Shade for this Irish hospital is no accident

November 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features

A dynamic fabric canopy for an accident and emergency unit at the Enniskillen Acute Hospital matches the high-level precision and artistic quality of the building. By Bruce Wright, AIA A new acute care hospital in Enniskillen, Ireland, is one of the most advanced healthcare facilities in Europe. The…
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Buildings that respond and react

November 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features

Research illuminates the possibilities for creating textile second building skins that can be “controlled” by the environment and user preferences. By Elena Vlasceanu Structures are designed and built to offer people protection and comfort. New research seeks to change views concerning h…
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A new shade for a new arena

October 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features

Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures created a cool, dry area for zoo guests. By Kelly Frush Shading a new arena at the St. Louis Zoo turned out to be a demanding yet gratifying project for Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures of St. Louis, Mo. The St. Louis Zoo tasked Lawrence Fabric & Meta…
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Hovering wings of light

October 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features

Modular ETFE air cushions illuminate and protect at a busy transit station near Hamburg, Germany. By Mark Zeh Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city, is currently in the midst of a prolonged economic boom. This means that much of its infrastructure, planned and built in the 1960s for a much-sm…
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Power plant transforms into sleek entertaining space

September 1, 2013  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

With use of PTFE fiberglass membrane, Birdair revolutionized this very visible pavilion. By Kelly Frush Transforming a nondescript power plant at the Century Center in South Bend, Ind., into a sleek, chic entertaining space was a challenging yet rewarding commission for Birdair of Amherst, N.Y. Cent…
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Positively portable structures

September 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features

Transportable fabric structures have been around for millennia—what makes today’s structures unique and practical are the high-performance characteristics of their cladding. By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Native Americans have known for eons about the virtues of lightweight, flexible fabric-wra…
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Floating on the land

September 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features, Landscapes

ETFE is the solution for a lively French resort. By Frank Edgerton Martin Located in Neydens, France, Vitam’Parc is a 50,000 square meter tourism destination that is part spa, part sports center, and part shopping mall. Its New Age offerings include: meditation rooms, climbing walls, a water p…
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Nature’s wrath and awning repair

August 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Structure Basics

By Maura Keller When you have a five-star-rated hotel, situated on a pristine beach in Watch Hill, R.I., you need to feature awnings that stand up to the hotel’s esteemed reputation and it’s ocean-side location. That’s why Ocean House began partnering with New Haven Awning Co., New…
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Make a grand entrance

August 1, 2013  |  Exteriors, Features

The importance of entryways to buildings, and how to design a good one. By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Any actor will tell you that making a proper entrance is the essence of theater. “What is theater, after all, if not a series of exits and entrances?” says Arnold Aronson, professor of theater…
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Covering the (water)world

August 1, 2013  |  Exteriors

Providing shade for an outdoor entertainment park in Abu Dhabi is no simple undertaking. By Mark Zeh Over the last several years, Yas Island, one of the several hundred natural islands around Abu Dhabi City, has been developed into one of the world’s leading sporting and entertainment spots. A…
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