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urbanspec Bin Lockers and Bike Lockers

urbanspec Bin Stores and Bike-S Bike Modules

urbanspec Bin Stores, Bike Stores

Looking to increase covered space around their key attractions whilst minimising encroachment on walkways and viewing areas, Colchester Zoo needed a canopy design that could combine design flexibility and great looks.They found the answer in the versatile ORION Shield tensile canopies for the new Penguin enclosures, Komodo Restaurant and Kiwi Kunes attractions.Streetspace worked closely with their team to ensure that each canopy was designed to maximise both weather protection and clear space for viewing together with clean, flowing style. The 4no. Shield Canopies give a consistent design theme for the 210m² covered space they provide.

The Headteacher at a Crestwood School in Kingswinford envisaged a transformation of the unsightly dead space between the school buildings into a stunning area for social activity and quiet study. The environmental improvements would include raised planters, new surfacing and canopies.To create a coordinated feel, the Streetspace design team proposed a 6m wide Triton canopy between the two buildings to serve as both a covered walkway and dining space, and went beyond their brief to illustrate a plan for the external works, avoiding the need for the school to employ a separate specialist. This had to be scaled back somewhat to fit the budget, but the canopy with its timber post cladding to match the new furniture and raised planters is the focal point in what has been a very successful project for the school.

Working with London-based In House Refurbishment on their project in Dulwich in South East London, urbanspec recently provided the manufacturing, delivery and on-site installation of bin and bike stores for Dominic Court, an apartment block on The Gardens with residential access to private communal green spaces.In House Refurbishment specialise in all aspects of property service from space planning and design to complete refurbishment. urbanspec delivered external works improvements on the existing loose wheeled bins outside the property, alongside the installation of 8no. L-Series Bike Lockers to supply secure on-site bike parking for residents.A versatile outdoor bin storage solution that effectively increases recycling rates while reducing fire risks and the accumulation of side waste, the urbanspec P-Series Bin Stores enclose 4no. 660L – 1280L 4-wheeled bins, with apertures specified as 2no. General Waste and 2no. Recycling. Installed in a frontal, streetside location on the property, the bin store delivers an enhancement on the existing bins, with specifications for ForestPanel Iroko hardwood cladding and a sedum-only green roof providing improved views from surrounding buildings by effectively blending in with the urban landscape.In contrast, the L-Series Bike Lockers were installed to the rear of the building in Dominic Court’s private car park. With residents previously securing their bikes to railings outside the building, the new lockers offer individually secure bike parking and storage via an integral wheel channel built into the unit. With a low profile design that inhibits visual impact, the lockers are ideally suited to locations that adjoin residential properties, maximising under-utilised space and providing easy access to residents leaving the property.

The Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy in Great Yarmouth pride themselves on putting their students at the centre of everything they do whilst inspiring and motivating them on a daily basis. In 2021 Streetspace were approached by the school to help update 3 existing areas of the school campus into more usable covered spaces for the children to use and enjoy year-round.An ORION hypar™ Waterproof Tensile Canopy was installed in the part of the school playground aptly named ‘Mushroom Corner’, with the addition of foam post protectors for an extra element of safety for the children whilst playing. The design of the canopy offers a good balance of shade and shelter while the distinctive hypar form of the canopy compliments the fun landscape the school had already created. The unique hypar shape is created when diagonally opposite corners of the sail are raised and the resulting twist in the fabric creates the hypar form. The PVC based waterproof fabric is also combined with a PVDF self-cleaning top layer that helps to prevent dirt getting ingrained in the fabric.Streetspace then worked on updating the playground by installing a Triton Maxx polycarbonate roof canopy, providing the children with an effective sheltered space to use during their break and lunch times. The polycarbonate roof covering provides a good level of light transmission, ensuring a light and airy feeling under the canopy even on gloomy days, while still offering excellent protection during inclement weather. Steel guttering and downpipes powder coated to match the canopy frame were also installed to manage rainwater during inclement weather.Lastly, an ORION Barrel Vault Tensile structure was installed in the nursery playground to provide the younger children with shade and rain protection whilst they played outside on their apparatus. The lightweight nature of fabric tensile membrane canopies requires fewer structural steel columns, resulting in lots of clear space for the children to enjoy. Alongside this benefit, the soft membrane roof creates an ambient environment while absorbing the sounds of voices, rain and echo, making this canopy a perfect solution for playgrounds. ORION Barrel Vault Tensile Structures utilise a single piece PVC fabric membrane meaning no joins to attract dirt while utilising the same PVDF surface coating helping to reduce maintenance. For this project all canopy frames and rainwater systems were finished with a highly durable polyester powder coating with matching RAL colour to co-ordinate with the existing school colour scheme.

