On the Job: Collaboration and Creative Problem Solving at Lindner Family Tennis Center
To accommodate a rapidly growing international tennis tournament—the Cincinnati Open—the Lindner Family Tennis Center and construction manager Barton Malow trusted Stanton Millworks to design, fabricate and install a variety of custom millwork, casework and decorative elements that brought both functional ease and stunning aesthetics to the new and renovated spaces.
Due to this project’s massive scope and tight timeline, close collaboration and creative problem solving were crucial to achieving success. Here, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how we partnered with stakeholders and navigated complexities to deliver our signature quality craftsmanship for a spectacular sports venue.
All-hands-on-deck approach
This project spanned three separate facilities and featured many custom elements that were both complex and extremely detailed, involving multiple specialty contractors. One such feature was a commercial expo kitchen in the new clubhouse. In addition to being quite large in size, the kitchen called for multiple materials, including wood tambor, stone and metal. A large stone wall was designed to incorporate much of the commercial cooking equipment, which needed to be integrated into both the design and construction. The kitchen also included a hostess stand, slat wall dividers and a glass sneezeguard.
To maximize efficiency and minimize unexpected challenges, we divided installation into several different phases. Before launching each phase, we held strategy meetings with all contractors to coordinate material delivery, designate workflow and ensure alignment of every moving piece. This close collaboration was crucial to staying organized and delivering quality craftsmanship on an especially tight timeline, which was dictated by the 2025 Cincinnati Open.
Quality at every stage in the process
At Stanton Millworks, quality begins with the estimating and bidding process. Our estimators ask the right questions and have a keen sense of any possible risks that need to be addressed up front.
For instance, senior estimator Derek Grauduss knew the timeline wouldn’t allow for long lead times for materials. So he worked closely with the original design team to flag any materials that would take months to arrive and swapped them for equally superior products that would arrive within a couple of weeks. The client approved the new recommendations, which still achieved their initial vision, and was grateful for the foresight and strategic solutions.
“They could have taken those plans to somebody else,” says Justin Freeman, president of Stanton Millworks. “But they knew that when the process starts with quality, they’ll see it from beginning to end.”
It continues through to fabrication, where we trust our talented craftspeople to not only produce top-quality materials but provide creative solutions to unique problems. One example of this problem solving in action was in response to logistical constraints in the spaces we were renovating and fitting out. Access to the upper floors required the use of an elevator that would not accommodate our larger pieces, so our fabricators engineered ways to break large pieces down into more easily transportable components that would still come together seamlessly when installed.
Communication is key
Due to the sheer size of this project, which doubled the footprint of the Lindner Family Tennis Center to 40 acres, a variety of work was taking place across the jobsite at once. Multiple teams of craftspeople across multiple specialties were sharing spaces and completing stacking tasks, which meant constant communication was essential to ensuring everyone knew what needed to be done when. We scheduled regular meetings to facilitate this collaboration but also maintained flexibility to convene as needed to address issues or adjust plans.
“This was especially important given the wide footprint of both the jobsite itself and the variety of work being done,” Freeman says.
Be ready for anything
No matter how precise your measurements, or how perfect your drawings, or how prepared you are, unexpected challenges still arise. It could be anything from a missed electrical fixture or plumbing element to walls that are not plumb or floors that are not level. Fortunately our team of specialty craftspeople have deep experience with making adjustments on site while still maintaining a flawless finish. For this particular job, we partnered on installation with specialty contractor Trade31, a fellow Huseman Group company that values precision, craftsmanship and quality just as much as we do.
Through our proven process, unmatched precision and quality craftsmanship, we successfully created an environment that continues to wow both athletes and spectators alike.
Stanton Millworks is a trusted woodworking shop that specializes in quality craftsmanship from design through installation. Backed by a 90+ year legacy of doing it right, our capabilities include custom architectural millwork, cabinetmaking, solid surface fabrication and installation, multi-run production pieces, and historic preservation. Our commitment to quality is evident in both our process and our products that are built to last.
To learn more about how we can help bring your vision to life, please contact us.