Shade Structure

As every architect knows, well-designed and executed shade structures are visually attractive, highly practical, and sometimes even show-stoppers. They can transform any commercial building, outdoor area, or home into something special. What is a shade structure? For architects, the term ‘structure’ refers to any build that is created from interconnected parts with a fixed ground location and designed to bear loads. For suppliers, a shade structure is a structure with a temporary or permanent roof or a covering made of or supporting plants or vines which is designed to provide shelter from the heat or glare of the sunlight. There are many different types of structures or structural systems and designs to choose from Tensile being a structure that carries only tension and no compression Compressive structures take the form of walls, arches, shells, and grid shells and do not have the luxury to rebound to balance the loads, so movement increases the risk of buckling Shear is a force applied along the surface, in opposition to an offset force acting in the opposite direction Bending include curved beams that base their geometry on the elastic warp from an initially straight or two-dimensional shape Composite – a composite material is a combination of two or more constituent materials which have improved characteristics when together than they do apart As with buildings, architects consider both form and function requirements when dealing with a shade structure, but here are a few additional considerations that ensure each project is a showstopper like Substrates and structural materials need to be functional for the intended purpose of the structure, but robust and flexible enough to withstand wind and weather, and stand the test of time The physical location is considered when designing the solution and selecting shade substrates, for example a pre-school shade structures need to mimic a pre-school playful and colourful feel Taking in consideration the user experience of the project. Although brochures and data sheets offer valuable technical properties of materials, it is key to consider how users will feel when interacting with the space Cost, which is always a factor so ensure the client can afford the selected materials and design and that the expertise needed to manage the install are available to avoid timelines to expand and budgets to increase. Types of structures Architects, being part engineer part artist, have access to an endless choice of commercial shade structures from umbrellas, awnings and car parks to polycarbonate roofing, and waterproof shade structures – each with its own unique set of benefits. What is a hip shade structure? Hip shade structures provide protection for nearly any application as they are the most versatile shade on the market. No matter if you’re shading a playground or park picnic area, hip end shades help provide protection from the sun’s heat and harmful UV rays. What is a cantilever shade? Cantilevers provide shade over areas that require unobstructed spaces such as walkways, bus stops, automotive parking, and more. Conclusion In conclusion, architecturally designed shade structures won’t just be functional, but they will add value to a building or space and can become a talk about factor that will increase the visibility of a building. A more visible building directly translates to more companies wanting to rent a space, more foot traffic which means happier higher paying tenants.

Sun safety is our core value and even more so when it involves children having to brave the notorious Australian climate year in and year out. We understand the importance of adequate sun protection, especially as our nation is the world’s most susceptible to varying skin cancers that begins at an early age. Shaded cover reduces the ambient temperature of any outdoor area, however an all-too-common oversight we see in our industry is that of shaded areas and shade structures not being deemed a critical design feature. Also, rubber soft fall surfaces, artificial grass, textured or coloured concrete, timber decks and other composite surfacing materials mostly absorb heat creating surfaces that are too hot to touch and often not very inviting to play on. As a result, properties end up with under-utilised areas that are too hot to enjoy in summer. Childhood skin safety Protecting young people’s skins from UVR exposure in Queensland is vital, especially with the UV Index rating being at three or higher all year-round. It is a fact that sustaining as little as five or more severe sunburns in this critical age period more than double their risk of melanoma. Queensland Government Health puts the responsibility of sun-safe practices on teachers and requires that childhood education and care services have an all-embracing sun protection policy that includes effective shade strategies to assist in cooling the grounds and reducing the heat. Versatile Structures is a provider of choice for many early learning, public and private schools, colleges and universities and we are proud to share some of our play friendly and safe space projects with you. GUARDIAN EARLY LEARNING CENTRE needed a non-permeable shading system over the sandpit areas so their children can play comfortably, but it needed to be set back from the fence as it was an exclusion zone. Our designed, manufactured and installed solution comprised of a retractable PVC roofing system with 100% UVR block out properties and that is waterproof to provide ultimate protection all year round. CANTERBURY COLLEGE was so pleased with the large shaded outdoor area project we completed previously; they invited us to install a 450 m2 grandstand membrane for their new Olympic-size pool and their smaller 278 m2 pool structure cover. The project had to be completed during school holidays to maximise site safety, giving us just a 4-day week to complete the structure and our team worked tirelessly to build and install the structure over a long weekend. ST JOSEPH’S TOBRUK MEMORIAL SCHOOL was challenged with available space and needed to create multi-purpose areas. Our custom-designed sail provided a cost-effective and stylish way to protect students from heat and UV radiation. The area is now used as an outdoor classroom, an innovative learning space and a place to relax during break times CARINA STATE SCHOOL needed a shade structure for their students to enjoy lunch and for their teachers to have safe space to conduct outdoor learning activities. We used a 3D design to ensure the structure would provide sufficient coverage for year-round and for maximum lifespan, the structure was manufactured using marine grade stainless steel hardware, stitched Tenera thread and dual-layered Rainbow shade. SUNNYBANK STATE SCHOOL saved more than half on the cost by recycling existing structures, instead of fronting the bill for brand new sunshades. Their Business Manager, Carol Swee, shared it was hard to find a shade sail provider with the engineering expertise who were willing to recycle 150 m2 of sunshades. After her experience with Versatile Structures, Carol saw value in saving costs overall, with a Shade Assist Program which takes care of all the school’s structural, maintenance and compliance needs. Taking care of your investment All too often, we see structures valued up to the tens of thousands of dollars, not surviving the lifetime promised by the initial contractor. Advancements in manufacturing means fabrics these days come with longer lifespans – often around 10 to 15 years at minimum – and when combined with a regular maintenance program that includes visual inspections, annual re-tensioning and occasional repairs caught early, the lifespan and return-on-investment of a shade investment can be maximised. Shade Assist is Versatile Structure’s industry exclusive maintenance program, designed to see out the expected lifetime of your shade assets, no matter who the original supplier was.

