At Base Structures, we have worked with zoos up and down the country for many years, and we are known for being the go-to experts in the zoo community for creating animal enclosures, aviaries and bespoke mesh structures to house animals of all shapes and sizes.
We design and build enclosures that seamlessly integrate with the natural landscape and enable zoos to provide animals with habitats that closely mimic their native environments.
We ensure a thorough workshopping process with all stakeholders to ensure animals, keepers and visitors have the best experience. Find more information and two recent case studies below.
Paradise Wildlife Park sought our expertise to design and build a robust enclosure for their ‘Jaguar Jungle,’ the UK’s first habitat featuring underwater viewing for jaguars and one of the only examples in the country that mimic’s the animal’s natural home in the wild. The innovative project required a structure that provided both safety and an immersive experience for both the animals and visitors.
We utilised stainless steel cable netting, creating a spacious and secure environment that allows the animals to exhibit natural behaviours, including swimming. The enclosure’s design incorporates elements that mimic the jaguars’ native rainforest habitat, such as dense foliage and water features, enhancing the animals’ well-being and offering visitors a unique opportunity to observe them in a setting that closely resembles their natural environment.
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Drusilla’s Zoo Park embarked on an ambitious project to develop a state-of-the-art enclosure for their Colobus monkeys. The goal was to create a habitat that maximised living space and preserved natural elements. Our solution involved installing large steel posts to allow the monkeys to swing freely and enclose the existing trees with netting to maximise space and maintain an authentic environment for the monkey.
Our approach was to listen to the clients and understand the specific requirements of the species – Colobus monkeys have complex behaviours and sophisticated social groups; and providing space to cultivate these was important. The design solution not only provides the monkeys with ample space to exhibit natural behaviours, but also ensures strength, durability and safety for staff and visitors.
The use of high-tensile stainless steel web netting offers excellent visibility for visitors and protects the animals from external wildlife – a key challenge was integrating the netting with the existing trees and we developed a specialised finishing detail that accommodates the trees’ natural growth and movement, preventing damage to the netting while ensuring the monkeys remain secure. The result is a cutting-edge enclosure that offers the Colobus monkeys an expansive environment.
At Base Structures, we are proud to contribute to the creation of zoo environments that respect and reflect the natural world. For more information on our zoo enclosures and the work we do with tensile fabric structures, contact us today.
During the winter season, it’s important to keep your canopies and fabric structures well maintained. This improves their performance, but also leads to fewer long-term repair costs and ensures you can make the most of the product throughout each season.
Base Structures offer comprehensive maintenance packages for fabric structures and can work in difficult to manage locations or at height – contact us today to speak to our experts and find out more about keeping your fabric structure in great shape across the year.
Over the winter period, canopies can get covered with dirt, grime and leaves that needs to be periodically cleaned off. If the build up of this dirt gets too much, it can damage the lacquer on the fabric and compromise the fabric integrity and longevity. Cleaning a canopy not only improves its aesthetic qualities but also ensures its integrity, significantly enhancing its ability to withstand poor weather and making it a much better long term investment.
Over time, fabric structures can pick up small holes and rips created by flying debris or birds. If ignored, small weak spots like this can compromise the integrity of the fabric membrane and create bigger issues in the long run. As such, as part of scheduled or regular fabric maintenance, it makes sense to not only clean your canopy properly but also invest in minor repairs.
After years of use, the cables used to keep fabric structures in place can slacken, increasing the stress loads on the structure as a whole and causing more damage than if cables were kept taught. It’s wise to use the winter period and associated maintenance to check on the safety credentials of your structure more widely, ensuring they can still perform well in windy conditions. As part of a Base Structures maintenance plan, we can work with you to ensure any issues are identified and fixed ahead of causing any problems in wet and stormy conditions.
We offer free consultation and discussions to ensure you get the right maintenance for your fabric structure at the right time. We are experts in creating bespoke solutions to fit to your needs, and now is the perfect time to book in canopy maintenance.
This year, 2024, has been the year of University of Nottingham, which has been undoubtedly the most complex and interesting roof structure project we have ever undertaken; involving the replacement of a tensile fabric roof and associated skylight glazing to the Central Building on Castle Meadow Campus.
Having been on site since April this year, the project has involved several phases of work that have been intricately and expertly planned. Notwithstanding the initial safe removal of the glazing, the de-tensioning the fabric required a unique and complex methodology.
This fabric roof was never designed to be replaced, yet our talented team found a way. Such was the sensitive nature of the building and the highly utilised structure, the sequence for lowering had to be broken down into small and controlled movements so as not to overload the structure. The successful and safe removal of the fabric and glass was achieved with hard work from all involved.
The replacement main fabric roof canopy, North, South and West canopies are now in place, with the remaining work on site continuing to install the East canopy completing the fabric works in time for Christmas.
As unpredictable weather conditions become a growing challenge for construction projects, finding innovative and cost-effective solutions for weatherproofing sites is essential. One such solution is the use of our Base Screens, which are engineered temporary fabric weather screens offering a range of benefits that significantly enhance the speed, safety, and efficiency of building projects.
At Base Structures we have successfully delivered weatherproofing solutions for various construction projects. One notable example is a 15-storey office building, where we installed 1,800 m² of engineered screens. Designed to withstand British Standard wind loads, these screens ensured the project could continue despite adverse weather.
Another project saw 4,200 m² of temporary weather screens used for the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre in Oxford. This solution allowed the construction team to maintain their schedule, reducing weather-related delays and boosting efficiency.
This innovative product has demonstrated its a unique commercial advantage for our construction clients. Compared to traditional waterproofing methods like scaffolding, it has not only saved contractors time and money, but also enabled them to take a proactive, not reactive, approach and completely eliminate weather delays from programme.
Uninterrupted progress & enhanced programmes
We have seen several clients achieve significant programme and cost saving success by being able to carry out internal fit outs and cladding simultaneously using our Base Weather Screens. Not only do the screens enable uninterrupted work in all weather conditions, but this ability to overlap work stages removes delays and has meant that work can be completed ahead of time. This is an unparalleled success when it comes to programme management.
Creating customised designs for flexibility
Base Screens are customisable, and we are able to engineer and configure the screens to fit specific site needs. This has enabled us to deliver flexible and unique solutions with minimal disruption to our customers that can be adapted as projects evolve.
Speed of delivery
Base Screens can offer a quick turnaround on installation, removal and re-configuration, and we have been able to offer our fast-track project clients a speedy delivery which has minimised any disruption that might otherwise be had from weatherproofing. This has enabled them to concentrate on getting on with the task in hand.
Meeting HSEQ Goals
Feedback from our temporary screen clients is that our Base Screens help contain dust, debris and noise, and help to secure materials, ensuring that hazardous equipment stays within designated zones. This reduces risk and the environmental impact of the build.
In addition to being engineered to withstand high wind loads and meet fire safety standards,
our fabric screens have more than one life cycle, and we have been able to re-use and upcycle them. We design end of life plans from the outset with the client.
PR strategy and big reveals
In several cases we have had clients who are planning a dramatic unveiling of a project upon completion and have a PR and marketing plan to maximise awareness of the existing new construction. The temporary weather screens have provided enhanced privacy until the big day.
Cost Effective & Security Enhancements
Not only do Base Screens offer an affordable alternative to traditional methods like sheeted scaffolding, but by having quick turnaround installations for our construction clients, we have enabled them to achieve both direct and indirect cost savings. Separation from the public has also reduced levels of theft and vandalism and eliminated unnecessary loss.
Our temporary weatherproof screens have proved an invaluable asset to many of our construction clients to date, having provided weather protection, enhanced safety, and adaptability at a competitive cost. If you’re interested in learning more about how these versatile screens can benefit your next project, contact us today to discuss tailored solutions.
