Lightweight structures

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  • A big fire at a neighboring business discolored and shifted insulation in the old Talisman Centre roof, causing temperature and condensation problems indoors and a dingy appearance outdoors. Renderings: Birdair Inc.

    Athletic coverage in Canada

    The Talisman Centre for Sport and Wellness, a full-service Calgary, Alberta, Canada, athletic facility hosting Olympic-caliber competitors, will upgrade its 1983 fabric roof by installing a material with five times the insulating value.

    March 1, 2010

  • Pavilion features modern ETFE canopy

    The “Norway powered by nature” exhibit at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China will showcase Norwegian woods in the Nanpu Bridge–Lupu Bridge area in the crowded center of one of China’s largest cities.

    March 1, 2010

  • Where to get flexible solar panels

    Photovoltaic technology has been around for years, but offered in rigid solar panels that were rather bulky and not very compatible with fabric products.

    March 1, 2010

  • Unusual bamboo and fabric structure offers design advantages

    Careful attention to joinery and geometry brings a work of art (and a functional pedestrian bridge) to a busy intersection in Colombia.

    February 19, 2010

  • The cost of building fabric structures

    Experienced professionals comment on how much it costs to build fabric structures.

    February 9, 2010
  • Laurelbrook, a Connecticut dairy farm, selected ClearSpan buildings to house manure-composting operations—a move that controls compost quality, reduces odor impacts and prevents runoff to nearby water resources. Photo: ClearSpan Fabric Structures Intl.

    Multi-functional structures aid agricultural producers

    Cattle need fresh air, sunlight and protection from cold, damp conditions.

    January 1, 2010
  • The Green Void stretched through the Sydney Customs House atrium from the top floor Café Sydney to the model of the city encased in a glass floor at ground level, five stories below. Photos: MakMax Australia.

    Tensioned fabric sculpture on display in Sydney

    The Sydney Custom House is currently hosting a five-story, translucent green tensioned-fabric sculpture dubbed the Green Void.

    January 1, 2010
  • The arches forming the structure enclosing Sydney’s Wildlife World range from 10 to 46 meters long, giving the steel mesh roof its now-iconic undulations. Photos: Wildlife World.

    Urban zoo benefits from steel mesh roof

    A major urban center on a busy harbor may be a unique location for a zoo, but Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia, established Wildlife World to attract both animal lovers and architectural students alike.

    January 1, 2010

  • LSA becomes Fabric Structures Association

    The Lightweight Structures Association, Roseville, Minn., a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International, changed its name and identity in October and is now the Fabric Structures Association (FSA).

    December 1, 2009

  • UFS expands and re-brands

    Universal Fabric Structures (UFS) has announced the launch of its new custom architectural division, Fabritecture.

    November 6, 2009
  • Tentnology’s permanent stage cover at Douglas Park Spirit Square in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, is engineered for a snow load of 55 pounds per square feet of snow and a wind load of 90 mph. Photo: Tentnology.

    Drawing on expertise

    Engineers help to ensure the practicality, safety and success of fabric structures.

    November 1, 2009

  • Pre-engineered structures offer budget-friendly custom looks

    Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., has an impressive portfolio of custom lightweight roofing, shading and tensile fabric structures, designed for malls, stadiums and airports.

    November 1, 2009
  • The sky canopy over Harmony Times Square in Suzhou, China, blends aesthetics and technology into a lighted fabric city landmark. Photo: Beijing N & L Fabric Tech Co. Ltd., covertex membranes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

    Suzhou sky canopy features multimedia projection surfaces

    In Suzhou, China, Harmony Times Square, next to Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake, is a new landmark for the city, including office buildings, retail streets, riverfront cafes and a state-of-the-art shopping mall.

    November 1, 2009
  • Key to making the RDIC emergency housing feasible are the extendable inflated fabric rooms (shown white) that cantilever off the shipping containers that form the core units.

    Architects prepare for disaster

    New York architects Viraline have a plan for repopulating Manhattan - after the hurricane that hasn’t happened yet hits the NYC shoreline causing Katrina-like damage; it could happen.

    October 26, 2009
  • UK-based Tectoniks thinks its regular product —structural fabric air tubes covered with durable fabric cladding—is ideal for disaster relief shelters. Moreover, their technology is energy efficient and eminently transportable.

    The UK’s blow-up structures experts

    British fabric structures manufacturer Tectoniks is all set to help—bring on the disasters.

    October 15, 2009

  • Industry Outlook: Lightweight structures

    Sponsored by IFAI Market Research

    Fabric suppliers see continued economic pressure for the remainder of 2009. Until the economy rebounds, the architectural building market segment will be sluggish. Growth will continue in selected areas of the world experiencing commercial building booms, such as China and Dubai. The industry will continue to consolidate and will emphasize higher quality fabrics where there tends to be a more steady, reliable demand (and better profit margins).

    Manufacturers see slow growth for the U.S. lightweight structures market in 2009, which will be aided by the growth of ‘green’ projects and the trend toward using fabric in building projects in place of traditional (and often more expensive and less efficient) materials such as steel and concrete. They feel that the industry will continue to suffer from a shortage of skilled labor.

    Coupled with the increasing cost of raw materials and a slowdown in both commercial and residential construction, these factors will likely continue to drive up the cost of doing business and inhibit business growth. Yet there are opportunities to grow and stay profitable for companies that manage their businesses closely, monitor all costs, and make smart, long-term decisions that focus on optimizing value (emphasizing quality and innovative products) for their customers.

    From the 2009 State of the Industry Report. Purchase a complete report at the IFAI Bookstore.