance between control and freedom is what makes lawns so fascinating. It’s nature but with a human touch. #NatureBalance #GardenHarmony The Beauty of Uniformity There’s something incredibly satisfying about a well-manicured lawn. The even, lush green surface is a testament to our efforts. It’s nature, but better—more refined, more elegant. A symbol of care and attention. #LawnPride #GreenDreams Joy in the Process Caring for a lawn isn’t just about the result. It’s about the joy of nurturing, of seeing your hard work come to life. The lawn becomes a reflection of your dedication and passion. Every blade of grass stands tall, thanks to you. #GardeningJoy #NatureLove The Future: Sustaining the Green As we continue to cultivate our lawns, the future of lawn care lies in sustainability. We can control nature while also respecting it, ensuring our green spaces thrive for generations to come. #SustainableLawn #GreenFuture

For over a century, the Pulaski has proven to be an indispensable tool for firefighters facing wildfires in the most challenging terrains, thanks to Ed Pulaski. This dual-purpose design allows firefighters to clear brush, chop trees, and dig fire lines with speed and efficiency. One side features a wide, flat blade for chopping and cutting through vegetation, while the other side has a sharp, mattock-like edge for digging and scraping. Learn more about the origins of the Pulaski fire tool in our new article. https://hubs.li/Q02ykJFN0

Move a 1 tonne aquarium with one button? When this customer called with his requirements, I knew it was going to be both a challenging and fascinating project. He was renovating his house and wanted a custom aquarium built into his kitchen island. The catch? The aquarium needed top access for cleaning, but cutting into the stone benchtop was not an option. The only solution was to design a hydraulic system that could push the aquarium out of the island for maintenance—a task that involved moving nearly 1 tonne of weight, slowly and safely. Sounds simple, but it was far from easy! I accepted the challenge, and we got to work. First, we built the frame and did a test run with 6 people and some heavy steel to simulate the weight. It worked! After installing the frame, we took precise measurements and started constructing the aquarium. Due to the movement involved, we upgraded the glass thickness, which added even more weight to the system. Finally, it was the day for testing. In theory, everything was supposed to work, but seeing it in action is always a different story. We filled up the tank, ran the hydraulic system, and to my relief and excitement, it worked perfectly! I love taking on complex, challenging projects like this one. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing an ambitious idea come to life. Do you enjoy taking on challenges in your work? #AquariumDesign #CustomAquariums #EngineeringSolutions #ChallengingProjects #AquariumInstallation

The last Friday of July means it’s time to consider what plants will help you bring the outside inside in August! #atlantaplants #theplantpeddler #plantdesign #interiordesign #officeplants #atlantaplants #atlantaofficedesign

Behind the Scenes: Building a Custom Shark Aquarium 🦈 I’m excited to share the journey of one of our most thrilling projects—a custom shark aquarium! From the first meeting to laying the final foundation, it’s been an incredible process. It all started when I met with the client, who had set up a large aluminum frame on his timber decking to visualize the size of the shark tank. That was the day we sealed the deal and set the vision in motion! We kicked things off by removing the original decking and digging a 1.2m deep hole to pour the concrete support needed for such a large aquarium. With the decking gone, excavation of the area began, making space for the tank’s foundation. We also had to run plumbing pipes to the filter room, which was 15 meters away from the display tank, so trenching the backyard was essential to ensure the system would function smoothly. Once the groundwork was done, we installed a custom-built, heavy-duty stainless steel frame over the concrete foundation. This was a crucial step in ensuring the structure could hold the weight of the tank. Finally, we covered the frame with marine plywood, creating a sturdy base for the aquarium. Now, everything is ready for the tank to be built, piece by piece! Want to know more about the process of building custom aquariums? Drop your questions in the comments! #AquariumDesign #CustomAquariums #SharkAquarium #BehindTheScenes #AquariumInstallation

Improving Energy-Efficiency in Traditional Buildings. A new guide published by Government of Ireland and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recognises #vacuumglazing as a measure to improve the #energyefficiency of #singleglazed #sashwindows. "Where the existing non-historic glass panes are to be replaced, vacuum-insulating double-glazed panes should be considered to improve the overall window U-value and increase the surface temperature of the glass surfaces" #Ultrathin FINEO #vacuumglazing offers the warmth and comfort of #tripleglazing without the need to replace the window frames. A 1 over 1 sash window #retrofitted with #Fineo can achieve an overall window #uvalue of 1.2W/m2.K meaning it comfortably achieves existing #buildingregulation standards. For further information please vist www.fineo-glass.ie https://lnkd.in/eDvBexVk

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between European oak and American oak? Although both types of wood come from the same species of tree, their characteristics and uses can vary significantly. We tell you all about it in our post 👉 https://lnkd.in/dGi6wAh2 . . . #Woodworking #EuropeanOak #AmericanOak #WoodDifferences #hardwoods

We just renewed our pledge to participate in Lights Out, an initiative by Bird Safe Philly to prevent bird-building collisions. With fall migration starting up, join us in turning off unnecessary lights from midnight until 6am, now until November 15. Bird Safe Philly reports that for one participating building, preliminary data showed bird collision injuries/fatalities dropped 70% since 2020! In addition to adjusting your lights, utilizing frit patterns can create visual density that birds can see. However, not all frits are created equally—they must have high enough contrast and narrow enough spacing to be effective. We take this one step further by creating functional patterns that also complement the overall facade design. The result is visually interesting for birds and humans alike. 📷: Schnuck Pavilion at Washington University in St. Louis by Peter Aaron

Front yard lighting ideas – 10 ways to illuminate your garden