Pre-designed canopies offer a multitude of uses for schools and education providers across a range of settings. Not only do they provide space for wellbeing areas and time away from classrooms, they are aesthetically pleasing, can add significant value and are cost-effective, offering a practical solution for a variety of needs. Here are five reasons why you should consider our canopies for schools.
Enhanced Learning and Social Spaces
Schools we speak to are increasingly recognising the value of outdoor learning and recreational and social spaces outside. A fabric canopy creates a sheltered environment that can be used year-round, regardless of the weather. In schools, this space can serve as an outdoor classroom, promoting hands-on learning and a connection with nature, for example. Universities and colleges can use these canopies to host outdoor events, study sessions, or club meetings, providing students with a comfortable and shaded space for collaborative learning and relaxation. By offering shade and shelter, these canopies help reduce exposure to UV rays in the summer, and the wet and windy weather in autumn and winter.
Student and Staff Well-being
Research shows that spending time outdoors can reduce stress and improve concentration across an educational site. A fabric canopy allows students to take breaks in a sheltered outdoorarea, promoting relaxation and improving the overall learning experience. They can also offer a hub for community engagement, promising greater integration and bringing people together beyond the grounds.
Improved Aesthetics
A well-designed canopy can act as a landmark or focal point for pupils, students and even staff, creating a memorable space that the school community are proud to use and showcase.
Fabric canopies are available in a variety of designs but can also be customised to suit and complement the existing architecture of a school or university. They can act as a basis to improve or decorate a space and add a touch of modernity to a campus site.
Cost-Effective and Low Maintenance
Fabric canopies are a more affordable alternative to more traditional building solutions. They require construction time leading to lower installation costs and they are also designed to be durable and weather-resistant out-the-box, ensuring longevity with minimal maintenance.
It makes them a cost-effective investment for schools and universities looking to improve their campus infrastructure without the high costs of permanent building projects. They can also be moved, customised or added to with minimal effort.
Creating Multi-functional Spaces
Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to pre-designed canopy spaces. The structures can be used for a wide range of purposes. For instance, a canopy can provide shelter for outdoor seating, courtyards, playgrounds or walkways, ensuring students and staff are protected when moving between spaces and lessons. They make outdoor spaces more usable throughout the year and can also serve as temporary pavilions for open-air concerts, fairs or graduations.
Contact Base Structures
If you’re interested in our canopies for schools or would like to run some ideas past our expert team of canopy designers, please get in touch. Off-the-shelf or more bespoke, custom options are available.
In the world of event management, the ability to provide flexible, cost-effective, aesthetically appealing and easy to transport options for a wide range of occasions is crucial. From canopies to large stages, touring structures for temporary events have become an essential solution to keep exhibitions, gigs, shows and festivals on the road.
Thanks to our recent experience working for Disney at their Lion King venue in Saudi Arabia, Base Structures can offer high-quality solutions tailored to the unique needs of each event. Our expertise in creating bespoke temporary structures means we’ve got experience with a wide range of clients, including organisations working with some of the most famous and successful concerts and festivals in the world as well as operating extensively in corporate events and touring exhibitions. Here are five different benefits of touring structures:
Due to the unique environments in which they’re used, temporary structures need to be highly versatile and customised to fit different event sizes and types. We work with all size of temporary structures, whether it’s a small corporate gathering or a large music festival. These structures can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of the event. We provide solutions that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and transported, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum efficiency for event organisers.
Investing in permanent structures for short-term events can be prohibitively expensive and impractical. Touring structures offer a cost-effective alternative, allowing event organisers to allocate budgets more efficiently and be provided with a stage, canopy or shelter area that can be moved quickly and put up with minimal resources.
With many events we work with, the visual impact is crucial in creating a memorable and branded experience. Our work often sees us operate closely with an event’s design team – our temporary structures are not only functional but also visually striking and we are able to create iconic bespoke solutions that enhance the overall aesthetic of an event, incorporating innovative designs and materials that leave a lasting impression.