Harris Academy Greenwich is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form with academy status since September 2012, located in the Eltham area of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Principal George McMillan describes Harris Academy Greenwich as a ‘happy and highly successful inner-city London 11-18 school with a thriving 6th Form.’ The academy is a member of the Harris Federation, a group of 44 primary and secondary academies in and around London educating 30,000 young people. Each academy is led and run by its Principal; responsible for creating a culture that ensures the pupils get an excellent education within a happy, caring and supportive environment.The smaller than average-sized secondary school, with an admission number of 180 for year 7, was rated as ‘Outstanding’ in all categories in their first Ofsted report as an academy in 2014. The Eltham Foundation School was previously rated as ‘satisfactory’ before converting to an academy. Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development were identified as a very strong feature in the school’s curriculum. Leadership and management skills of pupils were also assessed as outstanding, driven by the enthusiastic and inspirational partnership between the principal and executive principal and supported by skilled and committed school leaders who help drive improvement relentlessly. Over 90% of all sixth form students went on to University the year prior to the report.Streetspace Urban Structures stunning but functional TRITON canopy was identified as a cost-effective cover solution; providing a large open area with shade and shelter, allowing students to enjoy the breakout social and dining space all-year round.Our great looking architectural design sympathetically complemented the academy’s adjoining modern school building. This included matching the umbra grey steelwork finish with the curtain walling detail on their existing building. The integral over-door section of our design provided additional canopy protection; sheltering exits and entrances without unnecessarily compromising light elsewhere. The potential hazard of ice forming in colder months was factored and prevented with our rainwater management system plumbed straight into below ground drains. Our package covered all groundworks, including special provision to reinstate a recently paved area in front of a new building. For a final co-ordinated flourish, street furniture was supplied; adding a contemporary feel to this smart project.This impactful project showcases our technical ability and the quick installation, completed during a break in the school term, demonstrates how a transformative change, reaping considerable benefits, can be realised with minimal disruption to students and staff.‘Our academy was fortunate to be included in the latest DfE Priority Schools Building programme, however, due to the stringent budget restrictions imposed the internal common areas were greatly reduced, including the dining area.With a school roll of 1250 students managing dining on a staggered basis proved to be extremely difficult, therefore we investigated the possibility of utilising the external hardcourt area adjacent to the dining room.Our concerns were ensuring that students were able to access the area without being open to the elements and also overheating in the summer months.The Streetspace design team meet with the academy and designed the canopy to meet all of our requirements, including adding extensions to provide full cover over exit doorways and all rainwater to be connected into our existing drainage system.The installation was project managed throughout and since installation, we have not had any defects or reason to call them back on site. The product is very robust, attractive and with the colour matching, they achieved to our external cladding appears to have been part of the original build and not an extension.This was one of the easier projects to manage due the service and professionalism of the company from start to finish.’

Two monopitch polycarbonate roof canopies have more than doubled the covered dining space available at Hove Park School’s Nevill Campus, at a more cost-effective price point than a traditionally constructed solution.As part of an ongoing programme of facilities upgrades, the school had recently demolished their ageing dining block, replacing it with a modern modular building with a similar footprint. However, with student numbers rising by 100, additional space was still needed for students to eat and socialize.Streetspace supplied two TRITON Mono canopies, which wrap around two sides of the new dining block, providing seamless cover for staff and students. All works were completed within the summer holidays, with a full package including foundation construction, removal of two trees, and reinstatement of surfacing.

