SpotixPro Project Spotlight: Custom Fire Features for Black Sheep Social Club

Creating a cohesive commercial outdoor space often means specifying more than one type of fire feature. For The Black Sheep Social Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, SpotixPro worked directly with the owner to select and coordinate natural gas torches and multiple fire pit systems for an outdoor patio and rooftop space. The goal was to incorporate different fire feature styles and manufacturers while maintaining a consistent design throughout the property.

This project was especially close to home for the SpotixPro team. Located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Black Sheep Social Club is just a short drive from our North Liberty, Iowa headquarters. In 2017, our team helped with product selection, configuration, ordering, and technical guidance for the fire features incorporated throughout the project.

Project Overview: Black Sheep Social Club

Black Sheep Social Club occupies a distinctive historic building in downtown Cedar Rapids. Built in 1914, the building originally served as a wholesale grocery distribution center and later housed other businesses before becoming Black Sheep Social Club. The restaurant's rustic, industrial aesthetic preserves much of that character, making exposed flame a natural fit for its outdoor spaces.

The project called for several types of natural gas fire features rather than a single focal point. Tall torches would introduce vertical flames around the patio, while built-in linear and round fire pits would create larger gathering areas. Although the products differed in shape, scale, and manufacturer, they needed to feel like parts of the same overall design.

Creating a Consistent Design With Multiple Fire Features

One of the primary considerations for this project was consistency. Commercial outdoor spaces may require several fire feature types to serve different areas, but those components still need to work together visually.

For Black Sheep Social Club, the finished design combines elevated torches, rectangular built-in fire features and a round fire pit. Repeating exposed flame throughout the property ties those different forms together without requiring every feature to be identical. The team also worked to complement the existing aesthetic of the building, using similar brick and concrete paver tones throughout the fire feature surrounds to create a more cohesive, continuous design.

The SpotixPro team worked directly with the owner to help select products that not only fit the space visually as well as functionally. Product quality was also an important consideration for permanent outdoor equipment installed in Iowa, where seasonal temperature changes, snow, ice, and moisture all need to be accounted for when planning exterior projects.

For contractors and designers working on similar projects, the product itself is only one part of the specification. Fuel type, ignition method, installation requirements, controls, service access, manufacturer requirements, and the relationship between the fire feature and surrounding construction should all be addressed before installation begins.

Fire by Design Natural Gas Torches

Multiple Fire by Design Gulf Torches configured for natural gas were incorporated around the outdoor space. Instead of concentrating all of the flame at seating level, the torches introduce vertical fire elements throughout the patio and help establish a visual connection between the different fire features.

Architectural outdoor gas torches can be useful on commercial projects where the design calls for flame at multiple elevations or locations. On this project, the torch installations complement the lower fire pits while giving the perimeter of the patio its own fire elements. As with any permanently installed gas feature, contractors should verify the manufacturer's current installation requirements, clearances, fuel configuration and applicable local requirements before installation.

Outdoor gas torches can also serve several purposes beyond adding a vertical flame element to a design. They can provide ambient light and create a warm, inviting atmosphere around gathering spaces while adding some localized warmth near the flame. Open flames may also help discourage some flying insects in the immediate area, although torches should not be treated as a primary method of insect control. For commercial spaces, gas torches offer another way to incorporate fire throughout a property without requiring the footprint or seating arrangement of a traditional fire pit.

HPC Fire Linear Fire Pit Systems

The rectangular fire features were built around HPC Fire Linear Electronic Ignition Gas Fire Pit Kits with rectangular Interlink pans. Rather than using complete freestanding fire pits, the burner systems could be integrated into the project's constructed surrounds.

The installation photo above shows the fire pit ignition systems being tested before the space reached its finished appearance. This stage is an important reminder of the coordination behind custom fire features. The visible flame is the final result, but contractors also need to plan for the burner system, pan, ignition components, gas supply, ventilation, drainage where required, serviceability, and surrounding noncombustible construction according to the manufacturer's instructions and local requirements.

For projects requiring a custom surround, gas fire pit kits and burners give professionals options for integrating the fire system into a larger patio or landscape design rather than designing the entire project around a finished fire pit enclosure.

