The Client Sharp Lane Primary School, Leeds
Type of works: Supply of a tensile fabric structure

Located in Leeds, Sharp Lane Primary School required the construction of a tensile fabric structure as part of a refurbishment programme carried out by main contractor, MD Construction. The new structure needed to serve a dual purpose, providing both a covered walkway and a feature entrance canopy for the school’s main reception area.

During the project’s design phase it became clear that there were a number of compatibility issues between the proposed tensile fabric structure and the existing building which needed to be resolved before the project could go ahead. The project team also faced the additional challenges of exceptionally cold and snowy weather during the installation period (winter 2010) and was required to complete the scheme while the school continued to operate on a business-as-usual basis.

The J&J Carter engineer visited the site alongside the contractor, completing a survey that allowed the team to resolve the design clashes with a revised scheme. The completed structure provides a membrane design life of 20 years, with a steel frame design life in excess of 30 years. The PVDF/PVC/PES membrane has also been provided with J&J Carter’s standard 10 year warranty and is completely recyclable. The J&J Carter site team implemented additional health & safety measures in order to work safely and efficiently during the cold snap and successfully delivered the project on time without any business interruption issues for the client.