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The special shade section on the show flow featured end products ranging from retractable awning systems, shade structures and canopies to motorized shade and weather solutions of all types. Programming and events included “Super Tuesday” seminars, tours of local shops and a keynote lunch, plus Wednesday evening’s opening reception at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
FSA Student Design Challenge winners
The Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), announced the recipients of the 2016 Fabric Structures Student Design Challenge at IFAI Expo 2016. Students were challenged to create or transform a space using fabric structures. The site could be invented or pre-existing.
Ortiz and Scungio designed the fabric structure to be used as a roof covering for outdoor basketball courts at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, R.I. The structure could be used in a variety of locations and is designed to b
e easily constructed. It would cover approximately 1,115 square meters, housing two basketball courts and an adjacent bleacher space.
Second place went to John Wightman from the University of Buffalo for his project “Aqua Shell.” Omar Fabrisio Avellaneda Lopez and Paula Martin Goni from Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya Barcelona Tech were awarded third place for their project “Spider Circus.”
Shade on tour
by Mark Skalny
Attendees of the Shade and Weather Protection program had the option of traveling on an offsite tour to two manufacturing facilities: Rainier Statesville and Party Reflections.
Rainier Statesville is the east coast manufacturing and distribution plant for the shade and shelter divisions of Rainier Industries Ltd. Products manufactured in Statesville include all retractable exterior screens, lateral arm awnings and large and small window awnings. The distribution products include the full line of Rainier Tents and Baytex Liners, along with a complete line of installation tools and accessories.
Party Reflections was founded in 1958 by Wayne Hooks. After more than 50 years in business, it has grown and expanded in three regions: Charlotte, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. The Party Reflections Charlotte location has 115,000 square feet of warehouse and office space with more than 100 full-time employees on staff.
The shop tour began in the company’s 4,000-square-foot showroom and design center and proceeded through the building to the linen department and then on to the tent department.