Community impact stories: furniture that brings people together

You might think of outdoor furniture as a practical detail – a table here, a grandstand there. But when done right, it reshapes how communities gather, connect, and thrive. Again and again, durable, well-designed seating has transformed spaces into hubs of activity, inclusivity, and pride.

Here are three stories that show the power of the right furniture.

Colour, capacity, and connection

Sydney Olympic Park is one of Sydney’s most iconic venues, hosting everything from blockbuster concerts to international sporting events. With the State of Origin approaching, the Park needed extra seating – durable, low-maintenance, and ready to handle huge crowds.

Having partnered with Felton before, the Sydney Olympic Park Authority returned with a clear brief: tough seating for outdoor use, easy to clean (given proximity to food trucks), colourful enough to lift the atmosphere, and flexible enough to add shade attachments. And all within tight deadlines.

The solution? Thirteen Jumbo Park Settings in a rainbow of powder-coated colours – purple, green, yellow, and orange, each seating up to 14 people. Vibrant safety end caps softened sharp edges and added another pop of colour. Freestanding designs provided staff with flexibility to position the settings in high-traffic areas, and umbrella attachments ensured comfort remained a top priority.

Delivered well before kick-off, the seating provided spectators with ample space to relax, the venue had a flexible capacity, and the event ran smoothly. Function met fun, and the Olympic Park added another chapter to its legacy of world-class hospitality.

Rebuilding after the floods

For Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane, the devastating floods of early 2022 left scars across roads, buildings, and community facilities. One priority for Council was upgrading recreation areas with durable grandstand seating as a way to restore community spirit and bring people back together.

SunSafe Select Grandstands were a natural fit: all-in-one seating with cyclone-rated shelters, each seating up to 40 people. The challenge? Installation. With local crews fully booked for months, the project risked stalling.

Queensland Territory Manager, Mitchell Jarrett, stepped in. Using his network, he secured a certified installer, cut through red tape via Felton’s Local Buy supplier status, and coordinated manufacturing, delivery, and installation – all in under three months.

Ipswich got its grandstands on time. Locals gained a safe, shaded space to gather. And Council leaders built confidence in future projects. More than new seating, it was a step toward restoring connection.

Colourful learning spaces

In southwest Sydney, Lurnea High School wanted to transform a large courtyard into a vibrant, welcoming space where students could gather, socialise, and learn. Their wishlist included seating for large groups, plenty of colour, good flow between zones, and welcoming designs.

After a site visit, Felton worked with the school to create five distinct seating areas, each marked by a different colour: purple, green, blue, yellow, and red. The mix included Park Settings, Jumbo Park Settings, stylish EcoTrend Sheltered Settings, and plenty of bench seating.

The turnaround was quick, and the results were immediate. Students now enjoy flexible, colourful outdoor spaces that encourage connection and build school pride. Teachers have new areas for outdoor learning, and parents see a visible commitment to inclusivity and wellbeing.

More than furniture

From stadiums to regional towns to local schools, well-designed outdoor furniture does more than seat people. It creates belonging. It makes spaces accessible, comfortable, and inclusive. And it strengthens the bonds that hold communities together.

Let’s collaborate to design spaces where people want to gather, stay, and return.