Mercersburg Academy
July, 2025

Mercersburg Academy, located in Mercersburg PA boasts 10 squash courts, which are located in the Davenport Squash Center and are considered state-of-the-art facilities. The academy's squash program is a nationally recognized program that includes both boys' and girls' teams. Notably, Mark Talbott, the greatest American squash player of all time, is an alum. 

This past summer, the Sunrise Courts crew came in and did a complete gut renovation of the squash facility.

The court’s walls were constructed with a sand-filled cavity system that were installed by another vendor 15 years ago. Over that time, the sand-filled cavities inside the courts were crumbling, compromising the integrity of the walls, leading to settling, uneven playing surfaces, and safety concerns. In certain spots, the walls were bulging and cracking, dead spots had formed on the front head wall, and the maple floor was warped even though the facility had managed and maintained its humidity levels.

In the fall of 2024, Sunrise Courts performed a site visit and collaborated with the school’s facilities directors and engineers to do an extensive diagnosis of the repairs needed.

Working with our team, we devised a solution that would protect the school’s investment, restore championship-level playability, and be durable and safe for the years to come.

The Sunrise Courts team determined the solution to Mercersburg facility needs involved:

1. Safe Removal of Sand-Filled Walls

• Carefully opened the walls and extracted more than 20 tons of sand

• Used industrial vacuums and dust control systems to minimize disruption

2. The Installation of New State-of-the-Art Wall System

• Replaced outdated sand cavities with engineered sand-filled walls to create seamless and even playing surfaces for enhanced playability, durability,  acoustics, and aesthetics.

• Reinforced the front headwall with steel post for support and maximum impact resistance.

3. New Flooring and Finishes

• Installed sprung new maple flooring with pads, substructure, and shimming. 

• Repainted game regulation lines to World Squash Federation standards and provided high-performance coating.

  The finished product transformed the Davenport Squash Center restored the championship level courts that features true consistent ball bounces, pristine playing conditions, and a stable, strong, and durable system that will ensure safety and longevity for the years to come.

  Here are some highlights of the transformation and work performed: