A Lifestyle with Fabric Structures

by Samuel J. Armijos
Vice President of Sales
USA SHADE & Fabric Structures, Inc.

Today, with real estate at a premium and a growing need to attract guests as well as visitors, resort properties are focusing a little more on outdoor facilities and new ways to cover pedestrians and automobiles.

Developers in the Hospitality Industry primarily spend their money on interior spaces, water features, seating and lighting to create their themed environment. However, Architects are now being asked to provide a place where one can not only dine and shop inside, but relax, and be entertained outside. The modern hotel and resort are taking ideas from the retail industry and their “lifestyle” approach to design and spending a little more time and money on their outdoor faculties.

Architects are looking at fabric structures to transform space and provide a festive and cost effective solution to shade, signage and shelter.

In their quest to provide an outdoor feel while also providing sufficient protection from the elements, designers are turning to fabric as material of choice. Fabrics range from perforated meshes to long lasting coated materials.

Resorts have become “One Stop Shops” for indoor and outdoor activities. In order to continue to draw visitors and keep current clientele, they have to set themselves apart and create a unique look that will leave a memorable impression. Fabric structures can provide a fresh look and cost-effective solution with lasting appeal. They have been seen at Fairs and Olympics and are festive and nautical by nature.

Fabric provides the ideal shade solution at pools, play areas, vehicle cover and seating areas. UV protection is a major concern today and it plays a major role in sustainable design.

Given the desire for more outdoor public spaces, fabric structures are being inserted in many of these developments and the opportunities and potential for their use continues to grow.

Fabric Structures, in simple terms, are custom tents, awnings, interiors, umbrellas and canopies made of durable architectural fabrics. They have been used in a number of places and under a variety of environmental conditions. Fabric Structures are providing the perfect solution to a new trend in Retail Architecture. “Lifestyle” centers like the Las Vegas Premium Outlet mall are providing a unique experience to their clients and the Hospitality industry is taking notice. Whether used inside or out, Architects are looking at fabric structures to transform space and provide a festive and cost effective solution to shade, signage and shelter. They are being built at both old and new resorts and are finding themselves incorporated in these developments in all shapes and sizes.

Designers have a number of choices when it comes to using fabric structures. Materials like spandex and nylons, primarily used in apparel, are being used because they are light in weight and do not need to support wind and snow loads. Vinyl coated polyester (PVC) and Teflon coated fiberglass (PTFE) are the most appropriate material when a weatherproof and fire-resistant material is required. High Density polyethylene (HDPE) is the material used for shade only.

Given the desire for more outdoor public spaces, fabric structures are being inserted in many of these developments and the opportunities and potential for their use continues to grow. Fabric structures are not only designed for health and protective benefits, but maximize architectural and aesthetic opportunities. The soft, diffused light, the reduction in direct heat gain and the festive designs are catching on.

Large open corridors can be completely covered with a long lasting waterproof membrane of PTFE or PVC, while bus and shuttle stops are shaded with a lighter weight PVC or HDPE. Awnings made of high end laminates and acrylics are still a wonderful solution to classic awnings and canopies.

The potential is endless. The Developer and the client are all seeing the benefits. Human comfort, whether in the form of shelter or convenience, is no longer an option. People expect to have covered parking, outdoor dining shade and protection from inclement weather.

Today’s Fabric Structures are designed using sophisticated computer programs and specialized engineering. Each structure is analyzed for local building codes which include taking into consideration snow, wind and hail, to name a few. Fabric Structures are built like a well tailored suit where fabric is chosen for its quality, longevity and cost and cut with computer aided cutting tools to provide a perfect fit. The other components to a fabric structure include the structural members which can come in a number of finishes and cables made of galvanized or stainless steel.

Integrating Fabric Structures in your Resort:

The Valet
Most resorts rely on valet parking. People are willing to pay extra for the convenience of dropping off their car at the front of the facility and leaving it for someone else to park. Fabric Structures are ideal as a “Porte Cochere” for both old and new construction. It can be made to cover one or multiple cars. Cars are usually parked in designated uncovered areas or can be covered by fabric structures made specifically for shade or water protection.

