High-End Custom Manufacturing Company

Play on the Plaza: Interactive Games at The Amazing Brentwood

Interactive Games at The Amazing Brentwood

MJY Fabrication partnered with Massivart, with support from Charlemain Productions Ltd, to fabricate a bright and highly interactive summer activation for The Amazing Brentwood. Play on the Plaza transformed a public courtyard into a lively, communal play space filled with custom built games that encouraged visitors to stop, engage, and connect with each other.

This project blended placemaking, industrial design, public engagement, and MJY’s precision craftsmanship to create a fun and community focused environment.

The Challenge

Turning bold creative into durable, public-ready play

Massivart’s creative vision called for a suite of vibrant, durable, and inviting game installations that could withstand constant outdoor exposure and heavy daily public use.

MJY’s challenge was to translate those creative concepts into structures that were safe, ergonomic, weather resistant, and functional, while still maintaining the visual impact and playful design intent.

Client:

Massivart

Location:

The Amazing Brentwood, Burnaby BC

Timeline:

July to August 2023

Cost:

$49,500

Scope:

Fabrication of custom interactive games and placemaking elements

The Approach

Transforming creative ideas into durable, playable realities

Working closely with Massivart and Charlemain Productions Ltd, our team:

Interpreted the conceptual designs and refined them into buildable, fabrication ready details
Provided construction focused adjustments to improve durability and longevity
Verified ergonomics, sizing, and gameplay comfort for all age groups
Ensured every decision aligned with Massivart’s creative and visual direction
Engineered pieces for efficient transport and straightforward installation

This approach allowed the final installation to remain true to the creative vision while meeting performance and safety requirements

The Build

Playful ideas, expertly fabricated for the public realm.

MJY fabricated a full suite of custom game installations and plaza furniture, including:

Two cornhole games
One ping pong table that was engineered in two sections for transport
One custom pucket board designed to simulate air hockey without airflow
Seven chess and checkerboard game stations
One seating unit with an integrated table

Materials and Fabrication

To ensure long term outdoor durability, each piece was built using:

Specialty exterior grade plywood
Autobody filler that was applied and sanded smooth for a refined surface
CNC cut components for precision and perfect replication
Custom graphic wraps that created the bright and bold visual identity of the plaza

Engineering Highlights
- Larger pieces were designed to be moved with pallet jacks
- A specialty ultra low friction surface was used for the pucket board to simulate air hockey
- Reinforced framing was incorporated to handle continuous public use
- The ping pong table was split into sections for easier delivery and installation

The Result

Elevating a plaza through interaction, connection, and shared experience

The installation delivered outstanding placemaking results:

Significant increases in public dwell time
High levels of interaction across all game types
Frequent social media sharing and organic content creation
A more vibrant and community oriented atmosphere throughout the plaza
Increased foot traffic and visibility for The Amazing Brentwood
Strong alignment with Massivart’s goals for public engagement and communal play

The success of this activation demonstrated the ability of simple physical games to transform how people use and experience public space.

Client Feedback

“This is the 2nd year we’ve worked with MJY Fabrication on different projects, and each time it’s been a success. Michael and his team find solutions to every situation without compromising the design. They also respect budget and timeline. We’ll definitely continue to work with MJY on future projects!”
Samuel Duband, Project Manager, Massivart

Key Takeaways

This project confirmed an important insight. People are eager to play, connect, and engage with real physical environments. The immediate public adoption of the games showed how well designed interactive elements can enrich community spaces and bring people together.

Play on the Plaza: Interactive Games at The Amazing Brentwood