Company:
SHADE Industries Inc. Phoenix, AZ

Project Details

Fabric 1

Commercial 95
Producer: Gale Pacific USA Inc.
Supplier: Wholesale Shade


Design Name
Ashley Carmona

Design Company
SHADE Industries

Fabrication Company
SHADE Industries

Project Manager Company
SHADE Industries

Installation Company
SHADE Industries


Please describe the project specifications

This freestanding structure, consisting of two vertical columns and a customized hip and ridge top, measures 32’-6” long, 12’-8” wide, with a 7’-6” entry height and provides 410 square feet of shade.


What was the purpose of this project? What did the client request?

The Director of Operations at the Phoenix Zoo requested we provide a budget-friendly and functional design for the giraffe feeding station. The design needed to be tall enough to prevent vandalism, low enough to provide efficient shade, and far enough away so the giraffes would not damage it. Scheduled feedings occur at 11am and 2pm year round, so we focused our design concepts around mid-day sun year round.


What is unique or complex about the project?

We don’t come across many projects that require us to keep the safety of the giraffes in mind, so that’s what made this project exciting to work on. Fabrication of this structure was ambitious, as it required specific angles to meet the size and height requirements of the conceptual design. The project was fabricated in shop, assembled to verify measurements, disassembled, powder coated, transported to the site, and then assembled again for a final time. Much of the fabrication and design is not truly symmetrical, as the space had many existing obstacles that we needed to give the appearance of symmetry, but fit the space while working with the existing restrictions. Construction could not disrupt the business of the zoo and had to be worked around zoo coordinators schedules, which usually meant early morning or late afternoon start times.


What were the results of the project?

Spectators to the zoo now wait for their turn to feed a giraffe in the shade. This was our 24th completed project at the Phoenix Zoo, and with our relationship continuing to develop as the preferred shade vendor. We are currently under contract on two more projects with them.


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