The Self Parker
As more and more automobiles come to the facilities, there is more need for parking. These tarmac fields have little landscape or are being replaced by multi-level garages. Fabric structures are not only being used to create single level shaded parking areas but covered rooftop and vertical screens for these structures. The structures not only provide shade and signage opportunities but have some hidden bonuses. Shade structures attract attention to the site and increase the marketability of the building and give the property a great return on the investment. These areas often need covered pedestrian walkways and/or covered shuttle stops too.

The Entry
There is nothing more important to resorts than making a great first impression. Developers are both looking to make a statement and differentiate themselves from their neighbor or competitor. Fabric structures rarely are seen as “the same one down the block” or “just like the one down the road”. They can be seen from near or far and can look different from day or night. The sky’s the limit and Architects are seeing that potential. Most fabric structures come in white and can be lit from above or below.

The Super Umbrella
Umbrellas are the most recognizable fabric structure and they are coming in more shapes, sizes and colors. The simple “market” umbrella is being replaced by umbrellas with unique style, shapes, longer spans and cantilever models. These structures are custom built for code and look good by themselves or in groups. Inverted umbrellas are used where there is a desire to collect water for irrigating nearby plants while group models are used for outdoor seating. Misting machines and electrical wiring can be incorporated into the structural members as well. Large scale umbrellas are ideal where there is a need to limit the amount of foundations.

The Dining Canopy
The traditional umbrella and retractable awning are standards in outdoor dining furniture. However, custom and modular fabric structures are finding their niche in the market. These structures reduce the amount of columns one sees with umbrellas. They are structurally more stable than retractable awnings and they are quite adaptable to many sites. Outdoor dining canopies can increase the size of usable eating space which brings in more money and there is no argument from both owners and patrons that there is something about dining “alfresco”.

The Cabana
The cabana is the quintessential tent used at leisure facilities primarily at pool side. The cabana has a long history as a soft outdoor room which provides both elegance and comfort in addition to UV protection. Cabanas are adaptable, can be temporary and work well in both old and new construction. Because they are small in scale, the fabric top and side curtains are easy to change. Most cabanas are built on a frame and appear to be more traditional in form than the more light weight structures associated with fabric structures.

Textile Façade
Textile Facades and signage is a relatively new form of Fabric Architecture. Banners and Billboards are more common forms of structures where fabric is used in a vertical position. However, due to improved printing technology, longer lasting materials and the need to reduce the amount of energy consumed in a building, the idea of incorporating textile facades on the exterior of buildings is coming of age.

Given a blank surface which can be printed or projected on, designers are “branding” buildings and finding creative ways to provide a soft façade which also provides solar protection. Facades are no longer just vertical too. Facades are becoming three dimensional and organic and fabric is an ideal material.

Interiors
Today, designers are using fabrics structures inside to change the entire mood of a space. Fabric walls, ceilings and sculpture, used alone or in combinations, are exciting new alternatives to traditional wall and ceiling systems. These structures come in a variety of shapes, colors and textures. Some feature acoustical properties, while others are used as lighting and signage.

The best approach to designing interior fabric structures is to first understand all the systems involved with the space (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.) before choosing the appropriate materials. Although these structures are quite light, they must be attached or supported to structural elements in a building which can take their specific loads.

The Benefits
At the end of the day, it’s still all about a return on investment.

The Developer is seeing the savings in construction cost. Fabric structures in general are lower in cost than traditional buildings. According to Basil Haymann, Chairman & C.E.O. of USA Shade & Fabric Structures “Cost savings come in three areas – materials, installation and construction, and maintenance and replacement. Generally, fabrics cost less per square foot than virtually any other building material. They are less labor-intensive to install and can be more easily maintained and replaced than any other competing element in the landscape.”

Computer technology, digital printing and the lighting industry is creating an entire new opportunity for fabric structures. Textile facades and “super” awnings are the new faces for buildings.

Today’s client is most educated, demanding and well traveled. Many have seen fabric structures around the world at a variety of venues and see their benefits. Fabric offers many possibilities for aesthetic expression in the landscape and also provides real contributions to public health, safety and welfare.

Fabric structures are no longer just awnings or Today’s hottest material. They are Tomorrows basic necessities to improving the quality of life and for protecting one’s assets.