When Roxann Moody got the green light to upgrade the equipment room at Wake Forest University, she knew exactly what was missing: space, order, and a little individuality.
After more than four decades in collegiate athletics (and a front-row seat to how much gear a single season can generate), Moddy had seen her fair share of chaotic storage setups. As a former student manager, longtime assistant to equipment legend David "Sarge" Tinga, and now head equipment manager herself, she was looking for a space that made life easier for student-athletes and staff alike.
So, when the university began transforming Reynolds Gymnasium, Moody saw an opportunity to reimagine the equipment room entirely. Her must-have list: High-density shelving, streamlined gear access, and dedicated cubby lockers for every athlete.
The original equipment room inside Reynolds Gym had charm...and not much else. Built in the 1950s, it was never meant to support 16 sports, 500 student-athletes, and a modern gear operation. "There was a ton of shelving," said Moody, "but little if any floor space."
So when Wake Forest set out to renovate Reynolds as part of a new 180,000-square-foot wellness hub, Moody knew it was her shot. The new plan called for relocating the equipment room to the old weight room, a space with a better footprint and far more potential.
But Moody wasn't just looking for more square footage. She wanted smarter storage, faster workflows, and fewer piles. AT the top of her list was a high-density shelving system paired with cubby lockers to give every student-athlete their own space, and every piece of gear its place.
"I'd seen how other schools were doing it," she said. "The setup at Louisville really stuck with me. I knew Patterson Pope could take that idea and make it work for us."
In less than a month, Patterson Pope delivered a Spacesaver manual-assist mobile shelving system with six lockable aisles, all designed to maximize space without crowding the room.
"In a 5,000-square-foot space, the unit itself only takes up about 1,000," said Moody. "That gives me room for shipping and receiving, office space — even a dedicated laundry area."
The space may have been bigger, but Roxann Moody wasn't about to let any of it go to waste. She had a plan, and that plan started with cubby lockers. "From the get-go, we knew we wanted a space where every student-athlete had their own game-cubby," said Moody. "We did a lot of pre-work, and it turned out nicely."
With each team given its own designated storage area, with some smaller sports sharing space where it made sense, the layout was purpose-built around the support columns of the old weight room.
The cubby lockers weren't just about aesthetics or order, but made a real difference in daily function. Pass-through cubbies helped reduce the number of hands touching gear, making for a faster, cleaner exchange. Coaches, athletes, and staff could find what they needed faster. Clutter was cut, and laundry handoffs were streamlined. And inside the laundry room, a Rousseau drawer system with a laminate top created a simple, sturdy workspace for folding and minor repairs.
"It's allowed us to have a space that feels very, very open nd not claustrophobic," said Moody. "High ceilings, good lighting, everything it could be."
Student-athletes spend a lot of time in the equipment room. So, why not make it a space they actually want to be?
Roxann Moody didn't just want function. She wanted flair. Something that reflected the energy of the Wake Forest program, and made a strong first impression on recruits. The result? A custom graphics package that turned storage into a statement.
The ends of each mobile aisle got the full treatment: bold university logos, Demon Deacon heads, and mission-driven buzzwords that nod to the department's "developing champions" ethos. It's a room that's just as much about identity as it is about gear.
"It's going to attract plenty of young athletes who will be able to feel the energy here," said Patterson Pope's Bobby Davis. And that energy pays off. What started as a behind-the-scenes equipment upgrade turned into a recruiting asset, a morale booster, and a source of real pride for everyone walking through the space.
"Now, everyone's got room for their own stuff," said Moody. "It's spacious and it's comfortable. They're going to spend a lot of their time with athletics, so it only makes sense that they're comfortable here."
A good equipment room does more than hold gear. It helps the whole operation run smoothly. And for Roxann Moody, that meant combining smart planning, thoughtful storage, and a whole lot of heart. "We knew exactly what we wanted, and Patterson Pope delivered," Moody said. "It's efficient, it's functional, and it feels good to walk into every day."
Every student-athlete now has a dedicated cubby locker. Every team has space that works for them. And every inch of the room is set up to make the daily grind feel a little easier.
Want to see how it all came together? Check out the full Wake Forest case study to take a closer look at the project.
Or, if you're ready to get started on your own, download our Athletic Storage 101 eBook or contact a Patterson Pope representative today to talk through your space. Whether it's cubby lockers, mobile shelving, or a full-on redesign, we'll help your gear room feel like a win.