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An architecturally significant performance hall gets a new canopy
August 1st, 2020
When Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida in 2017, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Fla., was one of many buildings damaged. In particular, the fabric of the hall’s front canopy needed to be replaced. The new beige entrance canopy to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Fla., complements the lavender seashell […]
New airport canopies welcome travelers
May 1st, 2020
Rising 72 feet over passengers and traffic, newly constructed canopies provide protection from the elements for visitors to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Photo: FabriTec Structures. More than 107 million travelers pass through the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, making it the busiest airport in the world. With all of the traffic, airport management developed a plan […]
Revitalizing area culture with a cozy NOOK
April 1st, 2020
The NOOK is a space purposely designed without a specific function in order to encourage the community to be spontaneous and use it in a myriad of creative ways. Photos: Yuchen Chao. In the city of Taitung in Taiwan, there is a lot of history around an old train station, abandoned for more than a […]
Innovative fabric facades
April 1st, 2020
Changing the look and function of architecture for a sustainable future. by Bruce N. Wright, FAIA Architects are fond of describing their buildings in the metaphoric terms of the human body. The supporting structure is often referred to as the skeleton that holds it up; the enclosure (or envelope) is the skin that protects the […]
Enhancing corporate culture with fabricated space
September 1st, 2019
The new Capital One headquarters in Toronto includes gathering spaces on each floor for collaboration and inspiration. Photos: Ben Rahn/A-Frame Inc. Capital One Corporation had a vision for their new Canadian headquarters in Toronto’s financial district: a design to enhance the company’s collaborative culture and be attractive to young tech talent. The financial services organization […]
Laminated fabric for distinctive building design
July 1st, 2019
Laminated fabric provides improved thermal performance and adds a unique depth to the facade of the Horw Secondary School. Photos: Franz Rindlisbacher, Zurich. The Horw Secondary School located in Lucerne, Switzerland, was ready for a facelift. Built in the 1970s, the dated building needed to join the modern world, including meeting the requirements of Minergie, […]
Creativity CUBED
July 1st, 2019
Electra’s inventive flat-top temporary fabric structure helps it keep pace with Dubai’s fast-evolving event industry. By Holly Eamon In a world where customers increasingly expect their demands to be met instantaneously, companies that don’t prioritize active listening—or engagement—risk being left behind. Based in the competitive market of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), event and exhibition […]
Underwater shade at Penn State
May 1st, 2019
Tensile membrane offers two times more natural light transmission than standard weldable PVDF membranes as well as twice the heat protection, making it ideal for creating an outdoor performance and relaxation space. Photos: ©Lightweight Manufacturing. When you think about outdoor spaces for people to congregate, a water tower is probably not on the list. But […]
Knitted textile supports thin concrete structure
April 23rd, 2019
Photos: Juan Pablo Allegre. A striking, double-curved pavilion recently on exhibit at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo in Mexico City showcased an experiment with the materials and processes used in construction. The installation was framed using a knit textile that supports its thin concrete structure. Dubbed KnitCandela, the piece is a tribute to Spanish-Mexican architect and […]
A dazzling duo: indoor fabrics and lighting
December 1st, 2018
Fabrics have always been an essential component in commercial interior spaces. But, historically, their inclusion has been limited to more conventional roles, such as draperies and curtains, or flexible room dividers. With some exceptions, fabrics were not intended to serve as a focus in and of themselves. That has changed—decidedly. Fabrics are now looked to […]