HEART OF GOLD

A pleasurable shopping experience includes returning to a car that is cool and comfortable to drive home in afterwards. The Robina Town Centre solution also makes a major aesthetic contribution.

Greenline Shade & Shelter introduced 11,000m² of freeform tensile membrane structures at the mall complex. Senior designer Ben Holt co-ordinated the project from concept development through to the design detailing for the canopy membranes, says operations manager Martin Tooth.

"Holt provided the technical support required for the architects to define the layout of the columns and the configuration of the sails, and steered the design process for the waterproof structure in the centre of the area," says Tooth. "At times, he was speaking to more than 10 contacts during the design co-ordination stage including the architects and the building engineer, as well as the lighting engineer and project director."

Greenline Shade developed the graceful Robina structures to incorporate floodlighting, uplighting, downlighting, emergency signage, public address systems, lightning protection, rainwater collection, syphonic drainage and power outlets.

To avoid detracting from the architectural lines of the fabric, all services are set within the columns and exit through the centres of the baseplates a feat of design engineering in itself.

Besides ensuring comfortable car interiors and protection from the elements, the membranes reduce glare from carpark decks and minimise heat transfer from top-deck carparks to retail spaces.

"Given the scope of the project, there were bound to be some interesting challenges," says Tooth. "For example, the tight construction time frame saw us detailing hold-down bolt locations an hour ahead of the concreting team laying them.

"Greenline's extensive experience meant all such issues were handled quickly and professionally."

The company offers a broad range of fabric architecture, such as cafe umbrellas and sails over school and council playgrounds, carpark shade structures, tensile membranes for buildings, textile facades and stretched ceilings.

Greenline works with a variety of materials, depending on project requirements. These include polyethylene shade mesh, PVC membranes, glass fibre membranes and ETFE film, a type of plastic.

"Greenline has another point of difference in that the company maintains a tight level of control over all of its projects," says Tooth. "This is through a comprehensive management system, that incorporates ISO9001 for Quality Assurance, Environmental Management and OH&S Management and limiting reliance on third parties another attractive feature for large contractors such as Bovis."

For details, contact Greenline Shade & Shelter, 3 Ball Place, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, phone 1800 044 200, fax (02) 6938 1001, or visit the website: www.greenlineshade.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas