Initially developed for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Cloud is a semi-permanent, multi-purpose event and exhibition structure on Queen’s Wharf in Auckland, New Zealand. Almost 600 feet long, the Cloud can accommodate up to 6,000 people.
To bring the architects’ designs for the final form of the structure to life, we created a series of structural trusses that are all the same shape so they could be efficiently fabricated. By varying the height and angle of these trusses, we achieved the organic shape of the Cloud envisioned by the architect.
Coated PES fabric was used to fabricate the roof, both for its speed and ease of installation as well as for its durability, ability to take the desired shape, and self-cleaning quality. The wall panels and northern mezzanine roof panels are made of ETFE, which creates a window-like appearance. The entryways along the base of the building are composite aluminum panels, and coated PES ceiling liners were installed in both the southern entry atrium and northern mezzanine floor. Panels are tensioned with powder-coated aluminum extrusions.
Because the project was on an expedited timeline, installation began in the center and worked out toward both sides, so that two installation teams could work simultaneously. The limited load capacity of the 100+ year-old wharf required a balancing of structural mezzanine columns with existing wharf mezzanine columns.
Structural Engineer
Wade Design Engineers
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 […]
