The management of the Muskogee Regional Medical Center sought to improve its patient drop-off area by adding entrance canopies. Structurflex designed two PTFE-coated tension membrane canopy structures that are composed of a series of complex steel intersecting arches for all primary structural elements. Each canopy is formed from three inverted cones, and the overall design organically references life and health. Each element was computer modeled and detailed for seamless installation in the field. Custom-made, high-strength stainless steel fittings and hardware create the connections between elements. Rainfall is channelled into an integrated downspout that links into a storm drain under the main drive. The soft shape and translucency of the PTFE membrane delivers visual appeal that is unrivaled by other, more conventional, building materials. At night, these structures are illuminated and become glowing iconic beacons marking the main entrance to the facility.
The five-story, 60’s era West Hills Medical Office Building in Los Angeles was due for an exterior facelift. A complete exterior renovation by Michael W. Folonis Architects revealed that water infiltration had caused structural damage to the existing horizontal plaster awnings; removing them was a costly process that consumed much of the project budget. This […]
KieranTimberlake: Printed Tensile Cladding at Rice UniversityWe are pleased to have collaborated with KieranTimberlake and the outfit of a parking structure on the Rice University Campus. In their blog post, they describe the concepts they employed to create an iconic sculptural element. For more details see the KieranTimberlake blog post.
