urbanspec

With its wide expanse of tarmac, the large central courtyard at St Catherine’s College in Eastbourne could be classed as circulation space but offered little more in terms of value to students. Realising the potential this area had to become a great asset during break and lunchtimes, the College had been successful in securing funding for seating and covered areas and were looking for companies to provide a full design and build service.This was a fantastic opportunity for the Streetspace design team! Raised planters to soften the area and provide informal seating along with ORION Hypar Tensile canopies with striking designs and vivid colours were combined to great effect. This was continually refined until it met the budget and performance requirements of the Senior Leadership team. The scheme was presented by Streetspace staff to a student council and further changes were made until all parties were satisfied.The project was installed over the summer holiday and included constructing disabled access ramps, resurfacing, installing resin bound surfacing and street furniture. Another outstanding example of the Streetspace Total Project Delivery!Follow the link for further information on canopies for schools OR give our team a call on 01227 200404

urbanspec Bike-S Bike Modules, E-Series Enclosure System, Bespoke Plant Screen

Despite their newly built facilities, St Peter’s were facing a tricky problem: the lack of shelter for pupils in their outside recreational areas. A courtyard adjoining the dining hall was an ideal location for a new covered area, but the odd rhomboid shape and tricky access made finding a suitable solution somewhat difficult. The transmission of natural light to adjacent classrooms also needed careful consideration.Areas like this are simple to cover with Streetspace’s flexible canopy designs, so we installed a stunning 15.5m x 14.5m Orion Barrel vault tensile membrane canopy which provides a covered yet still fresh air space where students can socialise at break and lunchtimes. The structure was installed on a very quick turnaround during the summer break, ready for the new academic year.The school are extremely pleased with the completed project. Chris Sharples, the site manager commented that “both staff and pupils love the design and the practicality of the canopy, and we now have a space where large numbers of pupils can shelter in adverse weather conditions. Our design brief and additional needs were met 100%.”

The recent redevelopment of the playground at St Saviours & St Olaves Church of England School in south London resulted in this striking outdoor learning and play area comprised of a new running track, vibrant playground markings and soft landscaping. Four new tensile membrane canopies increase the outdoor covered space available for students to use during break and lunch times, as well as extending opportunities for outdoor learning.      The secondary school, dating back to 1562, was looking for a stylish yet practical design for the covered area. Previous designs were considered but ultimately rejected as they didn’t fit with the vision for the updated playground. Project managing the redevelopment, Education Facilities Management (EFM) approached Streetspace looking for more visually appealing and contemporary design options.        Working closely with EFM a trio of ORION Star Canopies were proposed, each 4m x 4m and designed to fit around a central tree introduced as part of the landscaping. The grouping of canopies with their unique tensile form factor introduces a stunning visual feature while providing a good balance of shade and shelter for pupils. The close integration of sail canopies with the planted landscaping helps establish both a biodiverse and visually engaging playground environment. Custom made-to-measure circular benches installed by CSF Building Contractors Ltd, fit around the canopy columns, providing a comfortable space for students to relax and enjoy.         A six metre long ORION Barrel Vault canopy with a trapezoid footprint provides additional breakout and learning space for students. Additionally, the canopy serves as a spectator area for parents and students during sporting events as well as providing options for outdoor assemblies and school functions.          To complement the bright colours of the playground all four canopies are finished with ultramarine blue frames and champagne-coloured tensile fabric, making the environment exciting and inviting for all those using the new breakout spaces. All four tensile fabric structures use one-piece waterproof and durable PVC membranes with a PVDF self-cleaning outer layer preventing dirt from becoming ingrained in the fabric and helping to reduce maintenance.

A central aspect of a courtyard regeneration project tendered by the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET), these TRITON Mono canopies provide over 230m² of covered outdoor dining space for the students of St Thomas More Catholic School in Blaydon, Tyne & Wear.Seeking to create a new dining area that could provide shelter and shade for students during break and lunch times, while helping to relieve congestion from the school’s existing dining hall, a tender set out by the BWCET comprised requirements for the design, supply, deliver and installation of an external canopy with surfacing works, as well as the relocation of an existing outdoor food pod to the space.A series of site visits enabled the Streetspace team to secure insight into the trust’s progressive vision for this project, assessing the proposed area for the dining canopy, which comprised an under-utilised, large gravelled area with picnic benches. With the tender specifying a durable product with minimal maintenance requirements and an assurance of longevity, design proposals were developed for two canopy options in-line with the trust’s specifications, alongside a draft programme of works.Included were 2no. TRITON Mono canopies are designed with overlapping polycarbonate roof panels, providing a strong balance of shelter, shade and protection from UV rays, while ensuring maximum coverage of the area. Designed and manufactured with a highly-durable all-steel frame, the school’s corporate colours were integrated into the structure’s steelwork.With the project falling under the scope of Permitted Development, Streetspace Project Managers were able to work through the process of design, logistics and installation to ensure all project details were in-place and confirmed with BWCET, ensuring a quick turnaround once project works commenced on-site. In-line with the requirements of the tender, the canopies were installed during the school summer holidays.The complete project has created a valuable outdoor dining and hub area for students that, combined with the relocated food pod, helps to reduce pressure on the school’s existing dining hall, while offering opportunities to increase revenue.

urbanspec Bike Stores and Bin Stores

At Streetspace, our aim is to unite people via clever designs for covered, outdoor areas. When The Compton School contacted us to improve their existing dining area, then, we were only too keen to provide some food for thought. We all know that teachers – and kids – are amongst life’s biggest critics, but we were more than ready to provide the academy with a solution that would suit both staff and students.Having recently expanded to incorporate an additional form of entry and a sixth form, the school found that its dining facilities were starting to suffer from overcrowding.The school’s Associate Headteacher, Denise Beardshaw, was keen to see a dining area that would accommodate its ever-growing admissions while also providing a relaxed environment the children would be happy to spend time in.In 2016, the school put in a Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) bid that was granted the following year, paving the way for the Streetspace team to start work on two exciting projects for the academy to provide additional dining space.Proposing both an enclosed glazed building extension to the dining area our team also set out to create a large courtyard canopy to ensure maximum numbers of pupils could enjoy their food rain and wind-free.A successful project award saw Streetspace installing an asymmetric rafter design TRITON Symmetric Polycarbonate canopy over the courtyard area and a separate ZONE Glazed Building adjacent to the existing dining hall. With its aluminium curtain walling and a heatguard multiwall polycarbonate roofing system specified we were able to achieve maximum light transmission into the dining hall area while maintaining year round temperature control.Transforming the school’s dining facilities with two of our innovative structures has been a rewarding experience for the Streetspace team with school staff and student feedback very positive.Associate Headteacher, Denise, was thrilled with the outcome, saying:“Following an expansion programme for an additional form of entry, together with the school opening a Sixth Form the existing dining area had become very overcrowded.Streetspace offered a range of bespoke designs to choose from adapted to meet our requirements. Design concepts were clearly displayed in a range of formats alongside technical information which allowed the Senior Leadership Team and Governors to make informed decisions. Delivery and installation were on time and according to programme within a window which enabled minimal disruption to the school.“The school now has sufficient seating for all students at break and lunchtime. The internal extension offers an exclusive space for Sixth Form students to enjoy. The external canopy over the Piazza offers protection from the weather and thereby provides additional dining spaces that can be utilised in all seasons by both students and staff.

Specialising in both sports and performing arts, The Joseph Whitaker School sits in the town of Rainworth, Nottinghamshire. With over 1200 students on a 24 acre campus, the school is part way through an extensive expansion programme which adds to its already impressive facilities. The school campus boasts more outdoor than indoor space, and part of the expansion process has been making use of that as the student count rises. One particular area that was beginning to strain through that growth was the dining hall. More students meant a need to stagger lunch into shifts when, ideally, they’d all get fed at the same time.They opted for an outdoor canopy to act as an overspill, providing shelter all year round. However, with budgets being tight it wasn’t possible to glaze all four walls of the structure. At this point, Streetspace were able to step in and configure the project in a way that ticked the boxes on budget while still providing that vital shielding from the elements.This resulted in a unique 20m x 14m ORION Barrel Vault canopy that features glazing on one quarter of the structure. It is built on an area of the school where prevailing wind is channelled through other buildings – evident from the wind farm that can be seen in a neighbouring field. The cleverly placed glazing specifically provides cover from this, while still allowing students to spend time outside.The tensile fabric creates soft natural light diffusion and also benefits from acoustic qualities over hard roof coverings such as polycarbonate or steel. This is really evident when it comes to absorbing the sound of rain, voices and echo.Students have taken very fondly to the canopy and enjoy being able to spend their time in a sheltered, outdoor environment. Crucially for the school, it means that the next phase of extending the dining hall internally can go ahead with less disruption as the canopy will enable them to filter the lunch pattern through the space. Having experienced the benefit of this build, the school is looking to the future and how additional canopies could be used to solve other problems around the campus.

