August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Owners of the new Caribbean restaurant and bar Lallo’s in Miami, Fla., knew their debut needed outdoor dining and indoor seating in order to succeed. Management turned to Miami Awning Co. for its expertise to provide stylish shade and weather protection over an outdoor bar that was shoe-horned into the …
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Longgang Forest Park is a treasured landmark in Taoyuan City in northwest Taiwan. As more people discover the calming effects of nature, the park’s use has increased to the point of needing more user-friendly facilities. One facility recently built by the local municipal government is a park shelter that sits …
Pvilion’s Colin Touhey is working to forge strategic partnerships to integrate photovoltaic technology into all kinds of fabric products. by Jill C. Lafferty Every time you are building what you think is a one-off project, you’re probably going to do something similar a second time, a third time, a hundredth time,” says Colin Touhey, CEO …
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA The feeling is nothing short of amazing, say patrons of La Isla Mérida, the biggest shopping mall in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where the streets between stores are covered completely with a transparent membrane. The city of Mérida, located near the northern coast of the Yucatán facing the Gulf …
July 1, 2019
by Jill C. Lafferty The mission of Al’s Awning Shop is to be the leading provider of quality fabric solutions and to be dedicated to providing professional customer service and exceptional products,” says owner Michele Quadri-Butterfield. “Fabric solutions is key for me. It’s about taking a fabric and helping the customer find the solution to …
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA The Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, in Charlotte N.C., has a stunning 19th-floor lawn and event deck overlooking the city. The popular venue hosts weddings and other large gatherings, and the hotel needed a retractable canopy to protect patrons from sun, rain and high winds that may swirl about the 20-story …
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA As marine museums go, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science goes the extra nautical mile to fully engage visitors with its message of sustainable ecology. Designed by the acclaimed British design firm Grimshaw Architects, the Frost Museum is a complex of four buildings located within view of the …
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Shade is often one of the most important design considerations for public venues in Hawaii, especially on the leeward (away from the wind) side of an island. Such is the case on Oahu, where the Ka Makana Ali‘i shopping center is located. A center court at the recently built Ka Makana retail …
June 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA There’s something about Denver, Colo., and the use of fabric structures. First came the Denver International Airport, with its iconic peaked fabric roof of the Jeppesen Terminal (1995) designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects. The conical skylights were reportedly inspired by the Rocky Mountains backdrop to the airport. Then, in 2014, …
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Arizona is known for stunning landscapes and a warm climate. Most homes in this area have some form of shaded outdoor living space, where Arizonians can enjoy the temperate weather. Working closely with a client with a request for her residence, Shade Industries® of Phoenix designed a custom, elegant structure …