The break out area at the new Isaac Newton Academy presents an impressive social space for students and staff alike. Seating areas, table tennis tables and decorative planters transform the space into a calming retreat. The arrival of the first wet weather soon led the school to reconsider the design of its popular social space. Not only was overcrowding of the indoor areas becoming problematic, it was disappointing to see the valuable outdoor space go to waste.It was vital that the design of the canopy complemented the contemporary aesthetic of Isaac Newton Academy, while still ensuring functionality. In light of this requirement, Streetspace recommended an ORION Barrel Vault Fabric Canopy.Barrel vault design provides a wide, clear-span area and an ambient sense of space. Tensile membrane canopies require less structural steel columns to support the roof in comparison to traditional building materials. The space therefore benefits from minimal obstruction and clutter, guaranteeing a free flow of movement.PVC tensile membrane provides a flexible solution for the canopy covering; perfect for use throughout the day, as well as during darker evenings. In daylight, the semi-translucent fabric provides shade to protect occupants from UV radiation, while enough natural light is still able to penetrate to facilitate a pleasing, softly lit space. In the evenings, an ambient environment is created with the use of artificial lighting, further broadening the functionality of the canopy.Tensile membrane offers excellent acoustic properties, absorbing a considerable proportion of noise, limiting external sound pollution. The one piece, welded tensile membrane roof has no joins to trap dirt, ensuring easy maintenance of the structure’s clean appearance.Helen Chamberlain, Finance and Resources Director at Isaac Newton Academy commented “The new canopy has proved a great success with both students and staff at the Academy. During break and lunch times, the students play table tennis and relax on the stone benching underneath the cover. Not only does it provide shelter from the wet weather, but also some much-needed shade in the summer months. We are really pleased with the result.”

Kew House School is a co-educational independent senior school for students aged 11-18 years. Open since September 2013, their recent Ofsted Report noted that the faculties “ambitious vision and relentless drive have established a school that promotes the highest standards and aims for excellent achievements for its students”. Under the leadership of veteran Headmaster, Mark Hudson, the school has put a concerted emphasis on the individual; establishing confidence that encourages students to maximise their personal achievements in every facet of school life.With higher education never more popular amongst young people, Kew House School excel at providing smooth passage of students from sixth form to university. While the traditional values of academic excellence and achievement remain pivotal, Kew High School are continuously exploring dynamic modern approaches to encourage and nurture independence and leadership.Kew House School’s vision is encapsulated by their Sixth Form Centre, a new build, designed specifically to encourage independence and individuality for students approaching adulthood. Spread across 6 floors, the stunning construction features an independent learning area, a café, library, break-out spaces and quiet study areas. The building also includes an audio-visual suite, recording studio, classrooms and Sixth Form Seminar rooms. It creates a dynamic environment; extolling campus life within the secure and nurturing confines of school.Streetspace Urban Structures became involved in the project when a single-source canopy solution was sought for the top floor roof deck. The striking canopy featured a symmetric central ‘spine’ design with in-line support columns and finished with a perimeter cable edge. The canopy’s signal white steelwork complemented the champagne finish of the PVC membrane fabric. The installation used two existing steel support plates and the speedy construction involved components being craned up to the 6th floor.With its translucency, colour, clearspan and softness of form, the ORION Shield Tensile Membrane Canopy, proved to be the perfect solution, with the gentle curve of the shield design providing both an attractive aesthetic and a unique ambience to an outstanding build that provided a stunning finish to a prestigious project.

Marwell Zoo based in Winchester is home to 149 species of exotic and endangered animals. Set in a 140-acre park the zoo welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year. It is their mission to conserve biodiversity, inspire care for the environment and connect people with nature.Following a successful project at Marwell Zoo Streetspace were invited back to work with the wildlife park to install a second canopy at the onsite eatery, Cafe Graze. Previously Streetspace had installed an ORION Barrel Vault Tensile Membrane canopy over the outside dining area to the front of the popular cafe and Marwell Zoo wanted a similar solution installed to the rear of the cafe to further enhance the visitor experience, especially during hot or inclement weather.The second canopy was installed over the rear decking area with views over the zebra enclosure helping to extend the dining space available to families stopping for lunch at the cafe.Before installing the canopy over the newly refurbished decking area, Streetspace removed an existing timber structure which had started to deteriorate and an ORION Cantilever tensile membrane canopy was erected in its place. The 23000mm x 4000mm structure was designed and manufactured to follow the building radius, creating a spectacular covered space for the restaurant. Tensile membrane structures offer opportunities for flexible design, meaning irregular shapes can be accommodated while making the most of the available space. Single rows of columns can be positioned centrally or, as with this project, offset to create striking cantilevered structures.The one-piece tensile fabric membranes provide effective all-weather protection, offering a good balance of positive light transmission and shade both directly underneath and to the adjacent glazed section of the cafe. The soft membrane helps to absorb echo and the sound of voices, making it ideal for a busy eatery located close to animals in the park. The PVC-based architectural fabric has a PVDF surface coating preventing dirt from becoming ingrained, helping to keep cleaning and maintenance to a minimum.

