2026 Archive : Nova Oceanographic Center

Project Details

Fabric 1

HDPE Architect 400 Porcelain 865150
Producer/Manufacturer: Trivantage LLC
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Please describe the project specifications

Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center required a specialized shade solution for areas housing live coral and sea turtles. Custom HDPE shade structures totaling 3,530 sq. ft. were designed, engineered, fabricated, and installed using 220 yards of HDPE Architect 400 Porcelain 865150 fabric. Because the structures were installed around active ocean life, fabric selection was critical and required a specific shade factor to provide the appropriate level of coverage for the marine life below.

Installation presented several unique challenges. Work had to be performed during specific time periods to accommodate the active research environment and marine life, while extensive underground plumbing limited where the structural framework could safely be placed. The client identified the locations of the underground plumbing, and a 3D scanner was used to capture precise measurements of the existing site conditions. Using this information, safe zones for the structure and attachment points were accurately determined, allowing the system to be designed around the existing plumbing, tanks, and infrastructure. Located directly on the ocean, the framework also had to meet the structural demands of a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ).

Accessibility to the tanks was another important design requirement. To provide greater access when needed, the tensioned fabric and framework were designed to be easily removable, while still providing the required strength and shade coverage when in place. The completed system provides 3,530 sq. ft. of specialized shade for the coral and sea turtles while addressing the operational, structural, and accessibility requirements of an active oceanographic facility.

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