2016 Archive : Fiesta Paseo Nodes – Type I Structures

Project Details

Fabric 1

TX 30 - Type II
Producer: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.
Supplier: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.

Please describe the project specifications

The Southern Avenue Improvements project in Mesa, AZ is an extension of the streetscape improvements associated with the Fiesta District revitalization efforts. The long-term program seeks to define a unique sense of place while improving transportation and pedestrian linkages. The district is a reemerging and important business district in the City and features cutting-edge industry clusters, extensive infrastructure and ample hospitality accommodations.

As part of these renewal efforts, a series of pocket parks and paseos were developed to bring human scale to the landscape enhancements. Intending to increase interaction between the people in the district and to create components which enhanced the community’s identity, the Paseo Nodes and associated shade structures were established.

What was the purpose of this project? What did the client request?

When first contacted on the project, the client requested a unique and defining structure to be designed and located within several nodes on the project. After a series of design charrettes, we established a distinctive freestanding shade structure with three separate inverted conics each in the shape of a teardrop and part of a single membrane.

This shade structure would be repeated at three different locations along the streetscape improvements and would offer a place for shade while also offering an iconic art piece to the district. The structures intriguing and symbolic architecture was intended to compliment the greater brand and vision of the Fiesta District.

What is unique or complex about the project?

The unique geometry of the structures was cause for in-depth and lengthy planning. A great deal of effort was spent modeling the structures and developing the appropriate cut patterns for the panels in order to produce the intended results.

Because these were freestanding structures and a single membrane panel was used to create three separate inverted conics in each structure it also presented a challenging installation. Steel was fully erected on site at three different locations and then were surveyed for the modeling of the fabric panels. Once the panels were fabricated and ready for installation, the steel had to be entirely dis-assembled in order to fit the fabric panel over the columns. The steel was then re-assembled a final time and fabric was then tensioned into its final design position.

What were the results of the project?

The structures fit the program and exceeded the architect’s and the City’s expectations. As work progressed during the course of construction, our installation crews were regularly approached by members of the community and were complimented on the structures.

The final product presents an impressive perspective of the streetscape. And the LED backlighting of the structures matches the color themes of the District. The glowing lights of these structures are coordinated to match the surrounding pedestrian lighting and change colors every twenty minutes adding a nice effect to each node.

As a result of the iconic design and satisfaction felt by the client, we were requested to design and fabricate additional structures that were never originally part of the program.

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