The skins game: economy of scale in fabric structures

May 1, 2012  |  Features, Structure Basics

The low and high cost of insulating fabric structures. By Samuel J. Armijos It has been 45 years since the German Pavilion was erected for Expo ’67 world’s fair in Montreal, Q.C., Canada. The structural system of this early fabric structure was a steel cable net that supported a pre-stressed tex…
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Raise high the (textile) roof beams

April 16, 2012  |  Exteriors, Structure Basics

The 17th annual international workshop on architectural membrane structures will introduce new materials and techniques in Berlin Textile Roofs 2012 May 14–16 Berlin, Germany University of Technology Berlin Textile Roofs 2012 workshop provides fundamental information, state-of-the-art textile …
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ETFE systems

September 1, 2011  |  Continuing Education

ETFE moves mainstream By Edward M Peck, AIA, LEED AP What is ETFE? ETFE was pioneered by DuPont more than 40 years prior to its architectural debut in Europe in the early 1980s. DuPont developed the fluorocarbon-based polymer to have high corrosion and chemical resistance, structural strength with l…
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New graphics for architecture

January 1, 2011  |  Continuing Education

New fabrics and printing technologies open up design possibilities. Compiled by Fabric Architecture magazine Architectural graphics today means more than simply selecting a typeface for a building’s address, room numbers or corporate site address sign. With durable, wide-format fabrics designe…
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The cost of building fabric structures (part 2)

January 1, 2011  |  Features, Structure Basics

Experienced professionals comment on cost estimating awnings and canopies By Mason Riddle Editor’s note: Part 1 of this two-part series on cost estimating appeared in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue. It used to be that an awning was an awning was an awning,” states Richard Forward, owner of Out …
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Utilization of fabric structures in arid environments

November 1, 2010  |  Continuing Education

Learn strategies for designing for climates where scarce water, large temperature swings and delicate ecosystems require careful intervention. By R. Larry Medlin Arid climates like Las Vegas and much of the Southwestern United States, Mexico and many other areas of the world are very severe. They ar…
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Going to the limits: structural basics

September 1, 2010  |  Continuing Education

To achieve the freedom of form that a fabric roof promises, strict rules must be obeyed if pitfalls and problems are to be avoided. By Craig Huntington No type of structure—whether it uses steel, wood, concrete, masonry or some more exotic material—conveys such an image of freedom of for…
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Low-Impact Design: Stormwater management applications for geotextiles

July 1, 2010  |  Continuing Education

By Adam Regn Arvidson The management of runoff from rain storms is regulated by state and federal governments. This is why nearly all major residential, retail or office developments have large ponds near their edges. These so-called “NURP ponds” are named for the Nationwide Urban Runoff…
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Code considerations in fabric structure design

May 1, 2010  |  Continuing Education

By James A. Strapko Elegance, airiness and sculptural possibilities may motivate an architect to incorporate a fabric structure in a building design. Implications of this choice are not limited to building form. Design of a fabric structure as part of a large-scale commercial project may require an …
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The cost of building fabric structures (part 1)

January 1, 2010  |  Features, Structure Basics

Experienced professionals comment on how much it costs to build fabric structures By Samuel J. Armijos Editor’s note: Part 2 of this two-part series on cost estimating appears in the Jan/Feb 2011 issue. The hardest part of designing and building a fabric structure is determining its cost. The…
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