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Able Canopies Ltd

Able Canopies Ltd

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Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset - The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset - The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, SomersetSomerset NHS Foundation TrustContractor:Portakabin®Product:The Coniston Wall Mounted CanopyProduct Size:Phase 1 - 23.8m x 4m – 4.5mPhase 2 - 11m x 4.5m and 2.5m x 4mAccessories:Side panels, planter pads and rear postsFrame Colour: Hipca White – RAL 9910Install Date:Phase 1 - 21st March – 1st April 2022Phase 2 - 19th – 27th April 2022The BriefMusgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset were looking to increase the space within their hospital and provide a discharge lounge to support patients on the day they are ready to return to their usual home setting.Building a permanent extension would be a lengthy process, so to speed up the project, they opted for a temporary portable building supplied and installed by modular building specialists Portakabin®. The temporary building would be in place until a more permanent solution is found within the next couple of years.Although the building would only be in place for a couple of years, it was established that they would require some form of shade and shelter to connect the new building to the existing brick building and provide shelter above entrances for both buildings.The Solution To provide the shade and shelter the hospital required, Portakabin® contacted Able Canopies having previously worked with us before, to request a quotation. The canopy of interest was the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy, this is because we have worked with Portakabin® in the past and have developed special brackets so that our Coniston canopy fits onto their modular buildings perfectly we’ve also developed planter pads so that the Coniston is not installed into the ground.These adaptions were introduced specifically for temporary buildings because our canopies are designed to be permanent structures however, the need for high quality canopies attached to temporary buildings was becoming more and more apparent. The adaptions therefore enable us to remove the canopy easily without causing damage to the buildings and groundworks.After a selection of design changes, the final design chosen was a 23.8m Coniston with a 4m projection that extended to a 4.5m projection, a 11m x 4.5m Coniston and a 2.5m x 4m Coniston.Some of the canopies needed to be installed away from the building to allow for the air conditioning units and other obstacles. This is not problem for the Coniston as we can use rear posts to transform it into a free standing canopy which is exactly what we did here.They also chose to have side panels installed onto the canopies for additional protection from driving rain and wind during the colder months.The Installation The installation was scheduled to take place over two phases with the larger canopy being installed first and the smaller two canopies being installed a couple of weeks later. This was so that either the right-hand or left-hand sided ramps could be accessible at all times to all patients, staff and visitors. This was a not a problem as we often install larger jobs over a number of phases to allow the similar circumstances and to fit in with other building works.The varying design of the canopies made it hard to capture the end design in photos however, the technical diagrams below shows both phase 1 and phase 2 canopies.
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Trecco Bay Holiday Park - Tarnhow Dome Freestanding

Trecco Bay Holiday Park - Tarnhow Dome Freestanding

Able Canopies Ltd

NBDA Architects were working for Parkdean Resorts to renovate a number of their holiday parks across the UK and one of those parks was Trecco Bay in the stunning costal town of Porthcawl in South Wales. They were in need of a large shade and shelter structure that would provide weather protection to their visitors whilst dining alfresco and also double up as an all-weather outdoor entertainment area.The canopy they settled on for Trecco Bay was the Tarnhow Dome, which is a fantastic choice. This stunning canopy can span up to 12 metres and has an unlimited length, making it absolutely perfect for outdoor dining areas and for holding events and entertainment.
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No More Rushing in from the Rain for Rush Green Primary School