urbanspec External Storage with Green Roof

New Hall School is the only independent Roman Catholic school in the Diocese and one of the largest and also the oldest of its kind in the country.With a requirement for significant areas of new external covered space for play, break-out, student activities and dining; New Hall School were looking for a canopy provider that could demonstrate the level of bespoke design and construction capability to deliver on this. Although the canopy projects had been in the pipeline for a few years, the pandemic made the need for covered, well-ventilated space a requirement to enable the safe and orderly return of students to school in September 2020.An ORION Triple Barrel Vault Canopy provides 660 m² of cover for the Prep Playground creating a genuinely multi-use area for teaching, play and events. The architectural PVC membrane translucency provides diffused natural lighting and the tall centreline creates a spacious feel to the area. The Triple Barrel Vault design ensures that the maximum height of the canopy structure is reduced in keeping with the historic school buildings. Integrated rainwater systems enable maintenance access and the timber post cladding soften the appearance of the structural steelwork.. Rubber crumb surfacing throughout the canopy area provides a safe, clean and visually attractive area for the younger students.The second ORION Tensile Membrane Canopy alongside New Hall School’s Walkfares Performing Arts Centre is also a triple barrel vault design. At 42 m width and 22 m in length the canopy covers over 920 m² with the entire area surfaced in synthetic turf. Together these canopies create the largest sheltered performance and recreational areas in the School.

A new canopy project at the stunning North Birmingham Academy was always going to be a task for a team with a strong design focus rather than those delivering off-the peg solutions. To be a success, the structure would need to complement the modern futuristic building architecture at the same time as maximising cover to the long queuing area and the adjoining curved amphitheatre with its in-situ concrete furniture.CGI visualisations of a design configuration using our TRITON Maxx-A Polycarbonate Canopy to maintain a continuous asymmetric roof profile from the 5m wide section through the 14m width seating area, assured the Academy that a Streetspace project would be the right choice. With the steel frame powder coated to match the composite cladding of the adjacent building, the flowing design makes little of the complexity required to fit the new canopy around the external works layout.‘The students and staff at North Birmingham Academy are very pleased with the new canopy – the design sits comfortably with the architecture of our brand new building and has both relieved pressure on our indoor facilities and enabled students to benefit from being outside in all weathers’.

Nottingham High School is an independent co-educational day school for children aged 4-18 in the heart of Nottingham. The school was founded in 1513 by Dame Agnes Mellers, and King Henry VIII sealed the school’s foundation deed in that same year. After more than 500 years of teaching boys, the school welcomed girls in 2015 to become a fully co-educational institution.For its vibrant Sixth Form, of more than 200 pupils, the school wanted to create a new social area, where students could meet, relax and eat lunch together. The school was looking for a statement canopy that created a significant focal point. But it also needed to be a functional structure for students that would provide shelter from the sun and act as a cover from the rain.The intended site is located close to the schools entrance, which is in the main building. This significant building is Grade II listed, so meeting the planning permission terms would be key. From the road, the location is visible in front of the building. Careful consideration had to be given to the design of any structure so that it did not obstruct the view of the school. It was also an essential part of the planning terms that the canopy should look open.Street space presented three options to the school. Functionality and appearance were important, but the tensile membrane structure also needed to fit within the schools budget.Meeting both the strict planning requirements and the broad scope of the brief demonstrated the strength of the Street space design team.An ORION Shield Fabric canopy was installed as part of an extensive landscaping project within the school that included constructing a retaining wall and removing a shed. The installation was completed extremely quickly. The team spent three days on site and fitted into the schools schedule of work. Fencing off the area allowed the existing school buildings to remain fully operational throughout the construction process and careful co-ordination with the head teacher ensured the continued smooth running of the school.Street space managed the concept design, engineering, manufacture and installation and met the schools deadline by completing the tensile canopy ahead of a scheduled open evening.The school is rightly proud of its new covered outdoor space. The covered dining and social space gives Sixth Form students an additional area that can be used whatever the weather. The previously unused area now benefits from a covered space with a durable canopy structure that protects from the elements and enhances this beautiful historic school.

