From its founding in 1889, CB&I soon grew into a “pioneer in the engineering and construction of steel water storage for growing communities.” In 1954, the company developed a Waterspheroid™ design using a torus, rather than a sphere, shape. This shift allowed for a significant increase in storage capacity, and the design remains a familiar sight in communities across the United States. It was this design that CB&I asked Playwell Bricks to recreate as a very special client appreciation gift.  

During the discovery call, the client explained that they wanted a gift that wouldn’t end up collecting dust; they wanted something that would appeal to engineers and that their clients would want to display on their desks. Something that would catch a person’s eye when they walked into the office.

The client had several ideas about the kinds of sets they could commission, finally settling on a custom design of CB&I’s Waterspheroid™ water storage unit. They shared photos as well as schematics of these water storage units so the Playwell team could see how the structures worked both inside and out.

Curves are always a design challenge when you’re working with bricks, which piqued the interest of Playwell’s designers. Several designers offered their own different methods of creating this sphere as a means of brainstorming the best method. Each of these designs were then gathered together and shown to CB&I so the Playwell team could better understand their aesthetic.

After the client had chosen the design they liked best, the Playwell team turned their attention to improving the build experience. During the test build, it was determined that some sections of the sphere required advanced building skills to complete, but Playwell Bricks’ standards require that these builds offer a positive building experience for builders of all experience levels.

The team improved this experience by simplifying steps, changing their order, and other methods that wouldn’t affect the appearance of the final set. Once again, the design team came together to find solutions and simplify the trickier sections, resulting in a finished set that’s fun for everyone to build.

The client reached out after the sets were delivered to let Playwell know, “they were a huge hit! Everyone absolutely loved them.” That’s the goal of every Playwell Bricks set, making this unique custom design worth every effort.

For gifts that reflect culture, elevate relationships, and amplify your message, custom-designed Playwell Bricks sets are an inspired choice. Contact Playwell Bricks and schedule your discovery call today.