No More Rushing in from the Rain for Rush Green Primary School

Able Canopies Ltd

Rush Green Primary School, LondonClient: London Borough of Barking & DagenhamProduct: The Coniston Wall Mounted CanopySize: 16.3m x 2.2mFrame Colour: Hipca WhiteInstallation Date: June 2023Brief Having worked with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham before on a number of projects, they contacted us again regarding their most recent project at Rush Green Primary School. The school which is located in Dagenham were having works completed which included a single storey extension, internal alterations, and refurbishment. As part of the works, they required a wall mounted canopy in their quad courtyard area to provide shade and shelter all year round.Proposal As requested, we provided an estimate for a Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy with a length of 16.3 metres and a projection of 2.2 metres. Because the Coniston is mounted to a wall, it requires a suitable wall to fix to; the building at Rush Green Primary School was a block construction which was covered with render, which is one of the many ideal wall constructions for the Coniston’s requirements. In the case where a wall may not have a suitable construction for a wall mounted canopy, we can supply the Coniston as a free-standing canopy with rear posts. Alternatively, we also have a number of free standing canopies that are similar in appearance to the Coniston which are the Grange Free Standing Canopy and for those with lower budgets, the Grange Junior Free Standing Canopy.Solution Upon comparing our canopy quotation to two other companies, an order was placed for our Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy in May 2023.At the pre-site stage, there was a number of points to be discussed outside of the usual specifics which were:Foundations: Unless otherwise stated, foundations are included in all our canopy quotations. The flooring in at Rush Green Primary School featured raised decking, so we needed to investigate the area underneath the decking to check it was suitable for our foundations and they were.Access and Obstructions: The quad area features a pond which could have made an obstruction however, it was agreed that the pond would be covered over with strong boards so we could work over it.The canopy was installed at the start of June 2023 as scheduled with no problems along the way.If you have a similar project in mind, contact us today to request a free estimate or discuss a bespoke canopy with us.
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Uckfield Retail Park – Cycle Shelter

Uckfield Retail Park – Cycle Shelter

Able Canopies Ltd

Mildren Construction Ltd were working constructing Uckfield Retail Park; 41,000 sq ft development at The Ashdown Business Park in East Sussex totalling £15m. Each unit had already been pre-let to M&S Food and Home Bargains and as part of the development, they had a requirement for a cycle shelter adjacent to the soon to be Home Bargains store.
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Stables Market - Commercial Awnings

Stables Market - Commercial Awnings

Able Canopies Ltd

Adcrest Ltd. is an electrical contracting company that was working on a new refurbishment project for Stables Market in Camden, London. Stables Market was in need of a number of new awnings to provide weather protection to the entrances of their shops. They had existing awnings in place that had been there for a number of years and were no longer fit for purpose and therefore needed replacing.
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Thundersley Primary School - Walkway Canopy

Thundersley Primary School - Walkway Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

The staff at Thundersley Primary School required a large, versatile walkway at their school to create a covered pathway between two of the school's buildings. This covered walkway would allow pupils and staff to travel easily between the two buildings whilst providing shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. Due to the location of the two buildings, the walkway needed to incorporate two corners in order to link the buildings effectively.
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Servicecare Support Services - Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Servicecare Support Services - Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Portakabin Ltd. were working on a project for Servicecare Support Services Ltd. to install a temporary canteen and locker room facility. They required the extra building space so they could continue to operate whilst adhering to social distancing measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Alongside the temporary building, they were in need of a wall mounted canopy along the right elevation to provide weather protection above the main entrance to the building that leads to the corridor.Able Canopies have been working with Portakabin for a number of years, adding shade and shelter structures to their temporary buildings. Although our canopies are permanent structures, we have designed above ground planter pads and special wall brackets to enable us to install the canopies and take them down when they are on longer required.These adaptions have been designed for our Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy and have been successfully used for many years now. The staff at Portakabin therefore put the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy forward to Servicecare Support Ltd. who were pleased with the design and specifications and were happy to go ahead with the installation.The final design was 10m in length with a 3m projection to cover the whole span of the temporary building and provide the weather protection required above the entrance.
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Tiptoes Nursery - Coniston wall mounted canopy

Tiptoes Nursery - Coniston wall mounted canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

