CSU Durward Hall: Conquering Our Largest Drapery Project Yet

Nikki
Aug 14, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Aug 15, 2025

C This year, Royal Textile Products completed the largest drapery order in our

This year, Royal Textile Products completed the largest drapery order we've been commissioned to produce. We want to share the story behind it. Colorado State University's Durward Hall, a high-rise residence hall, underwent a major renovation. We were entrusted with providing the new custom blackout drapery for the entire building.

On September 23, 2024, the contract was signed and our team began preparing for this highly coordinated and unforgettable project.

history - and we’re proud to share the story behind it. Colorado State

By the Numbers

11 occupied floors
484 finished drapery panels
135 cuts of fabric per floor, totaling 1,485 cuts of fabric
2.5 days per floor to produce. With six people working 8 hours each- that's 120 working hours per floor, 1.320 total hours condensed into just six weeks
1/2 day per floor to install
3,480 yards of fabric ordered - if laid end to end, nearly 2 miles of material
6 weeks total production time to meet the student move-in deadline
around 12,000 steps per day per person, in the workroom and on-site.

Getting Started

Our plan was in place: our seamstresses fine-tuned techniques, installers learned the specialized pleated track build-out, and we prepared labels and instructions for every step. But as with and large-scale project, there were challenges.

The biggest being fabric delays. Initial delivery estimates started in late March, shifted to April, then to May. While waiting, we used that time to install the drapery tracks floor by floor, ensuring a smooth drapery installation once the material arrived. The installation teams adapted to surprises like uneven ceilings, rails needing resizing, and the occasional missing hardware. They persevered, however, and got every one installed.

Full Speed Ahead

On June 5th, the long-delayed fabric arrived! While our warehouse team helped to unload the pallets of fabric, the sewing team began rolling it out and cutting the first floor before the last bolt was even in the workroom.

Floor 12 took four days as we refined the workflow; by floor 11, we had doubled our speed. Panels moved through the processes like a relay race: Serging, hemming, pressing, buckram fold in, pressing, pleating, folding, pinning, tacking, bundling, boxing, and loading up for delivery and install.

Heavyweight blackout fabric combined with a six-week turnaround tested both our skills and our equipment. Throughout this project, every sewing machine required service; one iron was retired, we went through an entire case of silicone lubricant, compressed air dusters, and multiple shear sharpenings.

The Final Push

From June 5th to July 17th - exactly 42 days - Durward Hall transformed floor-by-floor. On July 17th, the final panel was installed, completing what had been a true team effort from start to finish

Our work not only enhanced the look and feel of the dorm rooms but also delivered functional benefits for the residents: blackout drapes that provide privacy, control light, and contribute to a more comfortable living space.

More Than Just a Project

While the numbers are impressive, the real achievement was the teamwork, adaptability, and dedication that brought this project across the finish line. Every department at Royal Textile Products played a role. From planning and procurement to production and installation.

We're proud to have been part of CSU's renovation, and look forward to seeing the incoming students enjoy their newly refreshed spaces for years to come.

University’s Durward Hall, a high-rise residence hall, underwent a major