Westbury, NY, April 8th 2020 – In response to the ongoing effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, and the immediate emergency needs of a local community, Nationwide Displays has temporarily stepped away from its core business model to partner in the development of a temporary hospital in the gymnasium at SUNY Old Westbury. During phase one of the project Nationwide Displays provided the structural materials and oversaw the installation of 104 patient room units. Based on the success of the installation, Sweet Construction Group, the general contractor, will move forward with Nationwide Displays as their partner on Phase Two of the project: installation of nearly a thousand more outdoor units.

In the last days of March, when Governor Cuomo announced that the need for patient beds in New York would soon exceed hospital capacity, Nationwide reacted quickly, reimagining how their custom exhibit design and fabrication processes could be effectively repurposed for large scale temporary structures that are installed quickly and efficiently. In a matter of hours, the internal design and engineering team generated the drawings and collateral material that Steve Griffith, President of Nationwide Displays, used as proof of concept in Nationwide’s proposal to the Sweet Construction Group. “Timing is everything,” said Griffith. “We were grateful for the opportunity and I’m fortunate to have a team willing to think outside the box to find quick solutions.”

Upon being awarded the project, the Nationwide Displays production team quickly mobilized. With Frank Vesce, General Manager, handling project coordination and logistics, and Anthony Calvaruso, Production Manager, overseeing on-site installation, the units were installed with nearly unheard of swiftness. “We had to respond to a constantly shifting plan on-site, making adjustments and additions to the structures on the fly,” said Calvaruso. “It wasn’t business as usual for us,” added Vesce, “We pulled together because we had to.”

The installation of phase one was completed in just over twenty hours, in a single day. Phase Two work will begin on Friday, April 10th and continue through Easter Sunday.

“These are unprecedented times,” said Griffith, “Working through a holiday isn’t business as usual, but my team and I are happy to offer a helping hand to the community. That we are able to contribute in some small way is an honor, a privilege and a true blessing.”

Nationwide Displays is a leading provider of branded environments specializing in the design, fabrication, services support, and logistical management of exhibits for trade shows, event displays, immersive experiences, and retail environments, boasting over sixty years of experience in the industry.