The Director of Tiptoes Day Nurseries required weather protection structures at a number of their locations in Hull, East Yorkshire and one of those locations was Tiptoes Nursery in Willerby in Hull.Upon completion of the site survey we could see that the Coniston, which they originally chose, was the perfect solution for the area they were looking to cover. It was advised that due to the size of the canopy and to provide added protection from driving rain, that they add infill panels to either side of the canopy. Infill panels are a cost-effective addition to the Coniston yet makes a substantial difference.The Coniston is a popular canopy within educational settings as it provides protection from all weathers including the rain, the sun’s UV rays and the heat from the sun, providing a cooler area underneath, and cooler classrooms that have windows where the canopy is situated.To save on costs, we suggested that the projection could be reduced slightly without causing a big impact on the size of cover required. However, a 5-metre projection was a must have for the nursery because they had existing softplay flooring in place and wanted the canopy to cover the width of the spftplay for a seamless finish. Although this impacted the cost, it was worthwhile as you can see in the photos it looks like the flooring and canopy were a part of the same design.The canopy was installed within 4 days as scheduled and went ahead with no issues along the way. The staff at the nursery were pleased with their canopy which covers 114.5 square metres and can now make use of outdoor play and learning all year round, benefits both the staff and children in their care.
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Solihull Hospital - Wall Mounted Canopy

Solihull Hospital - Wall Mounted Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Solihull Hospital in Solihull, West Midlands, required a canopy to cover their outside ramp area that houses their waste bins, laundry bins and recycling compacters. They were in need of a structure that would be fixed to the building with a water tight seal and that would block the rain from entering the area, keeping their staff dry whilst also preventing ice from building up on the ramp which currently creates a slip hazard.
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Northstowe Education Campus

Northstowe Education Campus

Able Canopies Ltd

he BriefLivingston Eyre Associates and Kier were working on a 44 million-pound project for the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust which aimed to create a through campus, linking a nursery, primary school, SEN school and secondary school providing 1,800 school places.The development included a number of canopies to provide shade and shelter throughout the campus grounds and to provide designated cycle parking areas to encourage cycling to school.We were originally contacted by an Architect at Livingston Eyre Associates in April 2018 when the project was in the planning stage. Able Canopies had been specified for the canopies and they contacted us to check that the sizes stipulated were feasible.The SolutionWithin the project, Able Canopies were specified for the supply and installation of seven canopies which included three Grange Junior Free Standing Canopies with Sheffield Cycle Racks to provide sheltered cycle parking adjacent to the drama courtyard and within the school square; two Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies to provide covered outdoor areas for the reception and early years pupils to play and learn outside; a bespoke pergola to cover an outdoor stage for impromptu entertainment within the schools community square; and an entrance canopy for the SEN school to provide a sheltered area for the school busses to drop off and pick up their SEN pupils.All products were standard products excluding the Kensington and pergola:
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Thomas Ferens Academy - Shelters

Thomas Ferens Academy - Shelters

Able Canopies Ltd

Thomas Ferens Academy required a large amount of sheltered cycle storage at their academy in Hull, East Yorkshire. This academy was built on the former Princess Elizabeth Playing Fields and opened in September 2012. It is one of the 19 new or refurbished schools delivered by Hull Esteem Consortium, the organisation appointed by Hull City Council to carry out the city’s Building Schools for the Future programme. To accommodate their cycle storage needs they required three large compounds for secure cycle parking and a large number of additional cycle racks.
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St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Timber Canopy

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Timber Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Speltham Contacts Ltd. contacted us because they were working on a project at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. They were undergoing a big extension to allow them to cater for 105 extra children. Morgan Carn Partnership Architects who were also working on the project, specified a curved free standing timber canopy with a polycarbonate roof system and aluminium guttering.
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Station Square - Shelter

Station Square - Shelter

Able Canopies Ltd

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council were working on a multi-million pound regeneration project called The Works. This exciting project would transform the ruins of the old steel works land in Ebbw Vale into a vibrant and distinctive area that would bring long-term benefits to the local community, creating an exciting place to live, learn, work and play.
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Wexham Hospital Case Study - Entrance Canopy

