Patty Smail
president
Charly Smail
vice president

Shelter Structures Inc.
Philadelphia, Pa.

IFAI member since: 2003
Most valued Benefit: Networking at Expo

Beyond the competition

July 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Perspective

Patty and Charly Smail build their business by learning from each new customer—and finding gaps in what the competition offers. We’ve always been service-oriented people. That’s our style,” says Patty Smail, president of Shelter Structures Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa. “We wanted to find marke…
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5 top reasons for using an air-supported structure

July 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Many of the manufacturers interviewed for the air-supported structure feature in the July issue used similar arguments when pitching to clients on the benefits of air-supported structures. The top five: 1. Quick to erect. Air-supported fabric structures are significantly faster to erect than tradit…
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Lessons in community, ecology

June 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets, Projects

The Longbush Ecosanctuary protects native plants, birds and wildlife in a rare lowland bush near Gisbourne, on New Zealand’s eastern coast. Longbush Ecological Trust wanted an inviting environmental education space to serve as a symbolic gateway to the 296-acre sanctuary and commissioned architect…
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Transformed by textiles

June 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Two case studies highlight the use of fabric to renovate and convert stadium spaces. By Jake Kulju Cities are full of movement and change. Parks, public spaces and businesses all reflect the shifting tastes and trends of their urban neighborhoods. To adapt, many urban planners, business owners and a…
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Air support

May 21, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

New aircraft hangars join fleet of refurbished Rubb buildings at Lithuanian air base. Rubb Buildings Ltd., headquartered at the Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Newcastle, recently flew in to support the Lithuanian Air Force when some new flight line aircraft hangars were need…
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Transforming urban areas with fabric

May 18, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Cities are pouring money into urban revitalization in an attempt to restore downtowns to their former vibrant glory, and many of those renewal designs are featuring shade structures, awnings and exterior shades, fused with the best of historic architecture. And in addition to providing shade and she…
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Canopy sheds Northern Lights on events

May 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

MacDonald Island Park in Fort McMurray, Alberta, is Canada’s largest community recreation, leisure and social center, and its operator, Regional Recreation Corp. of Wood Buffalo, plans to expand its reach. Shell Place, the epicenter of MacDonald Island Park’s activities, includes the SMS Equipme…
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Industrial mesh lightens up

May 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets, Projects

Industrial product design often centers on utility, simplicity and mass-production rather than flow, drape or mood. London-based industrial and product designer Catherine Stolarski combines both aesthetics in “Loop,” a pendant lamp with a curving shade made of a single folded piece of 3-D fabric…
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Building with textiles

April 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures

A report from the TextielMuseum exhibition: the current and future potential of textiles in architecture. The use of textiles in buildings is by no means new, with early examples of dwellings made using branches and animal furs...
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Beam it to me

January 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures

A vanguard fabric airbeam supporting a tent atop Carnegie Hall is poised to expand markets. It takes a village to raise a child. And it takes a team to raise a tent—at least in the case of a challenging, vanguard installation atop a nine-story building in the center of Manhattan. Carnegie Hall, th…
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