Part of a larger scheme to improve sports and leisure facilities across Shinfield, development of The Manor Ground sports pitches and pavilion was recently completed on behalf of The University of Reading and Shinfield Parish Council. Alongside the refurbished cricket and football pitches, the new sports pavilion provides new changing rooms, a dedicated social area and kitchen space. The new facilities will be utilised by Shinfield Cricket Club and sports teams of The University of Reading, as well as local sports clubs and community groups.Main Contractors on this project were TG Escapes, a building design company specialising in modular timber frame eco-buildings. With planning permission already secured for the development of the Manor Pavillion, urbanspec was approached with an initial enquiry for the supply and installation of a galvanised steel bike shelter & bin store as part of their wider package of works. Specifications included specific dimensions, the installation of concrete bases as part of project groundworks, timber cladding for the bin store to integrate with the timber design of the new sports pavilion, and a capacity for 10no. bikes in the bike shelter. Easing the specification process, urbanspec was able to utilise pre-engineered design layouts for the urbanspec H-Series Bin Store Building and urbanspec CS Single Row Asymmetric Bike Shelter, with the dimensions of the H-Series configured to meet TG Escape’s requirements for this project. A hot-dip galvanised finish is provided as standard to the steel framework of urbanspec bin stores & bike shelters to ensure protection from the elements in exposed outdoor settings. ForestPanel softwood cladding in the design of the H-Series bin store provides effective coordination with the building facade of the sports pavilion, while a single row of 5no. Sheffield Stands in the standalone bike shelter met the capacity requirements for on-site bike parking. UV-protected polycarbonate roof panels ensure protection for parked bikes. With delivery of The Manor Ground development set for April 2023, urbanspec successfully completed the package of works, including project groundworks, in line with this. The new sports pavilion and pitches were officially unveiled to the local community on May 21st 2023.

The Oxford Academy is a secondary school that has been part of the River Learning Trust since 2020. With nearly 1300 students and a commitment to providing a vibrant and dynamic learning environment, the school wanted to provide students with more covered outside spaces to use during their lunch and break times without the usual constraints of weather conditions. They also hoped to reduce the need for staggered lunch breaks and ease traffic in school corridors during peak periods of the day.Streetspace worked with The Oxford Academy to achieve this by transforming the underutilised courtyard outside the dining hall into a versatile and engaging outdoor space for students to use all year round, providing them with all-day cover that doesn’t compromise on shade or weather protection.Two 6m x 6m ORION Conic Tensile structures were installed with central support columns providing lots of clear space underneath. The white frames and striking ocean blue canopy membranes were paired to match the colour scheme of The Oxford Academy and compliment the modern building facade of the surrounding building. The distinctive conic tensile structure provides students with a spacious covered area that gives 99% UV ray protection, perfectly diffused natural light and shelter from the rain during inclement weather. The PVC architectural fabric is manufactured with a PVDF self cleaning top-lacquered layer ensuring a highly durable low maintenance surface.Alongside this, the Streetspace team installed over 440m2 of new surfacing to the area by replacing old paving with a new highly durable resin-bound aggregate flooring in daltex green, which added another pop of colour to the new and updated courtyard.

