2016 Archive : MIT Commencement “Great Sail”

Project Details

Fabric 1

PVC Coated Polyester
Producer: Ferrari S.A.

Engineer Company 1
Span Systems Inc.

Design Company
Span Systems Inc.

Fabrication Company
Span Systems Inc.

Installation Company
Span Systems Inc.

Please describe the project specifications

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has used a version of the "Great Sail" tensile canopy for their commencement ceremonies for many years. It is installed every year to shade and protect the speaker's podium, the assembled dignitaries, guests and the graduates receiving their degrees.
Recently Span Systems re-engineered, re-designed, and fabricated a new version with added strength, stability, and ease of installation to continue this tradition into the future.
The PVC Coated Fiberglass panel covers 6460 square feet in plan area. It is entirely cable supported with the canopy edges and corners held by cabling running to a variety of anchor points attached to the buildings surrounding Killian Court, permanent ground anchors and even two trees.
It is intended as a temporary structure installed every year by in mid-May and taken down again in mid-June.

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

Over the years MIT had difficulty with various configurations and materials for their commencement shade. Its large size and awkward location made for difficult installation by the MIT grounds crew and there were instances of damage to the canopy from high winds off the nearby Charles River.
MIT requested our company design a robustly engineered, fabricated and installed canopy that could withstand the highest area winds without movement or fabric noise and yet maintain the traditional appearance of the "Sail" canopy so important to the faculty and graduates.
The design included engineering more robust connection points on the surrounding buildings themselves that could withstand the forces determined through our engineering analysis.

What is unique or complex about the project?

This is a structure without columns or framing. It is purely cable supported with cables attached to building, ground locations and, for a small awning covering the walkway ramp used by the graduates, two courtyard trees.
Because it is installed during commencement at a world famous engineering school it has to reflect the engineering quality and values of MIT. It is also required to be taken down and reinstalled every year.

What were the results of the project?

The MIT staff responsible for the commencement activities are very pleased that the stability, structural integrity and yearly installation of this structure has been resolved for many years to come. They were so pleased with the design and execution they have ordered a second canopy to be cycled in to reduce wear and tear as the canopy is put up and taken down every year.
The MIT faculty, graduates and guests are impressed as always by a tensile structure that from a distance appears to be floating with no support at all at the far end of Killian Court.

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