Stage Diagram Labels 1.1.JPG
FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Project data
Authors Jake Begorre
Status Deployed
Made Yes
Replicated No
Cost USD 229.82
OKH Manifest Download
FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Device data
Hardware license CERN-OHL-S
Certifications Start OSHWA certification

Abstract[edit | edit source]

The portable stage was built for our client Zane Middle School to allow their students to become more involved in performance arts while making sure they learn in a fun, positive way. Zane Middle School does not have a theater and their previous portable stage was not big enough to accommodate for enough students. Our group, The Train Conductors, were given the opportunity to design and construct a 8'x16' and 8" tall portable and store-able stage for Zane Middle School. Our team designed the stage to be of a simple construction for the community members to recreate and/or maintain the stage as needed. A description of the stage, list of materials, and instructions to build can be found below.

Project Poster

Background[edit | edit source]

During the Spring 2018 semester, engineering 215 students at Humboldt State partnered with Zane Middle School to complete several design projects for the students and faculty. Our client Zane is a S.T.E.A.M. oriented school, meaning they predominantly focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The school puts focus on the sciences as well as the arts to give the students a more rounded education. Zane's drama and social science teacher, Zach Lehner, uses a small stage to allow students to have a more entertaining and productive learning experience. Currently, Zane Middle School does not have a designated theater to carry out their performances. Zane Middle Schools wishes to expand their theater arts through the construction of a new stage.

Problem Statement and Criteria[edit | edit source]

Zane Middle School's drama students lacked a place to perform and were being deprived the experience of a having an elevated platform to increase the experience in stage presence.

Criteria[edit | edit source]

Criteria Weight Constraints
Safety 10 Must be safe for use by middle school students.
Durability and Longevity 8 Must be weather and damage resistant and withstand prolonged usage.
Total Cost 8 Budget of $225.
Weight Capacity 7 Must hold the weight of 5-10 students (approximately 500-1000 lbs).
Portability 5 Must be easily transported by middle school students and easy to store.

Prototyping[edit | edit source]

Description of final project[edit | edit source]

The stage that we decided to produce was constructed out of 2"x 8" douglas fir boards and ¾" construction grade, sub-floor plywood sheeting. The frame of the stage was made of the 2"x 8" boards held together with torque screws. The frame was built in four sections that each measure 4'x8'. The sections will each be topped with a sheet of plywood that measures 4'x8'. The plywood will be fastened to the frame with torque screws. The stage is made of four units, making it a total of 8'x16' and 8" tall. The purpose of having built the stage in four standalone sections is that it makes the stage much easier to move and allows the users to reorganize the stage into different configurations. The stage is covered in black high-grade exterior paint so that it will not distract from the performers.

DIMENSIONS - Four sections each measuring 4' x 8' x 8" (16'x8' total)
FRAME - 2" x 8" Douglas Fir Boards
TOP - ¾" Subfloor Plywood
PAINT - Black Latex Based Polyurethane Fortified Floor Paint
HANDHOLDS - 6" Rounded Holds
DOLLIES/PORTABILITY - Furniture Dollies Rated 1000 lbs.

Costs[edit | edit source]

This section lays out the total costs of the projects. It will cover the design costs as well as the time spent to formulate the design and construct this project.

Design Time Costs (Hours):

The design costs represent the amount of time The Train Conductors spent (in hours) within each phase of the design project.

Implementation Costs ($):

The costs of materials are listed below:

86 linear feet of 2"x 8" Boards: $110.94. (10 linear feet donated by Pierson Building Center.)

1 ¾" subfloor plywood sheet (4'x8'): $41.99. (3 sheets donated by Pierson Building Center.)

2 1000 lbs. rated furniture dollies: $23.84.

1 gallon Acrylic based polyurethane floor paint: $31.99.

1 case Torque Screws donated by Jim Mclaughlin Landscaping.

Total Cost $229.82 + donations

The table below represents the estimated retail cost of the project.

Material Quantity Source Retail Cost ($) Cost with Donations($)
Case of torque Screws 1 Jim McLaughlin Landscaping 23.48 Donated
2" x 8" x 8' Boards 96 ln ft Pierson Building Center 123.84 110.94
3/4" Plywood Sheets (4'x 8') 4 Pierson Building Center 167.96 41.99
Furniture Dollies 2 Harbor Freight 23.84 23.84
Black Paint (200sqft) 1 Ace Hardware 31.99 31.99
Paint Tray 1 Pierson Building Center 2.59 2.59
Taxes 1 27.84 15.68
Total $397.95 $229.82

Results[edit | edit source]

Students to become more engaged in performance art activities at Zane Middle School thanks to the implementation of the stage.

Maintenance[edit | edit source]

The cost to maintain the stage is very minimal, as it only requires the user to touch up the paint if it should get chipped or scratched. Many issues that could occur with the stage will likely be simple to fix with sanding, new screws, or wood glue. Maintenance costs should be below $10 a year, with some years requiring more maintenance.

Instructions[edit | edit source]

Before using the stage, the user must first set the stage up. The four pieces must first be un-stacked from the the corner of the room and put together on the floor. The easiest way to move the stage is to use the hand-holds that are attached at either end of the 4' sides on each stage component. There are no locking mechanisms on the stage pieces to hold the separate pieces together, so there is no need to be very specific where each piece goes as long as they are all placed together.

Furniture dollies are used to move the stage over a distance. The user must put the furniture dollies as under the center of the 8' side of a stage section. The user must then flip the stage with this 8' section face down on the dolly.

Maintenance Schedule[edit | edit source]

Annually
  • Sand any spots on the stage that have taken excessive wear or abuse. If any sharp corners or edges have become noticeable, knock the sharp edges down by sanding. The floor paint will eventually begin to fade due to abrasive wear, so certain areas will need to be repainted to cover these spots.

Suggestions for future changes[edit | edit source]

  • The addition of wheels to the 8' foot side of the stage sections would help make it even more portable.
  • The addition of a skirt around the outside of the stage that can detach and reattach would improve the aesthetics of the stage.
  • The addition of locking mechanism connecting all four sections of the stage would add more stability.
  • The addition of grip on the bottom of the stage sections would allow the stage to stay in place due to the friction.

References[edit | edit source]


FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Keywords diy portable stage, performance and theater arts, wood, dollies, paint
SDG SDG04 Quality education
Authors Jake Begorre, Romel Robinson
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations Category:Engr205 Introduction to Design, Cal Poly Humboldt, Category:Zane Middle School
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 4 pages link here
Aliases Zane Middle School Portable Stage
Impact 91 page views (more)
Created April 18, 2018 by Jake Begorre
Last modified February 28, 2024 by Felipe Schenone
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