ORION Bespoke Hypar Fabric Canopy

Founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde, a former Lord Mayor of London, Tonbridge School is a boarding and day school for boys aged 13-18. The school occupies an extensive and largely self-contained 150 acre site, with 800 pupils enrolled in 7 Boarding Houses and 5 Day Houses.A member of the prestigious Eton Group, Tonbridge School is renowned for its high level of teaching and academic achievement. Pupils have progressed to leading universities including Russell Group Institutions and top U.S. establishments, including Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Dartmouth College. In the latest Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ league table for 2023, Tonbridge was the 8th highest ranking independent school in the UK.Part of the on-site school facilities is the Tonbridge School Centre, home to the TSC Members’ Leisure Club, Recre8, and Tonbridge School’s Cricket, Hockey and Rugby Academies. Opened in 2008, the publicly accessible start-of-the art-facilities include indoor and outdoor coaching spaces, an athletics track and field, floodlit astroturf pitches, and a swimming pool and sauna, as well as a contemporary fitness gym.The gym is well-equipped with a variety of free weights and cable machines. However, internal space during peak times was often at a premium, which could be inhibiting for some members. The school centre was looking for a solution that could integrate their available outdoor space to provide an effective breakout area and expand the facilities on offer for members.Streetsapce worked closely with Tonbridge School to accommodate the available footprint and adjacent building design, using CGI visualisation at the concept stage to help stakeholders envision their desired outcome. To ensure the most effective solution for the school centre’s gym, a TRITON Mono Steel Frame Canopy was utilised as the final design.The TRITON Mono offers an effective outdoor covered area for gym members, ensuring shelter from rainfall and protection from UV exposure. The structure was constructed with a graphite powder coated steel frame, comprising a polycarbonate roofing system that achieves high levels of light transmission, encouraging a bright and spacious environment filled with natural light. Where possible, existing paving slabs were utilised to construct a paved path to the external edge of the canopy area, with surfacing of the space beneath the canopy made with a resin-bound gravel.Following installation, the gym canopy has maximised the Tonbridge School Centres overall gym amenities, providing an additional 86m2 of effective breakout space during peak times. The spacious outdoor facility is uncluttered yet well-equipped, with heavy-duty flooring, a squat cage, deadlift platform, barbells and weight plates, and exercise bikes, offering an attractive alternative to the internal space for all members.Though still in the idea stage, the successful installation of the gym canopy has encouraged the Tonbridge School Centre to explore the potential for a covered spectator area by their athletics track. When weather has been very sunny or, contrastingly, very wet, they have found spectators and athletes using the canopy to provide shelter. Temporary fencing has since been placed to segregate the outdoor gym area and prevent any potential safety issues if equipment has been left out.

urbanspec H-Series Bike Hub with Green Roof

urbanspec Bike Hub

Victoria Road is a residential redevelopment in Portslade, a western suburb of the city of Brighton and Hove. Delivering the scheme on behalf of Brighton & Hove city council are Main Contractors Morgan Sindall Construction, a subsidiary of holding company Morgan Sindall Group PLC, regarded as specialists in delivering construction and regeneration projects across public, commercial & regulated sectors.Preceded by the demolition of the pre-existing Bowls Pavilion, the scheme, upon completion, will provide 42 new residential flats, allocated to those in housing need on the council’s Home Move register. A prominent factor of the project is the incorporation of energy efficient features, including ground source heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels and living walls. A landscaped communal garden is also in-line to be established, alongside a new civic area and car adjacent to the Portslade Town Hall. Community engagement and enabling positive change is a vital part of Morgan Sindall’s responsible business plan. Members of the construction team are working alongside the Town Hall’s local food bank, volunteering to ensure their project entails minimal disruptions to community services. Victoria Road is also part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, whose aim is to promote exceptional standards in the industry through their campaign, #LoveConstruction.Working in collaboration with Morgan Sindall, urbanspec were specified to provide external bin and bike stores for prospective residents of Victoria Road, providing a single-source from design and build, through to delivery and on-site installation. Specified units included the urbanspec H-Series Bike Hub and and 3no. urbanspec P-Series Bin Stores. In-line with Morgan Sindall’s sustainable approach to construction on this project and providing an effective aid for delivering BNG on the project, the units were specified with a sedum-only green roof.In addition, urbanspec supplied a CLE Semi-Enclosed Bike Shelter as a secure compound with steel mesh end panels, access gate and framed polycarbonate central roof section incorporated to provide enhanced security and protection from the elements.Utilising an open-faced design to enable line of sight throughout the internal space, the urbanspec H-Series Bike Hub provides space for a capacity of 40no. bikes, with urbanspec ST Bike Stands enabling cost-effective bike parking in a rail fixed format. Providing coordination with the site’s surrounding architecture, ForestPanel Cedar Slat external cladding was specified on the rear and side elevations of the hub in a horizontal pattern, alongside a V-Mesh Security Panel on the open-facing front elevation in order to restrict opportunities for bike theft and enhance the H-Series’ security output.Installed alongside the bike hub, urbanspec P-Series Bin Stores provide effective containment for 5no. bins, specified with varying user-friendly apertures and clear signage to provide intent and separate resident waste into general, mixed recycling and bottle-only recycling. Secured at a safe distance from the nearby residential building, 2no. bin stores with identical apertures were installed sequentially in a block of 3no. and 4no. bins.Highlighting the P-Series’ capacity for reducing fire risks, the external cladding of the units was specified with a non-combustible fireboard liner. Existing site constraints meant that the recommended 6 metre distance between bins & residential buildings could not be achieved, resulting in the incorporation of fireboard liners to meet recommendations by FPA and CFPA-E. Recommendations state that in absence of the 6 metre safety distance, bins should be stored in a secure structure providing a minimum 30 minutes fire resistance.

Covered Bin Screens