Wexham Hospital Case Study - Entrance Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Wexham Hospital in Slough, Berkshire required a freestanding entrance canopy installed at the entrance to their A&E department. This canopy would provide cover to those entering and exiting the building, ensuring the internal floors were kept as dry as possible. The hospital staff were also finding that stone chippings were being brought into the building and flicking up into the mechanism of the electronic doors, resulting in the motors burning out and so a solution was also needed to solve this issue.
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Redriff Primary School - Timber Canopy

Redriff Primary School - Timber Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Redriff Primary School is a large school in Southwark, London that teaches children from the age of 3 to 11. In July 2013, they contacted us because they required a wall mounted timber canopy to be installed in their playground that would enable their children to play and learn outside all year round.
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The Wyvern School - Coniston wall mounted canopy

The Wyvern School - Coniston wall mounted canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

https://www.ablecanopies.co.uk/c/wall-mounted-canopy-case-studies/the-wyvern-school-kent-second-case-study.html
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White Spire School - Freestanding Canopy

White Spire School - Freestanding Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

White Spire School is a special school for all ages in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Mr Wilson, the Assistant Head Teacher called in with an enquiry for a large canopy. He was looking to create a large covered area in their playground that they could use as an outside gym all year round.
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Prior Weston Primary School - Free Standing Canopy

Prior Weston Primary School - Free Standing Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Prior Weston Primary, located in the City of London, required a large south facing free standing canopy that would create solar energy for their school whilst also protecting their pupils from the elements. David Everett, the school’s Business Manager contacted Able Canopies for a free site survey and quotation as he had seen a Shade Sail array that we had installed at Richard Cloudesley Special School which is situated on the same site as Prior Weston Primary School.
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BBC Television Centre - Commercial Awning

BBC Television Centre - Commercial Awning

Able Canopies Ltd

The BBC Television Centre contacted Able Canopies requesting a site survey to be conducted as they were in need of a covered smoking area for their staff. They were interested in Able Canopies’ Commercial Awnings that they viewed on the website. A site survey was arranged and the Able Canopies surveyor explained the different types of awnings that they currently supply, along with the specifications of each product.
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Hillingdon Hospital - Coniston wall mounted/Rear steel goal post canopy

Hillingdon Hospital - Coniston wall mounted/Rear steel goal post canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

The BriefHillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge, London were undergoing a refurbishment and required additional facilities to help keep their patients, staff and visitors dry and sheltered when arriving and leaving the hospital.The project, which was managed by Kier Construction and Blue Iris Partnerships, included a number of canopies along the entrance to their emergency department where patients and ambulances arrive 24/7.A speedy installation was an important factor, because the hospital had an ever-increasing need for outside cover due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Their staff, patients and visitors had to wait outside more frequently due to the current restrictions in place.The SolutionWhen putting our product forward to the Architect, Kier Construction explained that while our product wasn’t specified, the main features were in fact equal to the specified product and are designed for use in commercial settings, making it the perfect solution.This product is the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy which is an extremely versatile, commercial grade structure that met all the features required by both the Architect and the hospital including: A mono-pitch structure, integral guttering and drainage to the ground floor with no visible gutters, constructed from 100% non-corrosive material (aluminium) and a non-fragile polycarbonate roof system.Even though the Coniston is a wall mounted structure, some of the canopies detailed in this project needed to be free standing as the existing ramp that the canopy would cover is a distance from the wall. This was not an issue as the Coniston can be installed with rear posts transforming it into a free standing canopy.
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Kent and Canterbury Hospital - Shade Sail Array

Kent and Canterbury Hospital - Shade Sail Array

Able Canopies Ltd

Kent and Canterbury Hospital had received funding to complete a new sensory garden that could be used by their patients at the Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit within the hospital. Cardy Construction Ltd. were awarded the project to complete the garden and turn the design created by local garden designer, Christine Patterson into reality. The garden design included a requirement for some shade in part of the garden to offer cover over the new outdoor seating area.
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Ashmole Primary School - Tarnhow Mono Free Standing

