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While traditional tent styles are always popular with consumers, there also are numerous requests for new and different event venues. As a result, tent and event rental companies are constantly on the lookout for the “next big thing” to offer clients.
In this article, several tent manufacturers showcase their latest creations—a diverse collection of shapes, fabrics and styles that push the envelope of what is classified as a “tent.” They share details on the materials and features of their structures as well as their design challenges and inspirations.
The portable Shade Haven
Speed matches strength in the Shade Haven mobile shade system, which one person using minimal tools can set up or take down in just 15 minutes.
The structure was first engineered in 2012 to help farmers and ranchers prevent heat stress in grazing livestock, but its uses quickly expanded. “With increasing temperature extremes, we recognized the need for a quick, portable shade solution to protect human health,” says Leah Call, communications director for Shade Haven LLC in Viroqua, Wis. “Our team of engineers modified the existing design, adding built-in retractable benches and stand-up bars, a solar-powered battery, and a hydraulic system that allows the user to effortlessly adjust the height and position of the canopy throughout the day.”
The resulting structure can provide shade and shelter at outdoor gatherings of all kinds, from music festivals to farmers markets.
Available in two sizes—the SH600P providing 600 square feet of shade and the SH1200P providing double the coverage—the Shade Haven is made with a heavy-duty steel frame and a knitted shade canopy made of 90% polypropylene. With a 10-year UV rating, the breathable fabric offers strong sun protection while allowing for light airflow to cool the area below. As the standard canopy does not provide complete rain coverage, Shade Haven offers temporary covers in alternative materials for specific weather protection needs.
Other customization options include colors for both the trailer and canopy and a branded option to display logos or messages. As optional add-ons, Shade Haven also provides misting and lighting kits.
Mobility is a key distinguishing feature; the Shade Haven can be transported by any half-ton pickup truck and is transportable on all U.S. highways. “A major hurdle in our development was ensuring the structure met rigorous Department of Transportation highway safety regulations,” Call says.
Rated to withstand gusts of up to 50 mph and sustained winds of 35 mph, the Shade Haven can be quickly collapsed in case of inclement weather and should be stored inside during winter weather, if not fully wrapped outside, to avoid snowpack.
Fred’s Garden Tent
The multitiered Keder Garden Tent from Fred’s Tents & Canopies, Waterford, N.Y., has proven to be so popular since its debut that it is now offered with multiple size and customization options.
Inspired by Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa., the three-season structure’s distinctive design incorporates a cupola and roof overhang, with no interior poles. Decorative metalwork circles for both the interior and exterior add an optional aesthetic element to accentuate the tent’s whimsical appeal.
“The overhang was manufactured to be functional as well as artistic, keeping the windows cleaner when it rains,” notes Fred Tracy, president of Fred’s.
The standard structure is available in five widths: 40 or 50 feet and 15, 20 or 25 meters (49, 66 or 82 feet). Sections to expand the structure measure 10 or 15 feet and 5 meters (16 feet). A smaller model, dubbed the “Tea Room,” is newly available in widths of 20 or 30 feet.
Offered with a pergola or a covered marquee, the Garden Tent can be customized to achieve a variety of looks, interchanging clear film or solid roof panels with vertical or horizontal glass walls or fabric walls made with flame-retardant vinyl resistant to mildew, weather and UV rays. A newly designed 9-foot door with a 5-foot pull handle can further elevate an event’s elegance and amplify the tent’s vast interior. The Garden Tent’s corrosion-resistant aluminum frame is offered in black, green, white and wood grain. “Black is very popular right now, especially paired with a clear top,” Tracy says.
As similar structures trickle into the market from companies around the world, Fred’s Garden Tent remains 100% USA-made. Whether for a long-term venue rental or weekend wedding, setup typically spans one to two days for a crew of eight to 10 installers.
