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Project Details

Fabric 1

Ingetex custom pvc mesh
Producer/Manufacturer: OTHER
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Engineer Name 1
Martin Friolet

Engineer Company 1
Ingetex

Design Company
Ingetex

Fabrication Company
Ingetex

Project Manager Company
Ingetex

Installation Company
Ingetex

Please describe the project specifications

This project involved the complete design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of a tensioned shade sail system commissioned by the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada (Quebec). The structure is located in a public square in the historic Vieux-Saint-Jean district. The objective was to enhance the site with a functional and architectural shading solution, offering daytime solar protection and nighttime ambient lighting, all while meeting Quebec’s provincial structural standards.

The system includes seven triangular shade sails, in blue and lunar grey, suspended across nine custom-engineered cantilevered steel columns. The sails vary in size, with sides ranging from 35 to 50 feet, and are arranged in a curved arc layout. The overall system spans approximately 150 feet in length by 35 feet in width, with the sails projected at a maximum height of 16 feet above grade. Achieving optimal visual and structural balance required precise tension geometry, site-specific spatial modeling, and detailed 3D coordination.

The sails were fabricated from a custom PVC mesh, selected for its mechanical durability, dimensional stability, and excellent performance in permanent outdoor applications. The fabric weighs 9 oz/yd², provides 85% UV protection, and has a tensile strength of 223–227 lbf/in (warp/weft). It was CNC-cut for precision and heat-welded to form seamless, reinforced membranes.

Each edge incorporates a welded PVC keder sleeve containing a 5/16-inch stainless steel 7x19 wire rope cable, providing continuous tension and strength along the sail perimeter. At each corner, the cable is secured into custom aluminum keder bars, tensioned using two galvanized steel turnbuckles. This approach allows for fine tension adjustments and ensures consistent pretension across the membrane.

This assembly method, combining keder cable reinforcement with aluminum termination bars and dual turnbuckles, represents a unique fabrication and anchoring technique rarely used in shade sail systems. It enables fast seasonal removal while maintaining exacting structural performance and visual form year after year.

The steel support columns measure 12 ¾ inches in diameter, with a ½-inch wall thickness, and rise 16 feet above grade. Each was designed to carry tensile loads while housing internal LED lighting. A hollow-core column design accommodates electrical conduit, which is routed via a buried underground network, ensuring a clean visual finish with no exposed wiring.

Each column is anchored into a 5 ft x 5 ft x 8 ft reinforced concrete footing, engineered for frost protection and moment resistance. A custom steel jig was used during installation to ensure precise vertical alignment and geometric consistency across the arc.

The sails are removed each fall and reinstalled in spring due to local winter conditions. The entire system was engineered for fast, repeatable seasonal handling, with all interfaces—keder sleeves, cable ends, tensioners, and anchor hardware—optimized for tool-efficient disassembly and reinstallation, without compromising sail shape or stability.

The final result blends advanced engineering, architectural clarity, and functional adaptability. The system delivers high-performance shading by day and becomes a softly illuminated sculptural presence by night. Digital fabrication workflows minimized material waste, and the selected components ensure long-term durability with minimal maintenance.

The City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu expressed complete satisfaction with the project, which has become a landmark feature of the Vieux-Saint-Jean district and a reference model for future civic space enhancements.

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