Ashmole Primary School - Tarnhow Mono Free Standing

Able Canopies Ltd

Morgan Sindall had secured an ESFA project to build a brand new 7.5 million school at Ashmole Primary School in London which would provide 2,072 sq ft of teaching space for 420 pupils aged four to 11.In June 2017, they sent an invitation to tender to Able Canopies for the supply and installation of the Early Years canopy; a free standing timber canopy with side screens. They gave us the opportunity to put our prices forward because they had worked with us on many occasions and more recently at Oak Lodge School in Barnet, London where we installed a large aluminium wall mounted canopy. Whilst working with Morgan Sindall on these previous jobs, we have built good working relationships.In April 2018, we received the sub-contractor order for both the canopy and the timber screens for installation in July 2018. They chose us for the project because they found our service to be exemplary as explained by Neil Parratt from Morgan Sindall: “The customer service they provided was exemplary. Josh Foord came to site and was very helpful and worked closely with the designs and requirements. The customer service was just very good!”
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Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre - Richmond Umbrella

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre - Richmond Umbrella

Able Canopies Ltd

The BriefThe Facilities Management Team Leader from Leicestershire Traded Services which is part of Leicestershire County Council, contacted us as they were looking for a product that would provide all-round weather protection to the external café area at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre.The SolutionA meeting was scheduled with our Area Sales Manager and the Facilities Management Team Leader and the Heritage Team who will be using the Umbrellas, to finalise the products required and to determine the area they were to be installed.From the meeting, a firm quotation was produced for three 4 metre x 3 metre Richmond Umbrellas.
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Bishop Milner Catholic College - Hamilton large span canopy

Bishop Milner Catholic College - Hamilton large span canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

The BriefBishop Milner Catholic College is a large school in Dudley, West Midlands that caters for children from the ages of 11-18 years.They contacted us in October 2012 and requested prices for a large free standing canopy. They were in the process of applying for a grant to cover the costs and needed some prices to enable them to apply for the correct amount required.The SolutionA site survey was arranged and it was agreed that a Hamilton Big Span Canopy would be the perfect canopy structure for the college.
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Bournemouth University | Bespoke Solar Canopy

Bournemouth University | Bespoke Solar Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

University of BournemouthProduct: Two Bespoke Kensington Solar CanopiesCanopy Colour: Anthracite Grey RAL7016Canopy Size: 21.9m x 4.9m eachInstallation Date: September 2017The project in briefAs part of a major infrastructure development Bournemouth University created a new transport hub to connect the University to the wider area. Shelter for waiting passengers was part of the plan. Uniquely it had to fit in with the wider design themes of the development and deliver on the University’s sustainability goals by utilising solar technology. To meet those requirements Able Canopies created a bespoke canopy design based on our stylish Kensington system. The addition of solar panels, effective drainage, plus seating and under canopy wind protection, were all elements that the adaptable Kensington can handle. The result was a standout look for a practical transport hub that provides effective weather protection and longer term pay back via renewable energy generation.Growth at Bournemouth UniversityThe new Talbot Campus development at Bournemouth University is an important and prestigious project, not just for the University but for the local area which benefits from the success of the University and its students. The £3 million investment in new campus buildings and other infrastructure is a long-term commitment that will see the University widen its learning provision and all-round facilities. Part of the benefit for students, and the wider Bournemouth area, is the construction of a new transport hub that will provide joined up public transport connecting the University campus to Bournemouth itself.  A key part of the new transport hub is the weather protection provided to passengers as they wait for buses. To ensure that this essential part of the development met the standards required of the project Able Canopies entered early design discussions with the University. This evolved and in April 2017 Mildren Construction awarded Able Canopies the works for the new bus hub.Project Proposal & InstallationThroughout the development and design process we thought that our Kensington Dual pitch would be the ideal product for this installation. The more the design developed and requirements were added, such as the solar roof panels, the more convinced we were that it was perfect for the client’s needs. The Kensington is a robust, steel frame system that will stand up to all that the weather has to throw at it. Its architectural good looks mean that it makes a strong aesthetic statement, which was a key requirement here. We worked closely with the solar panel provider Polysolar who had overall control of the installation. Their panel fitted perfectly into the Kensington roof with some minor alterations to our working method to provide clean, efficient and sustainable energy for the transport hub. In addition, we had to consider how all cables were concealed and accessed at later dates. To achieve this access panels were installed in the 2 higher posts, one dealt with DC cables from the solar panels and the other with AC cables for the lighting. The final 2 lower posts on each canopy were designed to be integral rain water pipes and dispersed all water from the roof into a drainage connection below the paving.The Finished CanopiesAs the images show, the canopies look great and they are doing their job effectively in the transport hub which is now up and running. The solar panels are producing energy efficiently and help to provide a safe and comfortable shelter for the Campus’s transport users.The Tech SpecsMain Structure 21.9m x 4.9m overall canopy size (each)Powder coated and hot dip galvanised steel frame Inclined from 3m low end to 4m high end126 PS-CT Series Solar Panels per canopy (8mm thickness)Bespoke laminated glass end panelsMicro connectors to all solar panels to ensure all cabling was discreteSabre Architectural LED lightingBespoke underground drainage connectionsBespoke electrical access panels18kw system in totalGalvanised steel cable trunking & aluminium cable trays Underside Windbreaks10mm toughened glass windbreaks fixed to heavy duty steel frameGalvanised steel & hardwood benchesStainless steel glass clamps
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Ark Oval Primary Academy - Wall Mounted Canopy

