Priory Community School is an Academy Trust located in Weston-Super-Mare who approached us with a brief intended to make better use of their exterior space. Whilst the school has a generous outdoor area for the students, they lacked an external facility that provided effective shelter from the elements. The scorching coastal sun was as much a concern as the wet weather that can often drive up the Bristol Channel – what they really needed was a tensile fabric canopy.
When we visited the school to discuss the brief and present the multitude of possible options, it quickly became apparent this wasn’t your average client meeting. In attendance with the Principal were the students themselves to help inform the choice of structure for their school. Together they brought an interesting perspective to the process, in particular specifying that the completed structure must not obscure the view of the surrounding school grounds with walls or visual barriers.
To best fit their brief and the school site, we adapted a single bay, pre-designed Malvern canopy into an extended three bay walkway style canopy measuring 7 metres wide and 21 metres long. Not only do our pre-designed canopies bring cost efficiencies, they can also be easily adapted to suit a particular brief.
Finished with a specified colour scheme of cream PVC fabric and grey coated steelwork with canopy up-lighting embedded in the floor, the school has a fantastic addition to the playground that we hope the pupils will feel proud of. Here’s hoping we score an A+!
in Bristol
