Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre — Tinley Park, IL (Chicago)
The Project
Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois is one of the Chicago area's premier outdoor concert venues, hosting major Live Nation events throughout the summer season. When the venue needed custom planters to define lounge spaces and manage guest flow across the concourse, the deadline was immovable: everything had to be in place before the first concert of the season.
Construction Concepts, the general contractor, found Tikal online and made the call.
The Challenge: 8 Weeks to Opening Night
Concert venues run on fixed schedules. When Construction Concepts reached out, the first show of the summer was 8 weeks away. The planters weren't decorative afterthoughts — they were functional elements of the venue layout, used to divide and accent lounge areas and to funnel guests into queuing lines throughout the space. They had to be right, they had to be approved, and they had to arrive on time.
The scope: 98 custom GFRC planters: 78 rectangular troughs and 20 square planters, all color matched to a specific light gray shade.
The Solution: Submittal-Ready, Color-Matched, and Confident
Tikal's experience on commercial projects meant there were no surprises on the documentation side. The team knew exactly what a GC would need for approval, submittal packages were prepared and delivered immediately, moving the approval process along without delays.
Color matching on GFRC can be a source of back-and-forth on projects where the specification is vague. Not here. Construction Concepts provided a RAL code, and Tikal confirmed with confidence that they could match it precisely, giving the GC the certainty they needed to move forward without hesitation.
Four weeks after the order was placed, all 98 planters shipped.
The Delivery: Smooth From Start to Finish
No issues, no surprises. The planters arrived on schedule, were installed across the venue's lounge and concourse areas, and the venue was ready for opening night.
The GC said it best:
"They look great! Thank you! And you got them done fast... I really appreciate it and all your help. You have been so great to work with."
— Cherie Gibbons, Construction Concepts
What This Project Demonstrates
- Venue and event deadlines are non-negotiable. Tikal delivered 98 custom planters in 4 weeks because that's what the project required. We committed to the date and shipped.
- Submittal experience eliminates delays. Knowing what a GC needs before they ask, and having it ready, keeps commercial projects moving. No back-and-forth, no lost time.
- GFRC color matching, done right. A confirmed RAL code and a manufacturer who knows their materials means no guessing, no surprises, and no reorders.
- Functional and beautiful. These planters weren't just decorative, they shaped how tens of thousands of concert-goers moved through the space every night of the summer.
Need custom planters on a tight commercial timeline? Contact us — we'll confirm what we can do and turn around a quote in 48 hours.