Ark Oval Primary Academy - Wall Mounted Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Ark Oval Primary Academy were in the process of having multiple works completed at their academy in Croydon, London which included a new build, re-surfacing the entire playground and various outside equipment including a new canopy.
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Flitwick Football Centre, Bedfordhire - Codale Junior

Flitwick Football Centre, Bedfordhire - Codale Junior

Able Canopies Ltd

The BriefFlitwick Football Centre is a charity in Bedfordshire that aims to provide excellent opportunities to grow and develop sport in the local community of Flitwick. They had a 15m x 9m patio terrace on their grounds and required a canopy that would provide protection from the rain and the sun, so they could use it as a permanent marquee for events.They had browsed our website and liked the look of the Codale Junior Free-Standing Tensile Canopy and requested an estimate for a 15m x 9m structure. Shortly after, they also requested prices for 10m x 6m and 10m x 5m structures.Requesting prices for different sizes and products is a great way to discover your perfect shade and shelter solution that fits within your budget. We’re always happy to discuss your options and find the perfect product for both your needs and available funds.The Solution The volunteers at the football club were pleased with the prices and the specification of the Codale Junior, opting the 10m x 5m option and requested a full site survey so we could provide a firm quotation.To enable the football club to gain the maximum usage from their canopy, they were looking into the possibility of having lighting added to the canopy as well as side panels. These are both possible with the Codale Junior. Cables for lights can be run through the canopy posts as long as they are outdoor IP rated cables and are set within trunking.We also supply tensile fabric side panels for the Codale Junior that can be rolled up when not required. We can supply and install the side panels at a later date so there was no need for the club to make any commitment when ordering the canopy.Upon receipt of the canopy order, we organised a pre-site meeting to finalise the power connections, dimensions, access points, health and safety measures and contacts at the location. This is a standard procedure that applies to all canopy orders before the installation.At the pre-site stage, it was established that planning permission was required however, Able Canopies offer a free service and can submit planning documents, removing any unnecessary stress from our customers. A few years previous in 2019, we installed a canopy nearby at Flitwick Children’s Centre which also required planning permission, so having dealt with the local council before, we liaised with our existing contact to ensure we covered any issues that could arise, ensuring a speedy and smooth planning process.The Installation Once planning was approved, the canopy was installed as scheduled over two days in June 2021 and went ahead smoothly. The volunteers at Flitwick Football Club were pleased with their new shade and shelter structure and were looking forward to gaining a lot of use from it, especially as summer was in full swing.
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Bowker Motor Group - Tensile Canopy

