Des Moines Metro Opera reported that its production team has constructed a fleet of 39 custom rolling storage units to solve severe space limitations at both its theatre and shop, as well as at the Blank Performing Arts Center.
Head Scenic Carpenter Nolan Moralez explained the operational challenge driving the project.
With the limited storage space in both the theatre and the shop and the limited amount of time we have to load into the Blank Performing Arts Center (BPAC), it only made sense for us to create storage units that all of our equipment can safely live in at both locations and make the journey back and forth without needing to load and unload each time.
The units are designed to hold everything from hardware and hardhats to safety cones and dustpans. Right now, 13 different types of storage units are ready for use, with eight additional units scheduled to arrive before the end of 2026.
Production Team Builds Cabinets in-House for Transport
Director of Production Clayton Rodney created the initial drafts for the storage cabinets, and the production team developed them further. Moralez noted that the vast majority were built in-house, with the exception of a few units finished by an independent contractor while the team prepared for their next festival.
Transporting the equipment relies on a straightforward loading process. Crews back a 26-foot box truck into the loading dock and roll the cabinets directly inside. At the Blank Performing Arts Center, the truck’s lift gate lowers each cabinet safely into the parking lot for placement. The units fit on a standard forklift for easy lifting.
