Custom Truss Structures for Aerial Arts: Solutions for Challenging Spaces & Historic Buildings

WHY CHOOSE A CUSTOM TRUSS STRUCTURE FOR YOUR AERIAL ARTS RIGGING?

There are numerous compelling reasons to choose a custom truss structure for your aerial arts rigging needs. One of the most common reasons our clients opt for a truss structure is the limitations posed by their studio spaces and buildings. When retail spaces are unavailable or too expensive, studio owners often turn to large warehouses. However, these warehouses are not always equipped to handle the dynamic loads associated with aerial arts. Another emerging trend in pole and aerial studios is that they are often housed within historic buildings. While preserving the integrity of these buildings is crucial, it also means that rigging from existing structures is usually not feasible.

VERTICAL ART DANCE CUSTOM TRUSS: THE #1 SOLUTION FOR CHALLENGING SPACES

Custom truss structures provide an ideal solution for rigging in such challenging spaces. Our structures are freestanding, meaning they don't require the support of the building to function safely. In some cases, we may secure the structure legs to the ground or add bracing pipes/lines as needed, but overall, our structures are semi-permanent and independent of the buildings they are housed in. This provides peace of mind for landlords, knowing that the aerial rig/structure can be removed someday and has minimal impact on the building itself.

NAVIGATING AERIAL RIGGING WITHIN HISTORIC SPACES: VAD TRUSS CLIENT RAILROAD AERIAL ARTS

Let's take the example of Railroad Aerial Arts in Norfolk, VA, a new aerial arts studio opening in the Summer of 2023. Ashley, the co-owner of RAA, hired us to design and build two custom truss structures for her historic space. Rigging directly from the roof trussing/beams was not an option due to the building's protected status. Ashley faced numerous obstacles in the space, including bracing pipes, roof trusses, electrical conduits, and air ducts. To make the most of her floor and aerial space, she chose a custom truss structure from Vertical Art Dance. This allowed us to design a structure that worked around the various constraints she encountered.

In her building, Ashley has three distinct classroom spaces. The front room features a 19' tall aerial structure for aerial yoga. The middle space serves as a stretching area for now, and in the back room, we assembled a smaller structure under 15' for kids' classes and low apparatus work, such as lyra flow. As the new studio becomes more established and expansion becomes necessary, Ashley plans to bring us back to build a third aerial structure in the stretching space.

In addition to the custom truss structures, we also provided Ashley with Lower Out Systems for all of her aerial points, featuring the Petzl RIG descender. This setup allows her to safely lower down students from the air in case they ever get stuck or entangled during training.

Designing and building these two structures with Ashley and the Railroad Aerial Arts team was challenging but incredibly enjoyable! We are delighted that she chose to work with Vertical Art Dance and invest in this custom truss structure for her business. We extend our best wishes to Railroad Aerial Arts for their success and eagerly look forward to returning to expand their thriving studio!

Have a pole, aerial arts or fitness space that is stumping you? Let us design a custom truss structure design to meet your specific needs!

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