Installed as part of a £3m project to replace their ROSLA block, a monopitch TRITON Covered Walkway ensures the staff and students of Nunnery Wood High School are protected from the elements when moving between buildings.With a large number of buildings around the school site, one of the main thoroughfares runs in between two blocks, and during wet weather other areas became congested as site users avoided it. In association with the school’s consultant, PR Associates, Streetspace developed a solution using our TRITON Covered Walkway design.The steel frame canopy construction enables flexibility in post spacings, which is perfect in situations like this where multiple doorways open onto the canopy area. Multiwall polycarbonate roof cladding with a good level of light transmission ensures that classrooms adjacent to the covered walkway do not lose too much light.

Plumstead Manor School is located in Royal London Borough of Greenwich and is a secondary school and sixth form offering a world-class education to young people.Covered outdoor areas have proved a strong asset for our schools throughout the pandemic, helping create extra covered space for year groups. With students spending more time outside school buildings there is an increasing demand for covered space and the Streetspace team were able to help Plumstead Manor School transform an underutilised playground area into valuable all-weather space for breaks and lunch times, complete with a snack shack unit.The Streetspace TRITON canopy with its multiwall polycarbonate roof system is a versatile design with column spacing and layout that can be configured to allow for external building features or below ground services while maintaining the structural design integrity. The Plumstead Manor School canopy is a great example of this with a 28 m length and a span width of 9.5 m narrowing to 6.5 m.The multiwall polycarbonate roof system has integral UV blocking and protects students from the sun’s harmful rays during the summer months, while providing shelter in the winter. TRITON canopy steelwork and rainwater systems are colour powder coated to coordinate with school’s colour scheme and adjacent building fabric.

urbanspec External Storage, Bike and Bin Storage with Green Roof

urbanspec Bike-S Bike Module

Queen Mary’s Grammar school located in Walsall, West Midlands is one of the oldest schools in the country and proud of its traditions having been founded in 1554 by Mary Tudor. Now a member of the Mercian Multi-Academy Trust, the school is committed to shaping a new and exciting learning landscape for current and future students. The school was looking for a solution to turn an outside dining area into a covered space students could use year-round. The area situated between school buildings was formerly an old car park converted into a playground, and was often unusable during inclement weather with the added problem of standing rainwater.A range of canopy designs are available to cover spaces like this, and after discussing design concepts with the school, Streetspace installed a stunning 20m x 8m ORION Barrel vault tensile membrane canopy, providing shade from the sun, UV protection and cover from the rain. The soft membrane fabric helps to create an ambient environment while also absorbing the sounds of rain, voices and echo. To overcome the standing water concerns, aluminium guttering and downpipes matching the structure were added, allowing rainwater to flow off the canopy and into the existing drains.The new dining area presents an impressive and stylish seating area for students and staff alike. The aesthetically pleasing blue steel frame and Ocean Blue canopy, coupled with the symmetric form and clean minimalist design means the structure integrates seamlessly with the adjacent buildings, and makes good use of this valuable outdoor space. The one piece PVC fabric membrane means no joins to attract dirt and is combined with a PVDF surface coating to stop dirt getting ingrained and help reduce maintenance.The Barrel Vault design provides a wide, clear-span area with the tall centreline helping to maximise the sense of space. The space therefore benefits from minimal obstruction, creating free flow of movement and a flexible covered area that can be used for a wide range of different applications.

