The Story Of Maspeth Squash
Playing On Vision
Jeff Anschlowar, the President of Maspeth Welding, a multi-generational family-owned construction company in Queens, NY, and his squash friend Robert Gibralter developed the first outdoor squash court with steel walls as an educational project in 2019. Robert was running a 10-week business and art program for university students and staff at Maspeth Welding. They wanted to bring this outdoor squash project to life to promote creativity and wellness in the workplace in the fall of 2019. However, the construction business was too robust to divert workers to this art project.
Covid shut everything down in early 2020. When Jeff and his workers returned they completed the outdoor squash project in the company's backyard. In June 2020, Jeff and Robert opened the court and invited squash professionals to experience playing squash outdoors. And, from then on, Maspeth Squash has grown in so many ways.
Inspiring, Increasing Access, and Changing The Game
Nearly 100% of squash is played on indoor courts made of wood, glass, or cement. No one has designed or built a court with seamless steel wall panels. Since opening the first steel court, THOUSANDS of people have come out to play – staff, friends, players of all ages and backgrounds, squash tourists, and squash professionals worldwide have come to play. The reviews are universally glowing.
Maspeth Squash is deeply committed to workers’ health and well-being and advancing opportunities for personal and community development. Student groups from Squash Haven, SquashBusters in Boston and Providence, StreetSquash, CitySquash, Cornell University, Bard College, Columbia University, NYU, Amherst College, Squash and Education Alliance, NY Squash, and US Squash have held squash and educational experiences at our steel court in our industrial company backyard in Queens.
Maspeth Squash was invited to sit on the Queens Tourism Council and the PSA Foundation Outdoor Squash Committee. Robert is working with the Squash and Education Alliance (SEA) to accelerate the growth and development of non-profit programs. An outdoor steel court is being integrated into the design and construction of a new SEA facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Maspeth Squash is home to the Intsel Steel Pro Invitational Tournament, now in its fourth year. This tournament brings pros, students, and newcomers to the sport together all summer long. Maspeth Squash hosted the first PSA World Tour Tournament on a permanent outdoor squash court, the Maspeth Squash Open, June 22-25, 2023. Mohamed Nabil was the Tournament Promoter.
Our professional squash events are shared on social media - Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and MaspethSquash.com.
Leveraging this opportunity to help the community with new sponsors
Maspeth Squash has raised over $100,000 to support squash professionals over the past four years, with the help of Intsel Steel East, Maspeth Welding, NY Squash, the PSA Foundation, and Friends of Maspeth Squash. We’ve created new opportunities to promote innovation, creativity, health, and wellness. For more information, please contact Robert Gibralter.
Design Team
“Maspeth Squash/Jacobschang Architecture was born to bring new thinking, design, and building capabilities together in one place to help squash grow outside.”
Every new squash court building project is unique. We bring creativity, ingenuity, and out-of-the-box thinking to the development of new outdoor squash courts. And, because we can integrate design and building skills under one roof, we are uniquely positioned to consult, design, fabricate, deliver, and install beautiful squash courts never before imagined to be possible.
The Maspeth Squash/Jacobschang Architecture team of engineers, architects, and strategists brings a whole new approach to building squash courts. Our strength in advancing projects starts with strategic and creative thinking for siting and developing schematics that inspire and galvanize support. Our balanced team is uniquely capable of breaking through historical bias and lack of innovation in squash court developments.
“We are more akin to a golf course design company than typical squash court builders.”
We have expertise in working with and presenting to public/private partnerships, universities, and developers. And, we integrate well with local construction experts and resources to estimate, plan, and build. Prices for outdoor courts will vary according to location, customization, and the number of courts being designed, fabricated, and installed.
Project Beacon in Chicago is a great example of our phase 1 work.
The Metal Architecture Design Award
“Smooth Metal Wall Panels”
Metal Architecture Awards judge Rand Elliott, FAIA, calls the Maspeth Squash Court stunningly beautiful. “Talk about somebody thinking about steel and using it in a positive way that was intentional. This is a piece of art.
Jeff Anschlowar, President of Maspeth Welding
Maspeth Welding brings over 40 years of experience and expertise to every project. We constantly develop and refine our fabrication technologies and processes to produce the highest quality products delivered on time and within budget. All fabrication services are done in our own state-of-the-art facility, assuring quality control, prompt deliveries, and cost efficiency.
Maspeth Welding Inc. is a reliable supply chain partner for renowned architects, contractors, and developers on high-profile jobs such as Cartier, The Apple Store (multiple locations), Fulton Center Subway Complex, Lincoln Center, City Hall Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, NY Presbyterian Hospital, and private residences throughout Manhattan and The Hamptons.
….with Hisham Ashour
….with Nick Matthew OBE
Therapeutic Mural by Tessa Parker