Bowker Motor Group - Tensile Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

The Bowker Motor Group is one of the UK’s leading motor groups. Founded in Blackburn in 1919, the Bowker Group has grown rapidly, diversifying in 1984 into the retail motor trade and developing a reputation for the higheset levels of service and an innovative approach to transport needs. They contacted us in June 2015, looking for a shelter solution to make the most of an outdoor sales area for their range of BMW motorbikes (Bowker Motorrad) at their brand new dealership in Preston, Lancashire. We were recommended to them by an architect’s practice in the city.
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Aberfoyle Primary School, Scotland - Denver Timber Cycle Shelter

Aberfoyle Primary School, Scotland - Denver Timber Cycle Shelter

Able Canopies Ltd

Aberfoyle Primary School – Stirling, ScotlandProduct: Denver Timber Cycle ShelterSize: 6.2m x 1.6mTimber Frame Stain Colour: Light OakContractor: AKP Scotland Ltd.Architect: Wardell ArmstrongInstallation Date: May 2021The BriefAKP Scotland Ltd. are an award-winning principal contractor based in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. They were working on a project at Aberfoyle Primary School in Stirling which required a complete refurbishment of their stunning gothic style, 151-year-old listed building.Part of the project included the requirement for a cycle shelter within the school’s nursery playground. The Architects, Wardell Armstrong specified our Denver Timber Cycle Shelter in the setting out drawings, which were then sent to us to us an invitation to tender by AKP Scotland Ltd.The Solution Because the product had already been specified, this was a simple case of sending over our costs for the size required which was 6.2m x 1.6m.The Denver is constructed from stunning curved Glulam timber beams which are manufactured by gluing together laminates of timber under pressure and heat that are then perfectly planed. The resulting beams are strong, stable, and corrosion proof with significant advantages over structural steel and concrete.This makes the Denver Timber Cycle Shelter a great choice for this project; because the school building was a very old, listed building, the aesthetics of a curved timber structure would fit in perfectly, keeping a traditional, natural appearance.The Installation An order was placed in December 2020 with the installation planned for May 2021 as set out in the contractors’ building programme. The contractor installed a concrete base and the installation of the shelter went ahead as scheduled on 24-26th May 2021, taking just two days to install.The contractor supplied and installed the cycle hoops themselves once we had left site.The end result is a striking curved timber cycle shelter that fits in flawlessly with the recently refurbished Early Year’s playground area, finishing the project off perfectly.
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Colchester General Hospital - Entrance Canopy

Colchester General Hospital - Entrance Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

In November 2013, we were contacted by Stroods Specialist Contractors who were working on a project at Colchester General Hospital and required a canopy over the entrance of the accident and emergency department.
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Croydon University Hospital - Coniston wall mounted canopy

Croydon University Hospital - Coniston wall mounted canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

The BriefFoley Building Contractors were working on a project at the hospital which is run by the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. Part of their works required several canopies to provide shade and shelter for their patients and visitors whilst queueing outside due to the social distancing measures that were in place. Because the summer had come to an end and the wintery weather was on the way, these canopies were needed with a quick turnaround.The SolutionJust a couple of days after the initial enquiry, we were on site conducting a site survey to enable us to provide the contractor with a firm quotation. We provided them with a price for four Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies; two for their Elective Care and Heart Centre and then another two for their COVID-19 testing units.
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Addenbrookes Hospital - walkway canopy

Addenbrookes Hospital - walkway canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

he BriefAddenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire were looking for a wall mounted canopy to provide shade and shelter over the main entrance of their Accident and Emergency department. At the time of enquiry, they didn’t have any form of shelter over the entrance and patients and visitors were exposed to the elements when queuing or waiting outside.Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Project Manager came to Able Canopies for a quotation in hope that we could offer a product that met their design needs, whilst providing the weather protection required. The canopy specification presented to Able Canopies was a wall mounted canopy with a polycarbonate roof and toughened glass or polycarbonate front panels.
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Jo Richardson Community School | Free Standing Timber Canopy

