Urban renewal

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Features

City officials are choosing fabric structures as part of revitalization programs that energize struggling urban neighborhoods—to spruce up degraded spaces, provide shelter and act as inspirational focal points. “We get a lot of requests from architects for urban renewal projects,” says Archite…
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Comfort, inside and out

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Features

For just this once—think inside the box. Shade structures can be installed inside—managing comfort, while enhancing decor. An emerging market in the United Kingdom may again be paving the way for other parts of the world. “About four years ago we began designing internal tensile structures in …
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Design and branding

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Features, Marketing

Awnings have long been an effective way to brand a business, but other kinds of shade structures are emerging as an additional option, especially when organizations understand that branding isn’t only about company colors and logos. Shade structures can be a creative option to communicate branding…
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Energy efficiency and sustainability

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Business, Fabric Structures, Features

Is more heat in a home or office a good thing? It depends on the season, of course. As more people turn to solar and geothermal systems to heat and cool their homes and places of business, ambient heat gain can be a challenge—one that can, to some extent, be addressed by well-designed shade struct…
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Building business with LEED

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Features

Awnings and solar shades can boost energy performance and contribute to LEED certification points. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a family of rating systems that recognizes building or renovation projects for improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation, habitat…
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Fabric, flexible, photovoltaic

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Features

Solar energy-collecting fabric products offer major potential to impact energy use—and make businesses in the industry hugely successful. Coal and oil have superbly fueled and helped enable the extraordinary growth of modern civilization. Their supply is reaching its peak, though, and will soon st…
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Responsive textiles vs. reactive façade systems

November 1, 2013  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Projects

Research illuminates the possibilities for creating textile second building skins that can be “controlled” by the environment and user preferences. Structures are designed and built to offer people protection and comfort. New research seeks to change views concerning how people may interact with…
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Positively portable structures

November 1, 2013  |  Fabric Structures, Projects, Tents

High-performance cladding makes transportable fabric structures unique—and practical. Native Americans have known for eons about the virtues of lightweight, flexible fabric-wrapped structures, long before Europeans arrived in North America in the 15th century. Camping enthusiasts have appreciated …
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The great(er) outdoors, all year

November 1, 2013  |  Fabric Structures, Projects

When the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), needed to enclose a very large courtyard to be able to use the space all year long, they turned to J. Miller Canvas Inc. of Santa Ana, Calif., to make it happen. The solution: a motorized, sliding panel roof system, engineered to be covered or…
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Over-the-top remake for historic train station

November 1, 2013  |  Fabric Structures, Projects

The Salzburg, Austria, Central Train Station is a major transportation hub, connecting nearly 15,000 people to surrounding towns and bringing tourists to admire the breathtaking mountain views. The original station, built in 1908, consisted of a building with an arched marble hall and an arched two-…
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