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Medium Fabric Structures

In terms of our LSAA Design Awards, a Medium sized Fabric Structure, or tensioned membrane structure, would have a surface area of between 250 and 1000 sqm.

Tensioned fabric or membrane structures of this size are often of one geometric form such as a conical structure with a central bale ring attached to a mast or tied down. The perimeter could be a series of edge cables, trusses or beams. If multiple units are used they the final structure may fall into the "large" category.

Other forms could be panels with internal diagonal arches, crossed arches, barrel vaults with intermediate valley cables.

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The following articles are in random order whilst the (separate) List of Medium Structures is in order of most recently modified article first. As of May 2025 approximately 42 articles are available.


 

Knox Grammar School
Knox Grammar School Project (2018)

APPLICATION OF PROJECT:

The project was to design and install a unique waterproof shade structure to a Year 11/12 study area at an elite private Grammar School in Sydney.

The area under cover is 760sqm. The space to be shaded was clearly defined and located between the austere 19th century red brick buildings on a second floor flat tiled roof

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Beyond a school’s playing fields, exposed concrete surfaces often represented the extent of outdoor space in many schools built a century ago. Knox Grammar was no different.Today the definition of outdoor space is much more exciting and open to design possibilities. For schools with resources, outdoor spaces can be unique, comfortable, multifunctional and aesthetic.

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Halo Night Club Brisbane
Halo Night Club Brisbane

 

Entrant: Fabritecture

Location: Brisbane
Client: AGS Construction
Completion Date: February 2012

This project was entered in the LSAA 2013 Design Awards (Cat 2, 2301)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Halo was designed to take full advantage of Brisbane's wonderful weather offering a sophisticated, open-air lounge environment. In the trendy suburb of Paddington on the West Side of Brisbane is the Caxton Street Precinct famous for its entertainment venues and bustling nightlife.

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Hagley Oval from pitch
Hagley Oval from pitch

 

Project entered in the LSAA 2016 Design Awards (Medium Structures, #4047)

Entrant: Fabric Structure Systems (Designer / Fabricator / Installer)

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand.   Completed: October 2014  Client: Cantebury Cricket Association

Team: Athfield Architects, Wade Design Engineers Ltd, Southbase, Fabric Structure Systems 

Application: The establishment of an international venue at Hagley Oval for the 2015 cricket world cup and beyond. This required the construction of a new world class cricket pavilion, out of which an architectural fabric was chosen.

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General shot of structures
General shot of shade structures

M6 Community Recreational Facility Description

As part of Transport NSWs upgrade to the M6 freeway Stage 1 development, new recreational facilities were developed to provide shade to the community in various areas including McCarthy and Brighton Reserve. As part of the McCarthy Reserve upgrade, Fabritecture was contracted for the design and construction of eight (8) structures to provide shade cover for recreational facilities over a playground. The structures feature both Gale Pacific 95 Mesh and architecturally perforated aluminium.

DESIGN / FABRICATION / INSTALLATION BRIEF

Transport for NSW is delivering new recreational facilities for the Bayside Community before construction begins on Stage 1 of the M6 motorway in Rockdale, NSW. Fabritecture was contracted for 8 structures for installation at McCarthy Reserve. The structures are a combination of mesh shade structures clad with Gale Pacific Commercial 95 Heavy shade cloth, and aluminum architectural metal structures with custom artwork perforations in the panels.

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STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

The aluminium structures feature a steel frame with a grid system for the aluminium. The perforated panels are underslung, so the custom perforated artwork can be seen clearly from underneath the structures in the playground.

The shade structures are also steel framed and are tensioned using a Fabritecture extrusion system.

MATERIALS

The chosen material for the shade structures was Gale Pacific Commercial 95 340 Mesh, in 4 colours: Aquatic Blue, Desert Sand, Yellow and Orange. The fabric was chosen based on the colour specifications from the client.

The aluminium panels for the architectural metal structures was 6mm thick with a Colourbond Monument equivalent RAL 7021 with custom artwork perforations.

FABRICATION

The aluminium artwork features custom perforations in the patterning of native flora such as bottlebrush, and flora such as birds and frogs. There are 6 mesh structures in total at McCarthy Reserve, with 4 having an 8m diameter, and 2 with an 11m diameter. The 2 aluminium structures are 11m and 17m in diameter.

COLLABORATION, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

The installation of the structures occurred over existing playground equipment. This required specific planning. Construction involved the installation of all columns first and preassembling of roof discs on the ground. These were then crane lifted into their final install position. There was no overhead install.

Gale Pacific Commercial 95 340 Mesh is used widely for projects that require maximum sun protection and strength. The durable mesh fabric has low maintenance requirements and a long life performance.

COSTS

The M6 Community Recreational Facility project was valued at approximately AUD$730k.


