THE CHALLENGE – ENHANCE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE
The newly-expanded Charlotte Area Transit System required a structure that would protect waiting travelers from the elements. Accompanying the usual constraints – tight time frame and budget – was the opportunity to add architectural merit to the station and give Charlotte a new icon for its urban core.
OUR SOLUTION – A DRAMATIC STEEL AND ETFE FABRIC STRUCTURE
An elegant single-layer ETFE canopy clearly demonstrates the special qualities of the newest of the architectural membranes. While the translucent membrane provides protection from rain, the tubular structure complements the sleek architecture of the station. The total effect is both dramatic and graceful. The membrane integrates stainless steel cables for primary resistance against wind and snow loading. Not only a structural element, the cables lace seamlessly into the membrane and become part of the architectural appeal of the structure. Silver printing on the underside of the membrane improves shading, while also providing a reflective surface for enhanced night-time illumination that’s generated by an LED light system strategically positioned on the structural steel.
We are pleased to have collaborated with KieranTimberlake and the outfit of a parking structure on the Rice University Campus. In their blog post, they describe the concepts they employed to create an iconic sculptural element. For more details see the KieranTimberlake blog post.
The Increasing Importance of DurabilityWhile tensile fabric has several distinct advantages over more traditional materials like glass, one of the most important may be its ability to withstand severe weather events. Our tensile structures and tensile facades in Miami, Jacksonville, Houston, Fort Worth, Waco, and Atlanta did not sustain any damage or require any repair despite enduring events ranging […]