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Project Details

Fabric 1

PTFE-coated fiberglass membrane
Producer/Manufacturer: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp.
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Engineer Name 1
Viewtech

Engineer Company 1
Viewtech

Design Name
FTL Design & Engineering Studio

Design Company
FTL Design & Engineering Studio

Architect Name
Rhode Partners Inc.

Architect Company
Rhode Partners Inc.

Fabrication Name
Birdair, Inc.

Fabrication Company
Birdair, Inc.

Subcontractor Name
Birdair, Inc.

Subcontractor Company
Birdair, Inc.

Graphics Name
N/A

Graphics Company
N/A

Project Manager Name
John Veith

Project Manager Company
Birdair, Inc.

Installation Name
Birdair, Inc.

Installation Company
Birdair, Inc.

Please describe the project specifications

Loren Motor Court Canopy of The Loren Hotel is a unique tensile membrane structure with seven cone tops in one panel, suspended by cables from the adjacent walls. The 1,700 sq.ft. structure features PTFE-coated fiberglass membrane. Designed by architectural and engineering consultant, FTL Design & Engineering Studio, the client wanted a canopy structure that not only delivered a signature aesthetic appeal but also provided function for visitors of the new 96-foot hotel building in Austin, TX. The newest property, opening its doors this summer, is an art-filled hotel that blends the natural beauty of Lady Bird Lake with sleek urban style. Scheduled to open in August, The Loren Hotel at Lady Bird Lake — which is the sister property to Bermuda's The Loren Hotel at Pink Beach — is all about art, indoor-outdoor living, and natural serenity. Set right on the water, it's less than 10 minutes from Downtown Austin and South Congress Avenue, but it has direct access to the parks and recreational trails all along the water. And the 108-room hotel is all about bringing that nature inside and spreading it throughout the property.

What is unique or complex about the project?

Although very small in nature, the signature look and unique challenges of the project led us enter this project this year. What sets us apart from other projects we did was our ability to overcome many obstacles and with this project, a big challenge to install this canopy with vertical walls on each side. Two of the three walls are glass curtain walls, where no mistakes with rigging or tensioning was allowed. Part of the challenge was to tension all seven cones simultaneously. Due to the time constraints, we had to tension the panel with temporary rigging around the perimeter and come back later to install the permanent hardware. Constructing this tensioned membrane structure on an elevated slab, weight restrictions and working in parallel with numerous different contractors in the same work area added to the overall complexity. According to the GC, they told us at Birdair that even with all of our challenges, we were the only contractor to complete our work on time and on schedule as promised to the GC and Ownership.

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