Schools, colleges and campuses with an ever-increasing intake of students often outgrow the buildings originally designed for them. As a consequence, our education sites can consist of increasingly disparate faculty buildings extending far beyond a central hub. These are usually connected by a network of outdoor walkways that get crossed many times a day, in all weathers. Shelter for these walkways is a necessity but innovative designs can offer much more beside.Queensmead is an ambitious school that is committed to seeking the best for all its students. The forward-looking and dynamic co-educational academy to over 1,400 students aged 11-18 was recognised by the Department for Education for being in the top 5% nationally for student progress in 2016.Consisting of 15 detached buildings spread across a large site, access to buildings requires students and staff to cross a number of interconnected covered walkways on a daily basis. When these concrete covered walkways needed replacing, Queensmead sought a cost-effective alternative with the functionality to shelter the network of walkways and the scope to offer increased covered breakout space for the students to meet, eat and relax together. Particular care was required for heating pipes and cables that needed to be protected during the extensive demolition phase and incorporated in to the new design.“We’ve been delighted with the insightful but flexible design process and the speed and efficiency of each installation phase for this complex canopy project. The modern design, with integrated lighting, has re-invigorated our walkways and the additional sheltered breakout space has been a big hit with our students.”David Patterson, School Business Manager, Queensmead SchoolStreetspace came up with an over-arching solution that met the site plan requirements and the broad scope of the project, allowing considerable changes in length and width of the canopies, and a single-source approach which ensured both time and money were saved. The bespoke product has enabled the evolving project to be completed in phases, with the third and largest phase of the canopy completed over a 5 week period during the 2017 summer holiday.The TRITON canopies are installed with an opaque triple-wall polycarbonate roof system allowing good light transmission without the glare of clear versions. The curved canopy design exceeds the shelter provided by the demolished walkway covers and their extended reach, factored in the designs, has generated significant amounts of sheltered breakout space for Queensmead pupils. Working to time frames factoring in school holidays, disruption for staff and pupils has been kept to a minimum.By identifying the latent potential of their walkways and working closely with our expert designers at Streetspace, Queensmead upgraded their archaic network of concrete walkways with a modern design; bringing cohesion and unity across the site. The inclusion of recessed lights added welcome security and the extended canopy design not only provided improved shade and shelter but year round social space.

Saffron Walden County High School is an outstanding academy with over 2100 students on roll. Having already installed a large canopy in 2016 to provide a covered area for students to eat, increasing student numbers put increasing pressure on the existing catering facilities and by 2018 the school were desperate for additional dining capacity.Attention turned to the school’s derelict open-air swimming pool – a dangerous and unattractive area located between the sports hall and tennis courts. Archer Building Consultancy, a long-term provider of the premises services to the trust, proposed and delivered a scheme which involved emptying and removing the swimming pool along with the associated buildings and equipment, filling and levelling the area and installing a food pod and large covered seating area.Streetspace were contracted to design, manufacture and install a huge 25.0 x 15.0 m Triton Maxx clearspan polycarbonate roof canopy. With a symmetric form, the canopy provides covered seating for over 200 students as well as plenty of queuing space for the remote servery station. Integrated gutters and downpipes are connected to surface water drainage to help keep the area as dry as possible.A canopy of this size has many possible uses in addition to dining and social space – it could be used for assemblies, sports activities or as a parent waiting area, creating a truly multifunctional space. Windbreak cladding can be added as required in exposed locations to enable year-round use.

Sandringham High School in St Albans invited proposals for a covered walkway between their two dining halls along with some canopies over outside seating areas. With a very significant level change to contend with you can envisage how this project could have turned out; with two covered walkways ascending above the sets of steps at each end and a separate rectangular canopy between these walkways to cover the picnic tables. Contrast this with the canopy design achieved by the Streetspace team! An ambient asymmetric structure spanning the whole space vastly increasing its usefulness and aesthetic appeal.The School leadership Team have been sufficiently impressed to employ Streetspace projects to cover another area between buildings complete with a servery pod provide further covered dining and social space. A testament to the success of the environment created by a Triton canopy.

urbanspec Bin Store Building and Bike Hub

urbanspec Bin Stores, Bike Stores, Bike Stands

As with many primary schools, St Andrew’s C of E Primary School suffered from a serious lack of dining space with a small hall that also had to accommodate indoor PE lessons and assemblies. A further issue was that no internal connections existed between the two main blocks of the school, meaning students had to walk through the front carpark of the school – a major safeguarding issue.Streetspace have completed two projects to resolve these issues for the school, installing a 10.0m x 5.0m Triton Maxx symmetric polycarbonate roof canopy in a courtyard adjacent to the hall to provide additional dining space, and a 20.5m x 1.5m Triton Mono walkway with glazed curtain walling to provide security across the front elevation of the school.The projects have been a great success for the school, with the head teacher commenting: “The covered walkway means the whole front of the school is enclosed, ensuring children having lessons in the hall aren’t disturbed and visitors can only access the school through reception. The dining room was overcrowded, and the noise levels were higher than we wanted and it made it difficult to manage. Now we’ve practically doubled our dining space and that’s really helped the children choose where they want to go and eat. It’s helped with the noise levels and made the dining experience much more pleasant.”

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.

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.

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.