School shade

June 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

Shade structure at a mid-century kindergarten in New Zealand adds a contemporary facelift and protection from the sun. Of all the roles that shade structures fulfill—from aesthetic appeal to space expansion—their most critical function is weather protection. Few places require as much protection…
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Multi-functional shade

May 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

Cantilevered fabric shade structure features electrical wiring and high-pressure tubing to accomodate misting fans, signage and lighting design. Kona Grill is a national restaurant chain known for its sleek décor, and select locations are now known for the dynamic exterior architecture. When the Ko…
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Airport passenger canopies

May 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

Dynamic-looking tensile fabric canopy evokes a nautical motif in its roof forms as a nod to San Diego’s nearby San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The San Diego International Airport is the nation’s largest single-runway airport, and it has seen steady increases in passenger growth and subs…
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Sun motif shade structure evident on riverside plaza

April 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors, Features

A steel-cable net and PTFE and ETFE membrane structure holds up under heavy wind and snow loads. The Sun Island Resort is one of China’s favorite vacation spots. Because the city of Harbin (where Sun Island Resort is situated) is at a high latitude, it is cooler than the rest of the country in the…
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Restaurant canopy shields customers from rain, wind and sunlight

April 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors, Features

The client requested a canopy that followed the exact contour of an existing patio. Warmer weather draws customers to restaurants with outdoor seating areas where fresh air, open atmosphere and pleasing views enhance the dining experience. Savannah Grille of Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., has one of the n…
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Open-air restaurant

March 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

It’s hard to imagine a more idyllic and exotic land than the island nation of the Republic of Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the southern tip of India and only five degrees north of the equator. A double chain of 26 atolls strung along a submarine mountain ridge, the Maldives a…
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Sports Club Porte Cochère

February 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

Rugby is a very popular sport in Australia, and rugby clubs are found in almost every community that can find a local sponsor. A particularly intense interest in the sport can be found along the Central Coast of New South Wales, and one notable club from that region, the Wyong Rugby League Club, mig…
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College amphitheater canopy

January 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

Established in 1967, The College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn, Ill., recently underwent a $35 million renovation of its McAninch Arts Center (MAC), including the creation of an open-air amphitheater, called Lakeside Pavilion. Lakeside Pavilion is sited within view of the MAC’s Playhouse and Studio The…
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A mixed-use shady oasis

January 1, 2016  |  Case Studies, Exteriors, Features

London’s Wembley Park includes a covered play area to attract families—with a coated fabric that resists dirt. Wembley Park has a long history. An urban renewal success story, it’s been transformed again and again to fit the needs of the times. In 1880, the Metropolitan Railway opened a line a…
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Iconic shade intervals

December 1, 2015  |  Case Studies, Exteriors

Tensile fabric canopies form partial tunnels to protect from the elements To connect the city parks along the Hillsborough River, the city of Tampa, Fla., wanted an iconic centerpiece that would attract joggers, bikers and visitors to the area when designing its Riverwalk project. Span Systems Inc.,…
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