The soaring tensile membrane canopies at the pedestrian precinct The Crossing, not only deliver a sculptural quality, but they provide shelter from extreme weather too. Business development manager Simon Higgs says that ETFE (ethylene tetrafluroethylene) provides a lightweight and creative alternative to glass. ETFE has been used on many high profile projects and stadiums around the world and with a lifespan of more than 25 years it was a perfect fit for the up and coming business district of Highbrook.
“Structurflex has long been at the forefront of mechanically prestressed systems using ETFE, and pneumatically prestressed systems, known as ETFE cushions,” says Higgs. “Our projects are always a collaboration – we work closely with architects, engineers, construction professionals and clients to create inspiring, successful solutions that meet every design brief.”
Highbrook Business Park, in Auckland’s East Tamaki area, was envisaged as New Zealand’s best working environment, combining quality commercial premises with ‘people-friendly’ facilities, services and green spaces.
It is planned that stage two of The Crossing will expand the Precinct to five buildings and the tallest being up to nine levels. Its open-air plaza, shaded entertainment areas, retail and accommodation options are expected to serve as a focal point for the estate’s growing community.
The five-story, 60’s era West Hills Medical Office Building in Los Angeles was due for an exterior facelift. A complete exterior renovation by Michael W. Folonis Architects revealed that water infiltration had caused structural damage to the existing horizontal plaster awnings; removing them was a costly process that consumed much of the project budget. This […]
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.