PROJECT CREDITS

Project Name: M6 Community Recreational Facility
Location: West Botany Street
City: Rockdale, NSW, 2216
GPS Location:   -33.955663, 151.146580
Completion Date: 12-Oct-21
Category (1-8): 2 – Medium structures
Entrant Name: Fabritecture
Address:  Unit 14/15 John Duncan Court, Varsity Lakes, QLD 4227
Telephone:   +61 7 5587 7000
Mobile:   +61 408 402 716
Email Address:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website Address: www.fabritecture.com
Entrant Type / Role: Designer / Fabricator / Installer
Project Client: Transport NSW
Project Architect: Design Inc.
Structural Engineer: Greenup Design Engineers; Cardno
Building Contractor: Ertech Pty Ltd
Fabricator(S): Confidential

Glen Eira Aquatic Centre
Glen Eira Aquatic Centre

 

LSAA 2013 Design Awards - High Commendation (Category 2 Medium Structures #2926)

Entrant: Oasis Tension Structures

  • Location: East Boundary Rd, East Bentleigh

  • Client: Glen Eira City Council; Completion Date: December 2011

Judges Comments:

"Advances the technology in insulated membranes"

"Rather idiosyncratic form which answers a functional challenge, has a bit of fun, and provides some identity to a facility not short of disparate elements"

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Isa Royal Military College Grand Stand
Isa Royal Military College Grand Stand

 

Entrant: Light Weight Structures Advisory Service - Engineering Fabrication Installation
Location: Isa Royal Military College - Kingdom of Bahrain
Client:  Alasco Group & Al Alaa Shade Company
Struct. Eng.: Trevor Scott & Jeremy Hunter
Specialist: LTWSAS
Builder & Fabricator: Al Alaa Shade Company

This project was entered in the LSAA 2009 Design Awards (Cat 2, Medium Fabric Structures #24558)

No further details have been entered at this stage

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Aquinas College Forum
Aquinas College Forum

 

This project was entered in the LSAA 2007 Design Awards (#3197) "Medium Fabric Structures"

Entrant: Tattersall Engineering

Client: Aquinas College / J A Dodd     Architect: Designinc Adelaide (Geof Naim)
Structural Engineer: Tattersall Engineering (See SEMF 2015)
Specialist Consultant(s): Wade Consultants     Builder: Tecraft Pty Ltd
Fabricator(s): Horizon Sailmakers / C E Bartlett, Riband (Steel), A Noble & Son (Cables)

Application and Function(s) of Project:

The structure is a pivotal element in an $8m redevelopment of the main Aquinas College campus, which comprised a new library, Year 9 centre, canteen and arts centre as well as refurbishment of the old library as an IT, arts and careers centre. The Forum structure links and protects all the adjoining buildings, proving a substantial undercover area in the middle of the school which serves as a protected function centre, meals and play area, incorporates a stage with a protected auditorium area, and links with the existing gymnasium and sports centre building.

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Hornsby Aquatic Seating Covered Areas
Hornsby Aquatic Seating Covered Areas

 

This project was entered in the LSAA 2016 Design Awards (Cat 2, Medium Fabric Structures 1293)

Entrant: Shade And Membrane Structures Australia (Design / Project Management / Install)

Location: Hornsby, NSW.   Completed: April 30 2014

Client: ADCO Constructions / Hornsby City Council

Team: Peter Hunt Architects, Larry Shyu Global Membrane Design, ADCO Constructions, Shadecom / Fabric Solutions

Application: To design, engineer, fabricate and install approximately 400 sqm of waterproof shade structures to cover two seating areas.

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Description:

Working closely with the council, their architects, the builders and the engineers for over 18 months we were able to come up with a design that suited both the architectural and practical intent. With the centre opening in July 2014, the council are extremely pleased with the outcome. We were basically asked to cover the seating areas of two sides of the pool to provide both cover and international water polo standard lighting to the pool area.

Yas Island Gateway Park
Yas Island - Gateway Park

 

This project was entered in the LSAA 2011 Design Awards (Cat 2, 2575)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

In total three structures with a combined coverage of 1930m2.  The project consisted of two identical shade cloth structures comprising of eight Monotech HDPE 370 shade sails, 806m2 in plan area. The third structure of similar design comprised of six main sails of Fibertop PTFE and two hypar decorative sails in Monotech HDPE 370, 318m2 in plan area. The requirement for the project was an Iconic Design providing Solar Shading to shelter play equipment and BBQ facilities.

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Blacktown Village Green
Blacktown Village Green

 

This project was entered in the LSAA 2011 Design Awards (#7007)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project was essentially a weather cover over a public space. During discussions with our sales team at the tendering stage it was clear that the project also had an element of environmental consideration. For this reason we developed a custom design that worked to these constraints.

The purpose according to builders was to create an inviting public recreation area. The architects specified a tensile membrane roof in order to cover the area while allowing natural light to enter the space.

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