Cal Poly Tennis Facility Windscreen Upgrade

Introduction

• Turnkey windscreen replacement using a mix of materials tailored to spectator and player needs.
• Custom-printed vinyl windscreen added to court divider fencing for crisp, high-quality branding.
• Strategic polyester mesh placement along perimeter fences to preserve pavilion sightlines.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo partnered with Collins Company to reimagine its tennis facility in collaboration with coaches Nick Carless and Jurgen de Jager. The program wanted to elevate the overall look of the courts, incorporate school branding, and improve the experience for both players and spectators. Collins Company delivered a complete solution — from measurement and design to fabrication, travel coordination, and installation — creating a facility that looks sharp, performs well, and showcases Cal Poly pride.

The challenge

The tennis pavilion overlooks multiple courts positioned back-to-back, making spectator visibility essential. Traditional full-height windscreen on the perimeter would have blocked views of the far courts, while removing windscreen entirely would compromise the clean visual backdrop players rely on.

The design needed to strike the perfect balance:

• Clear spectator sightlines from the pavilion
• Consistent visual background for players
• School branding incorporated cleanly and professionally

On the operational side, Collins Company coordinated a travel installation crew from hours away, requiring careful logistics, hotel arrangements, and scheduling. Work was timed to avoid interfering with practices or limiting player court time.

The solution

Collins Company approached the project with a creative material and placement strategy:
Perimeter Fences — Polyester Mesh (Unprinted)

• Selected specifically for its visibility, durability, and light-filtering properties.
• Installed at precise heights and locations to maintain clear spectator views across all courts from the pavilion.
• Provided the uniform background players need without obstructing sightlines.

Court Divider Fences — Custom-Printed Vinyl Windscreen

• Used exclusively on the small internal divider fences where visibility was not a concern.
• Delivered crisp, high-resolution Cal Poly branding, logos, and graphics for maximum visual impact.
• Printed on solid vinyl windscreen to ensure clean color, sharp detail, and consistent quality.

Turnkey Coordination

• Detailed on-site measurements to ensure proper fit and clean lines across all courts.
• Artwork collaboration with the coaching staff to finalize color, branding, and placement.
• Full project planning, including travel logistics and scheduling work around team practices.
• Professional on-site installation completed by Collins Company’s experienced field crew.

The results

The completed upgrade transformed Cal Poly’s tennis facility into a polished, collegiate-quality environment:

• Players benefit from a consistent, distraction-free background on every court.
• Spectators now enjoy clear visibility of all matches from the pavilion — a major improvement for viewing and overall fan experience.
• Branding is clean, sharp, and strategically placed on the vinyl divider screens, creating a professional visual identity without blocking views.
• Facility aesthetics are elevated across the board, giving the program a more refined and competitive atmosphere for athletes, fans, alumni, and recruits.

The project showcases Collins Company’s ability to blend creativity, material expertise, and precision installation into a custom solution tailored to the sport and facility layout.

“Collins Company was outstanding to work with from start to finish. Their professionalism, communication, and attention to detail made the entire process incredibly smooth. The finished windscreens look fantastic, and the installation team did a phenomenal job. We’re grateful for the Collins team and the care they put into making our facility look and function better than ever.” — Nick Carless & Jurgen de Jager, Cal Poly Tennis Coaching Staff