Time is often a critical factor in event planning. We understand the importance of timely delivery and installation and our experienced team ensures that all structures are set up quickly and efficiently, allowing event organisers to focus on other critical aspects of event planning.
Safety is paramount in any event setting. We prioritise the safety and durability of temporary structures, using high-quality materials and adhering to stringent safety standards. As well as being safe, the right touring structures need to be durable, and are designed to withstand a variety of different weather conditions including rain and high winds.
For more information about our touring and temporary structures, visit our website for more information or get in touch with us on 0117 911 5250.
A rare opportunity to have a hands on role in this exciting field.
You will be joining a small but highly experienced and respected team of individuals who have delivered fabric projects worldwide over the last 30 years.
The principal role is design and scheme development for tensile and other bespoke architectural and construction projects, in conjunction with our subcontract specialist engineers and in house teams, and to provide technical sales support in the form of design feasibility, estimating and costing advice to architects, main contractors or direct to clients.
It would also involve managing the sales enquiry process, some kick off stage project management and managing the transition from sales to the project management team.
Applicants would ideally have 3-5 years post graduate technical experience, strong construction and building experience, architectural understanding or experience and a portfolio that demonstrates their design flair, practical understanding of structural principles, and competence in using 3D design and presentation software.
Previous experience with tensile structures is not required as we work with a wide range of other structural buildings, and we also anticipate a significant training period during which we will guide you through every step to learn the black art of the tensile side of the business.
This training period will include interactions with client visits, working on site with the necessary certification, and visits to suppliers/manufacturers.
This is a hybrid role, based in the Bristol office a minimum of 2 days per week, and would require some travelling across the UK as projects demand.
To apply please send your CV and letter of interest outlining your experience and skills to: rachel@basestructures.com
Equal Opportunities Statement
Base Structures are committed to recruiting transparently, objectively and offering equal opportunities to all.
Our policy is to ensure a consistent and fair approach, free from discrimination and that no current or prospective employee or candidate will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin.
All recruitment decisions will be based on merit and all recruitment policies and practices will promote equality, diversity and inclusion and are carried out by a fully trained recruitment team for effective implementation.
Our interview process is also designed to be accessible to all, offering adjustments for neurodiverse candidates and all are informed in advance of what to expect prior to interview.
With 2023 being one of the wettest years on record and January 2024 one of the warmest, councilors and developers across Continental Europe in both rural and urban areas alike have had to face up to and tackle these continuing weather changes to both adapt their environments to stay functional and ensure municipal spaces operate properly for use by the public.
In our blog post on the redevelopment of Irish Town Centres, we discussed the policies that were outlined by Irish ministers targeting the regeneration of town centre’s across the country, creating viable, vibrant, and attractive areas that serve a wide range of social and cultural needs. In the Town Centre First policy, it also identifies needs to create larger population areas in more remote towns and villages, whilst ensuring the design allows for sustainable mobility and travel, tackles air quality and promotes energy communities.
Sustainable development is key to achieving this and creating meaningful social and business spaces within these areas. Designing in flexible use and inspirational placemaking is a part of this, but so is using the right design philosophies and materials to create spaces that stand up to poor weather.
By adding in-built climate resilience to any placemaking or regeneration project, town centre’s can safeguard their investment, add longevity to the spaces that are being created and provide an aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable space to use by the community.
Here are some ideas on how you can add resilience against a changing climate when thinking about a town centre project.
Active Travel and Easy Access to Services
To entice people to use shared urban spaces, one of the key points of the Town Centre First policy is that any development should promote active travel, accessibility around the space and establish straightforward ways into a range of services. By using a well-designed walkway or car park or cycle park canopy, for example, you can quickly link up detached areas and provide weatherproofing and shelter for users getting from one part of town to another. It means people will have a more positive engagement with the spaces on offer, and not avoid using them during poor weather or unusually hot weather.
