Eastern Michigan Eagles Settle on Reliance Bollards

March 28, 2012 – News from Reliance Foundry – for immediate release

Written by: Brad Done

There's no denying the fact that universities and school campuses have a LOT going on. On any given day, a variety of events, meetings, classes, concerts, sports competitions, and impromptu gatherings are happening. All of this activity requires safety precautions at every turn. More than you may initially think, bollards are used frequently to provide an added level of safety, pedestrian protection and building security around campus.

There has been an increasing demand for bollards and bike racks on campuses. New styles of bollards that are more architecturally and aesthetically pleasing, combined with enhanced installation features, have made bollards and bollard-style bike racks a top choice for learning institutions.

Bollard styles are such that even with older buildings, the bollards can provide functionality while not looking out-of-place against the architecture. For example, in 1914, the opening of the Fredric H. Pease Auditorium at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) gave the people in southeast Michigan a state-of-the-art space for musical appreciation. The grand neoclassical façade and classical details of the building's interior made it an impressive space for musical appreciation of all types.

Although the Frederic H. Pease Auditorium has enjoyed many interior remodels over the years, including new concrete flooring, new seats, interior restoration and technical remodelling, as you can see from the photos above, the neoclassical architecture and glazed terra cotta have endured as the identification of the exterior of the building. However, one notable difference that you can see between these two photos (aside from the horse and buggy and cool old car) is the recent addition of bollards to the landscape of the exterior.

The 7 black ductile iron bollards positioned along the sidewalk in front of the auditorium alert patrons (who may be engrossed in conversational appreciation about the performance they just heard) that they are approaching a sidewalk and street. The brick design of the landscape in front of the Pease is carried across the roadway and, without the bollards, it is possible for pedestrians to not realize they are approaching a road.

This is a common use for decorative bollards surrounding public venues where concerts and events happen regularly. Bollards also serve the purpose of preventing cars and trucks from approaching closer to a building than the property owners would like. In the photos you can see how the presence of the bollards would keep a motorized vehicle from pulling up close to the buildings.

Eastern Michigan University recently installed bollards at many of their buildings across the Ypsilanti campus. Residences, like Best Hall and Sellers (pictured right), have installed bollards strategically around the main dorm entrances. This kind of arrangement discourages college students from backing their Toyota pick up trucks up to the door to load and unload their stuff. The bollards also protect pedestrians by keeping cars from places they should not be driving.

Another place where EMU has put an increased focus on student safety with bollards is surrounding road curves like the one pictured. Lining the curve with bollards serves an an extra alert to drivers that a change in road direction is coming, while protecting pedestrians from drivers who drive up onto the sidewalk.

The bollards selected also provide visual appeal to compliment, not detract from, building design. Starkweather Hall (pictured below) was built in 1896. Its styling is Richardsonian Romanesque, as expressed by the low arches over the doorways, squat tower, grouped windows and heavy exterior of local fieldstone. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and, as a historical building, has a history well worth protecting.

The ornamental bollards used in the EMU project include a unique ball top casting and fluted 15 inch diameter base. This enables the campus to experience all of the benefits listed above, while also keeping with design and styling that reflects the architecture of important buildings, like Starkweather Hall.

The Reliance Foundry R-7589 bollard model was chosen for the EMU Eagles Campus. Reliance provides ductile cast iron bollards, parking and security bollards and covers and bike stand products to businesses, campuses and other facilities across North America. They are especially focused on providing products that landscape or building architects and designers will find enhancing to the design and styling of their projects.

Many of Reliance's bollards can be installed as either removable or fixed. For areas that generally do not want public traffic to get through, but still require maintenance, delivery or other corporate vehicle access, bollards can be easily removed when necessary. Installations can be into nearly any ground surface and for existing or new concrete.

The EMU Campus has been made safer with the strategic addition of landscaping bollards around historical and new buildings. This prestigious academic institution can continue to focus on the most important things -- the learning that happens inside.

Visit Reliance Foundry's bollards web site to see their entire selection of bollard products.

About Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd.

Reliance Foundry has been a family-owned business since 1927. Bollards are one of its main product lines, along with industrial wheels, bike parking products and investment castings. Reliance sources products globally and offers quick and convenient delivery in the United States and Canada from its Vancouver location.

###