Jo Richardson Community School | Free Standing Timber Canopy

Able Canopies Ltd

Jo Richardson Community SchoolProduct: Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Timber CanopyTimber Stain Colour: Antique PineCanopy Size: 35m x 11mEstimated Value: £90,000Installation Date: August 2017Contractor: KCH Contractors Ltd.The BriefJo Richardson Community School is a large school in east London. The School has around 1400 pupils between 11 – 19 years of age.In one part of the School there is a generous sized space that is enclosed on three sides by school buildings. The School has many courtyard spaces like this but this one is the busiest because it is next to the canteen and on the most direct route to the separate sports hall. As the space is uncovered it offers little shelter to pupils and staff. To transform this area, so that it could be protected and safe to use for dining, break times and other activities, the school wanted to cover it with a canopy.Initially they requested a steel framed canopy with no central posts. This would allow maximum use of the space (with no posts to restrict the flow of people or potential uses). There were two major drawbacks to this approach. The first was cost. A steel structure large enough to cover the space and work without central posts would not be cheap. The second was that using a steel structure, that was big enough to fit the space, had the potential to not be sympathetic to the surrounding buildings and environment.As this was such an important project it was essential that any solution satisfied both practical and aesthetic requirements. This can be seen in the rendered image below which shows how the all steel structure would have looked.A second, more cost-effective option was then proposed. This still used steel but included posts that would support from the centre. This gives more flexibility to the installation process and reduces costs, but does place limitations on the use of the space and flow of pupils under the canopy.In both cases a steel canopy was proving not to be the ideal option.The SolutionTo overcome the issues of using steel we suggested to the School that they consider our Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Timber Canopy. This would allow them to maximise the space, work within a manageable budget and use a material that would complement the existing buildings and make a strong and appealing visual statement.The final size was a canopy that measured 35 metres in length, by 11metres wide, with a height of 5 metres. This could be installed without central posts, thereby ensuring the space could be maximised and used for different activities and occasions.While timber was not the first thought for the customer it proved to be the perfect choice. With its good looks, provision of effective weather protection and value for money price, it ensured the school achieved their project goal of a transformed space that would provide value for them well into the future.InstallationThe final installation not only gave the school everything they needed in terms of weather protection but it also looked extremely impressive with the dramatic lines of the wooden Tarnhow frame drawing the eye through the structure to the end wall. The substantial height of the canopy added to the feel of space and depth that will mean the school can use it for all sorts of activities and events and not just as a seating area.It also allows large number of pupils to move around the space safely with plenty of room for seating and other equipment, such as a hot snack trolley, to be used.The installation itself was a textbook process with the frame going up quickly and then the roof panels being added to the structure. Our pre-installation visits and accurate measurements allowed us to have all the elements in place before the agreed installation date, meaning we could finish on time and on budget. We were even able to design and construct a neat bespoke solution where the canopy had to fit with the existing building – see image to the right.This meant that the protection from rain and snow was complete wherever you were under the canopy and would allow the school to get the most from their new space all year round.
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St Helier Hospital - Coniston wall mounted canopy

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The BriefPG Marshall and Sons Ltd. were working on a project at St Helier Hospital for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. They were relocating the Davis (outpatient) unit which included a portable building that required weather protection over the disability access ramp and pathway leading to the unit.They also needed the canopy to connect the Davis Unit to Ferguson House (the main building), which already had a small cantilevered canopy that the hospital trust were keen to keep in place.The SolutionThe two buildings that required connecting via a canopy had a fairly awkward space in between due to the buildings not being equally parallel to one another. Following the original design drawings, it was clear that the perfect solution would be the popular Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy.

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