Aztec Tents’ Adena A-frame
The Adena™ A-Frame tent from Aztec Tents, Torrance, Calif., aligns angles with minimal components to provide versatility and efficiency for smaller gatherings aiming to make a statement. From wedding ceremonies to hospitality and brand experience events, it allows guests to immerse themselves in nature without needing to brave the elements.
Peaking at 15 feet, the Adena is offered in one width of 17.75 feet and is available in modular lengths of 10 feet, expandable up to 200 feet. The framework was inspired by the European Grubenhaus, a distinctive building design used by Anglo-Saxons during the fifth and sixth centuries that reemerged in the 1950s. It is made of high-strength aluminum and structural steel and offered in two finishes: timber and matte black.
Installation can be completed on the ground without ladders or heavy equipment and typically requires three people and 60–90 minutes per structure, depending on length. Beams are installed on the ground then tilted up, with portal braces allowing access through all sides. Flame-retardant PVC fabric panels slide through a Keder channel and can be rearranged to achieve the desired amount of open space—including none if full enclosure is the goal.
Options for anchoring methods are flexible as well. In addition to staking, the Adena integrates with Aztec’s universal ballasting plate, which is compatible with most ballasting systems. “Keeping the product mechanics as simple as the overall architectural design proved to be a challenge in its development,” says Alex Kouzmanoff, president of Aztec. “The finished product makes complex connections seem easy.”
Portability and logistics were also top of mind during design, Kouzmanoff adds. The structure features a unique racking system that not only helps protect the product during transport but also provides a one-of-a-kind solution to easily load and unload the product from the warehouse through delivery and return.
Although not engineered for snow loads, the Adena is engineered to ASCE 7-16 110 mph building code, with an effective 57 mph wind speed for temporary use.
Evolution Dome inflatables
Although Evolution Dome’s inflatable dome structures were designed to stand out, simplicity is what sparked their creation. “Our director, Ash Austin, was inspired by the practicality inflatables bring to events,” says Brandon Hyman, U.S. sales manager for the Peterborough, England-based company. “From quick setup and takedown times to insulation properties, they are designed to reduce common organizer stress points and maximize efficiency.”
Made of PVC and ripstop nylon, the domes are available in several sizes, from approximately 20 to 80 feet wide, with the latter spanning 4,090 square feet and fitting 300–400 people with seating and staging or 700 for dinner.
Evolution Dome’s signature Air Beam technology is the key to the structure’s strength, contributing to a 55 mph wind rating and the capability to remain inflated 45 minutes after a power failure, which the dome’s built-in safety alarm would initially signal.
Installation processes vary according to size, requiring up to six people and three hours for the largest dome, which also warrants the use of a 5,000-pound all-terrain forklift. Once packed down, however, it is easily transportable at 10 by 7 by 5 feet long.
Custom branding options include printed covers or printing directly onto the structure’s fabric. As a result, the domes are commonly used for brand activations and corporate events in addition to large conferences, where they’re implemented as theaters, breakout rooms or expo hall extensions.
Tent styles will undoubtedly continue to evolve with changing consumer demands and advances in technology. But no matter their shape or what type of material is used to fabricate them, their core purpose will remain unchanged: to provide people with a comfortable setting in which to gather. Whether it’s to celebrate, perform, dance, graduate, enjoy a concert or get married, the event will be even more memorable for being held under a tent.
Holly Eamon is a business writer and editor based in Minneapolis, Minn.
SIDEBAR: Proposed FEMA code changes to temporary structures
FEMA developed a draft code proposal for temporary structures for the 2025 ICC Code Development Cycle. The change in language, which is referenced in 3103.6.1.3, suggests “banning temporary structures in floodways and high hazard coastal areas.” Advanced Textiles Association’s (ATA) Tent Rental Division (TRD) is following it closely. The group will also work with supporting committees and others to address this issue if submitted to the ICC.
Members of TRD, the Fabric Structures Association and/or Professional Awnings Manufacturers Association have access to an industry expert in building and fire codes and can ask specific questions. Reach out to Christine Gerard at Christine.Gerard@textiles.org for more information.