Promoting Outdoor Activities and Recreation with Low Energy Spaces
Some of the larger or more expansive canopies offer the perfect space to carry out a wide range of sports – or even create pop up, temporary areas for equipment to be used no matter what the weather. Creating a comfortable and shaded area where people can participate in outdoor games, relax, or engage in group activities is important to community welfare and fosters social interaction. Using canopies for such spaces is also a great low energy solution compared to other building options and allow natural daylight through. There is also the opportunity to deck out and style these small outdoor spaces and for a number of different uses.
Improving Spaces for Nature
There is an opportunity to embrace our changing climate and weather patterns to create more dedicated spaces using fabric canopies to create well-designed areas for people to visit and utilise within nature. There might be an opportunity to create a nature space in an empty area, tackling the need to find uses for disused buildings, or there may be the ability to embrace a changing climate by growing new varieties of plants within small urban gardens for use by the community.
Tackling Wellbeing Issues within Communities
Creating dedicated spaces for time out and wellbeing using fabric canopies is a well-used technique and one we have adopted in many projects in Ireland, such as our work in The Square in Listowel and Portrush. These canopies can improve wellbeing by providing more social space, break-out areas to encourage business to thrive under cover, and mitigating against any potential weather issues that may drive people away from these areas. They can also provide an area for entertainment and sports and be flexible to adapt to a people-first approach, being used however the community sees fit.
Contact Us
We have a variety of experience working across Ireland with companies interested in improving urban areas under the Town Centre First policy. This includes creating bespoke canopies and enhancing weather resilience for the future in the face of a changing climate, working with you to devise a seamless solution for your community. For discussion, contact us here or give us a ring on +44 (0) 1179 115250.
Schools and educational establishments, whether primary, secondary, further or higher education, are more than just about learning. They are creative places, and getting the right balance between all the aspects that make up a good school can often be seen as more of an art than a science.
As the new academic year is in full swing and we head into the busy autumn period for schools, colleges and universities, we thought we would take this opportunity to revisit some of the benefits of outdoor fabric canopies for schools, whether it be by protecting learning environments from the elements or increasing capacity and space for learning.
Both indoor and outdoor spaces in schools, colleges and universities need to be more than just functional; they should provide a conducive environment for learning, individual growth and social learning, and there are few better ways to do this than by erecting creative and compelling structures in which to make best use of your school grounds.
Over recent years, outdoor fabric canopies for schools and education facilities have emerged as a versatile solution to enhance the utility and aesthetics of educational buildings – they can often make a big difference with limited disruption and initial outlay in terms of cost. In this article, we will delve deeper into five key benefits of outdoor fabric canopies in education.
The idea of moving beyond traditional classroom walls is gaining traction across various educational establishments, and outdoor fabric canopies offer schools, colleges and universities the opportunity to operate in dedicated outdoor classrooms and learning spaces – often on both a temporary or depending on the ask, more permanent basis.
Teachers, students and pupils can harness the learning potential available in their surroundings, whilst at the same time providing shade and shelter in hot pre-summer and early autumn days. Students can engage in hands-on activities, experiments, and group discussions in a refreshing outdoor setting, which not only breaks the monotony of indoor learning but also encourages creativity, exploration, and more provocative conversations about the world around us.
There are a number of obvious branding opportunities to be had when creating outdoor tensile structures, and many options, especially canopies, can be customised to suit the environment and nature of the educational facility. There is the opportunity to create ‘statement pieces’ on disused areas of land or outdoor space, for example, which has a positive benefit for the local community and its identity. There is also a more general aesthetic benefit – canopies enhance the overall aesthetics of school grounds or university campus, offering a pleasing environment that can have a profound impact on students’ moods and mindset and thereby contributing to a better overall learning experience.
As we foster the next generation, schools are expected to set an example for sustainable practices and looking after the environment around us. Fabric canopies offer a low embedded carbon build compared to alternative building materials and have long lifespans providing they are well maintained, which would reduce the need for frequent replacements.
By creating shaded outdoor areas, schools and universities can reduce their reliance on energy-intensive air conditioning systems, contributing to energy conservation and reduced carbon emissions.
