Public sports arenas and gyms have transformed their design and functions in recent years due to changing technology and requirements. Facilities now include more seating, broadcasting capabilities, and specialized spaces for activities like yoga, Pilates, racquetball, basketball, and martial arts. The pandemic greatly impacted gyms and sports as people avoided shared, enclosed spaces. As a result, many people set up home gyms while others sought public spaces that meet new safety standards. Laminate surfaces have emerged as an ideal option as they are durable, easy to clean, slip-resistant, and can be installed to cover walls and floors in bright colors that uplift the environment.

1. FAIR GAME
Sportsarenas andgyms have transformedtheirdesignandfunctioninthe lastfew years.
Technologyandchangingrequirementshave beenthe maininfluencers.Firststadiumswere
weatherproofedwithretractableroofs,theywere enlargedtoaccommodate more seatingand
compactedto accommodate live telecasts.Andthencame personal requirementsasyogaand
Pilatesstudios,gyms,racquetball courts,basketball courts,martial academyandchessacademies
all transformedtheirdesignandfunction - fromvastpublicopenspacestoareasthat offera more
confinedandpersonalizedexperience.
Gyms andsports sufferedthe mostduringthe lockdown.
People are still hesitanttointeractwithothers,sharingacommonspace while sweatingitoutor
breathingheavy orjustbreathingthe same airfor longlengthsof time.
Notsurprisingthenthatthe sport and healthindustryhasbeencompletelyrevamped.
One optionthatpeople exploredledtothe constructionof home gymsor sportsstudios.The last
fewyearshave seenasurge inhome gymsbut thistrendhas escalatedpostthe pandemic.People
wantto work outbut more and more people prefertodoso inthe safetyof theirownhomes.And
afterlast yearit's more thanjust a luxury,it'sa basicrequirementaspeople came totermswiththe
importance of theirpersonal healthandimmunity.
Howevernotall people have the space orbudgettoturn theirhomesintopersonal gymsorsports
arenasfor theirchildren.Andforaspace that's usedfora couple of hoursin a day.
Secondlypublicplayareaswhichcatertopeople of all age groupsfrom variousbackgroundsalso
had to come to termswiththe requirementtomeetnew safetystandards.
Function- regardlesstosaythe firstand foremostfunctionof the space isto provide anopenand
spaciousstudioorcourt. One that catersto the requirementsof the sportbeingplayed.
Hygiene- cleanlinessisforemostinanysphere incurrenttimesandwill continue tobe.Surfaces
that discourage growthorspreadof bacteria, virusesormould.
Clearfinish- Fewergaps,noridges,groovesortextures.Surfacesthatare smooth,staycleanor
self-clean.
Safety- roughedgesor surfacescan be dangerousandharmful.Raw materialsusedneedto
provide agood gripand absorbinglandingsurfacessoasto notinjure jointsorscratch the skin.

2. Durability- theyhave tobe versatile,longlasting,eventough.Materialsusedtocreate sporting
areas needtoabsorbthe grind of dailyactivitywhichoftenincludescrashesorbangs.Not to
mentionthe sheernumbersof people whouse the space.
Laminates cover all these aspects.

3. While there are a lotof optionsthatcovera few of the above requirements,presentdaylaminates
have beensuccessful onall counts.
The highlyratedanti fingerprintlaminate fromStylamisanideal productforsuchspaces.
Laminatesare adaptable.They're toughenedandlonglastingwithoutfearof crackingunderheavy
weightsoruse of force.
Notto mentionthe factthat theyadd colourand brightenup anyspace.I recentlyvisitedastudio
where they'dcreatedpanellingonthe wallsandcovereditwithdifferentcolourcoordinated
laminates.Justwalkingintothe roomliftedthe spirits.One feltlikeone hadsteppedintoavirtual
environmentandthe followingone hourwassurreal yethighlyenjoyable.
Laminateshave alwaysbeenapreferredoptioninlockerrooms.They're easilycutintoshape,
mositure resistantandall theyneedisagoodwipe downtokeepclean.
Howeverthe highexpectationsfrom productsinourpresenttimeshave thrustthe usesandbenefits
of laminatestothe forefront.