Fabric structures are often associated with temporary shading solutions, but they can be economical long-term solutions. With new and advanced fabric technologies as well as construction methods, it’s possible to create custom fabric structures that are long-lasting and can become a permanent architectural feature that adds to the overall aesthetic of your property. Reputable manufacturers of commercial shades will work with you to create a custom industrial shade structure that can meet your requirements. Let’s explore the benefits:   An easy and cost-effective solution for covering wide-open and large spaces Fabric structures are ideal for outdoor swimming pools and sports facilities for tennis, football, and rugby. They are also practical for amphitheatres, rail stations, sports stadiums, and other locations where massive public gatherings occur. Industrial applications, such as bulk storage facilities, aircraft hangars, and warehouses may also require custom fabric structures.   Fabric structures offer an easy solution for large, wide-open covered spaces. Architectural fabric structures requiring a large interior, wide-open spaces are known as clear span structures. They don’t require internal support columns for reinforcement in the middle of the structure because the high strength architectural fabric only weighs between 0.07 to 0.9 kilograms per square 0.093 meters.   The clear span width of an architectural fabric structure can range from 15 to 91 meters. Many structures require the use of a clear span design, such as participative sporting facilities for football, soccer, tennis, baseball, and swimming pools; sports stadiums; amphitheatres; airport terminals; rail stations; churches; and other public gathering locations. Many industrial applications such as warehouses, aircraft hangers, and bulk storage facilities also require a clear span structure. You can read more here about the difference between an industrial and commercial shade structure. If you have a need in your design for a wide space that is clear of posts and beams, an architectural fabric structure is a good choice.   Fabric structures reduce construction and installation time. The time required to design, manufacture, construct, and install a fabric structure is substantially shorter than that required for a conventional building. Many fabric structures are considered “pre-engineered” with most of the engineering already complete. The architectural fabric is prefabricated at the manufacturer and arrives at the job site in large panels, ready to cover thousands of square meters at one time. In addition, job site work, such as moving earth, pouring foundations and floor slabs, and erecting metal frames, can all take place at the same time as the production of the prefabricated panels.   Fabric structures give you the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind, eye-catching, and high-profile structures. Architectural fabric structures can be high-profile and designed to incorporate high peaks and sweeping lines. Fabric structures can also use a wide variety of coloured fabrics; in fact, PVC-coated architectural fabrics can be colour matched to meet any architect or building owners wishes. Often customers request a colour match to coordinate with corporate or school colours. Designs can include any number of different coloured fabrics used on the same structure, creating a dynamic appearance. Almost clear and high-light transmission white fabrics can also be produced, which allow a lot of natural sunlight to enter during the daytime and produces a glow when the interior lights up at night. Many fabric structures incorporate both high-light transmission fabrics with panels of opaque fabrics. This allows for some sunlight while still controlling the amount of thermal gain.   Fabric structures offer permanent, seasonal, or relocatable options. Most architectural fabric structure designs are meant to be permanent. They can have an internal metal frame, use an internal mast and cables, or use only air to support the architectural fabric skin. The architectural fabric itself can last 20 to 30 years and be replaced with a new skin after that time, just like shingles or single-ply roof membrane. The metal frames, masts, and cables will last 50-plus years. Permanent fabric structures are frequently insulated with fiberglass or other lightweight insulation and must meet all local fire and safety codes, just like conventional buildings. A great benefit of architectural fabric structures is the ability to design them to be seasonal or semi-permanent structures. Air-supported fabric structures can easily install over artificial sports turf fields to provide a recreational facility during the winter. The structures can come down in the spring and stored for the following season. Architectural fabric structures designed to be permanent can also relocate to a new site if needed. This simply requires a foundation at the new location for reinstallation of the fabric skin and any supporting frame work.   Fabric structures are cost-effective. Architectural fabric structures are frequently more cost-effective to cover a given space, especially if a large clear span structure is required. The cost of a fabric structure will vary depending on the type of fabric structure you are considering; air-supported fabric structures and pre-engineered frame structures will cost less than a custom designed fabric structure. 

