2019 Archive : Courtyard Checkers

Project Details

Fabric 1

Commercial 95 Heavy 430
Producer: Gale Pacific USA Inc.
Supplier: Gale Pacific USA Inc.

Engineer Name 1
Nick Keizer

Engineer Company 1
RNK Structural Engineering

Design Company
SHADE Industries

Fabrication Company
SHADE Industries

Project Manager Company
SHADE Industries

Installation Company
SHADE Industries

Please describe the project specifications

Two 54 foot by 38 foot overlapping shade sails, four custom wall brackets and four columns providing utilizing approximately 3,687 square feet of fabric over a private corporate patio.

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

In the middle of this biopharmaceutical facility located in Phoenix, Arizona was a completely unusable outdoor courtyard intended for employees to take lunch and break periods. The direct sun reflecting off of windows and concrete created an environment that was hardly used. The facility requested a design that would provide ample shade between the hours of 7am and 2pm while minimizing the loss of usable space due to column placement.

What is unique or complex about the project?

The client desired near complete coverage, so to meet such demand, the shade sails had to extend to the entire perimeter of the courtyard. Doing so required special permission from the City of Phoenix Fire Marshall, as current building codes require the flammable shade cloth to remain 5 feet clear of any existing structure at all times. The sails attach directly to a solid concrete wall on the east, and four structural columns on the west. In an attempt to keep the center of the courtyard clear of any structural elements, two large checkered shade sails span approximately 54 feet across the area.

What were the results of the project?

Employees of the facility are pleased with the improved ambiance the shade sails provide, along with the improvements to seating and other amenities the facility invested in this courtyard. The facility plans on holding regular company meetings and presentations in this newly shaded area as well.

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