Adding a Round Fire Feature

The fire features extend beyond the ground-level patio to Black Sheep Social Club's rooftop space. Here, a round HPC electronic ignition gas fire pit kit with a round flat pan creates a central gathering point for the rooftop seating area. Its circular form offers a contrast to the rectangular fire features below while maintaining the same overall natural gas fire concept used throughout the property.

The finished fire pit uses decorative dark-colored fire glass around the burner, allowing the flame to remain the primary visual element. The rooftop also incorporates the same style of Fire by Design gas torches used on the ground-level patio, carrying a recognizable design element from one outdoor space to the next. This repetition helps create a cohesive look throughout the property while still allowing the rooftop to use a round fire feature better suited to its individual layout.

Specifying Fire Features for Iowa Weather

Outdoor equipment in Iowa has to contend with conditions that change considerably throughout the year. For a permanent commercial installation, material quality, proper installation and ongoing maintenance become important parts of the specification rather than afterthoughts.

That does not mean every outdoor fire product is suitable for every Iowa project. Contractors should evaluate the construction and materials of the specific product, follow manufacturer requirements for seasonal care and protection, provide any required drainage and ventilation, and make sure components remain accessible for inspection and service.

Those considerations become even more important when several fire systems are incorporated into one property. Selecting quality components at the beginning of a project can help establish a better foundation for a long-term commercial installation.

Protective accessories should also be considered when specifying permanent outdoor fire features. Metal fire pit covers can provide a rigid barrier over the burner area to help keep out precipitation and debris when the fire pit is not in use, while soft fire pit covers can provide broader protection for the overall fire feature. In exposed locations, glass wind guards may also help shield the flame from wind during operation. Contractors should select accessories that are compatible with the specific fire feature and follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, covering and seasonal care.

From Individual Products to One Outdoor Space

The finished Black Sheep Social Club patio shows how different fire products can work together when they are selected as part of one project rather than as isolated features. The tall torches establish the perimeter on both the roof and the ground, the linear fire pits integrate into the building's architecture, and the round rooftop fire feature creates another unique gathering point for the outdoor space.

For the SpotixPro team, the project also demonstrates the value of looking beyond an individual SKU. When a commercial project includes multiple fire pits, torches or custom burner installations, each product needs to work within the broader fuel, installation, and design plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can different fire feature brands be used on the same commercial project?

Yes, provided each product is appropriate for the application and its individual installation requirements are followed. Black Sheep Social Club incorporated fire features from Fire by Design and HPC Fire while maintaining a consistent overall design. Contractors should evaluate each system independently for fuel, controls, installation, clearances and other manufacturer requirements.

What fire features were used at Black Sheep Social Club?

The project incorporated Fire by Design Gulf natural gas torches, HPC Linear Electronic Ignition Gas Fire Pit Kits with rectangular Interlink pans, and an HPC electronic ignition gas fire pit kit with a round flat pan.

Why use fire pit kits instead of complete fire pits?

A fire pit kit can be appropriate when a contractor is building a custom surround and needs the burner, pan and ignition system to integrate into that construction. The exact kit and installation must be selected according to the project's design, fuel supply and manufacturer requirements.

What should contractors consider when specifying outdoor fire features for commercial spaces?

Key considerations include the intended application, fuel type, ignition and control method, manufacturer-required clearances, ventilation and drainage requirements, service access, surrounding construction, local requirements and exposure to weather. These factors should be coordinated before construction around the fire feature is finalized.

Final Thoughts

Black Sheep Social Club gave SpotixPro the opportunity to work on a commercial fire feature project close to our own Eastern Iowa home. By working with the owner and coordinating products from multiple manufacturers, our team helped bring together torches, linear fire pits, and a round fire feature within one cohesive outdoor design.

Commercial projects rarely fit neatly into a single product category. When multiple fire features, manufacturers, and installation requirements come together in one design, having the right products and project support can help keep everything coordinated from specification through ordering.

Have a project you're working on? Contact our SpotixPro team for help with product selection, configuration, compatibility, ordering, and technical project support. Not a SpotixPro member yet? Join SpotixPro for access to exclusive trade pricing and expert support for your next project.