Other factors affecting cost include selection of the architectural fabric, the use of insulation, lighting, and HVAC systems. In all cases, when you do a side-by-side comparison of a conventional brick and mortar building to an architectural fabric structure of the same size, the fabric structure will always be a lower cost. In some cases, the savings could be as much as 50% or more.   Fabric structures are energy-efficient and sustainable. Architectural fabric structures have many sustainability benefits. The first factor to consider is that a fabric structure is extremely lightweight, enabling you to cover very large areas with very little mass. It takes less raw materials and less energy consumption to produce architectural fabrics and deliver them to the building site. That said, these architectural fabrics will last 20-plus years, so you get a long-life with low mass and energy consumption. Many of the key parts of an architectural fabric structure are recyclable or reusable at the end of its life. For many of these structures, the majority of the mass is the metal frames or steel masts and cables. These metal parts (steel or aluminium) are easily recycled.

As an installer of both industrial and commercial shade structures we’ve noticed some distinct differences between the two in our years. For a civilian, or someone not trained in construction, you may not see a big difference, but each project presents different and unique challenges and processes.   Industrial vs. Commercial Industrial and commercial shade structure construction includes many different businesses and many different industries like commercial and industrial buildings, land, zoning, products, and more. “Industrial” refers to any business dealing with manufacturing goods. “Commercial” refers to any business done with the sole motive of gaining a profit. Furthermore, the Oxford dictionary says that industrial is “designed or suitable for use in industry” and that commercial is “concerned or engaged in commerce”.   Commercial Shade structure The design and development of shade structures for restaurants, offices, shopping centres, retail stores, and hubs of entertainment are dealing with commercial projects. Commercial projects are almost always designed to be aesthetically attractive in order to grab a consumer’s attention. In addition to the attractive design, commercial sites are typically very well maintained and have a good physical location. Retail centres and offices depend on easy consumer access, good parking (see our car park shade structures), and are usually pedestrian-friendly. In commercial projects, a contractor may often work with suppliers and subcontractors to meet specific goals. Commercial construction projects may bring in modern design experts who will work with traditional contractors. Before a commercial site can be ready for business, it must finalize permitting requirements that meet local legal requirements.   Industrial shade structure Industrial is a term used to describe any business that manufactures goods. These businesses could include construction, factories, working with electrical, civil or mechanical processes. Industrial construction is almost always located on the outskirts of a town. Manufacturing sites factor in the need for special conveyance requirements such as 24/7 shipping and receiving, accessible nearby air or railroad transportation, or access to major highways. A shade structure design for an industrial plant revolves around floor plans that promote smooth foot traffic and focus on coordinating manufacturing and distribution – these buildings are built for functionality, not style. Industrial buildings are made to support heavy equipment and other equipment that must be made to meet industry-specific regulations.   Industrial shade structure projects go through permitting requirements to satisfy local entities, just like commercial projects, but these larger industrial projects must meet permitting requirements that comply with many different exacting standards from local, state, and federal agencies. Industry is the lifeblood of our local economies.