Some of the larger or more expansive canopies in educational facility grounds offer the perfect space to carry out a wide range of sports – or even create pop up, temporary areas for equipment to be used no matter what the weather. Creating a comfortable and shaded area where students can participate in outdoor games, relax during breaks, or engage in group activities is important to overall student welfare and fosters social interaction and teamwork. There is also the opportunity to deck out and style these small outdoor spaces however each school sees fit, and for a number of different uses.
The UK weather is getting hotter, and also wetter and more humid, with large downpours in the shoulder seasons not uncommon, as well as other disruptive weather like snow happening each winter. A canopy in an outdoor setting allows education to continue in a stress-free and relatively affordable way – outdoor canopies act as a protective shield and will give educational establishments peace of mind and avoid any last-minute changes of plan when extreme weather does hit. Plenty of the canopies we offer are highly rated against the elements, which includes sunshine, so schools can be sure of effective and high-quality solar shading in the spring and summer months. There’s an added benefit to equipment left outside too, as under a canopy it’ll be less likely to suffer from sun damage.
As we are now heading back to school and the autumn term is starting in earnest, now is a great time to consider what canopies or systems you can put up across the year in time for shade protection next summer, ensuring you make year round use of outdoor spaces. For more information, contact the Base Structures canopy team using the contact form below.
We are ready to discuss your next school project, whether large or small. Our team can help decide on the best product for you. Contact us using the details or the form, thank you.
Over the years, Base Structures have installed numerous sun shade canopies, which are versatile tensile fabric structures that provide shelter from all the elements as well as providing much needed protection from the sun during the summer months.
As our climate changes and our summers get hotter, it has become even more important in public areas to provide protection from the sun’s rays. Fabric canopies can also introduce a striking appearance to otherwise undistinguished areas. In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the benefits of installing sunshades, with reference to some of our previous projects to inspire ideas of how you may be able to enhance outside space.
Utilisation of Outdoor Spaces
In addition to UV protection and respite from heat and reduction of glare, one of the primary uses of sun shades is to greater utilise the outdoors and create spaces that can be used by the community that were otherwise being underused. This can be seen across many of our school play shade projects such as at St Crispin’s or The Square in Listowel (both pictured below).
The ability to create visually interesting shapes and form that fabric brings, offers the ability to create an inviting, attractive and comfortable environment providing a focal point for community gathering and meeting, such as the canopy to protect people from the harsh sunshine and very high temperatures in the Community of Omdurman, in Sudan.
Making a statement design feature
A beautiful umbrella canopy can not only provide shade for a luxury setting but create a statement to individualise the space. Furthermore detailed graphics and printing options are possible with many different fabrics and are a great way to create a unique design feature or brand awareness. The printed canopy shown below installed at a private villa in Jeddah carries a personalised Arabic design printed on the underside of the PVC and creates a beautiful and calming space to escape the heat.
Energy Efficiency
Another key benefit is the reduction of heat build-up in commercial buildings that consume a substantial amount of energy for cooling purposes, particularly in regions with intense sunlight. Sun shades help reduce solar heat gain by blocking a significant portion of the sun’s rays. By limiting direct sunlight, they prevent excessive heat buildup within the buildings, leading to reduced reliance on air conditioning systems.
In particular our work at ADC Phoenix – Base Structures in Arizona is a good example of a utilitarian use of sun shading for a data centre to prevent overheating of the air handling units.
Spacing and hard to utilise areas
Sunshades and small canopies are also excellent to use when it comes to adding sunlight or weather protection to small areas of interior or exterior space, you’d like to make the most of. They can fit into existing courtyards or internal ceiling spaces, like at our project for St George’s Hospital or St Enochs Centre St Enoch Centre – Base Structures.
If you’re thinking about preparing to protect your environment or the people in your space from the elements, or direct sunlight, contact us today. Our team of tensile fabric experts are on hand to work with you through every step of the process from designing bespoke systems or advising on whether off-the-shelf canopies may work for your needs. Either visit the contact page or fill in the form below for more information.
in Bristol