Pensacola, Florida, USA

Pensacola Naval Air Station

DESCRIPTION

Signature Structure

Fabric Architecture was commissioned to create a landmark memorial structure based on three diverging forms in flight. This concept was inspired from the ‘bomb burst manoeuvre’ performed by the Blue Angels and the vapour trails from jet aircrafts. The result is a custom 40’ tall sculptural tensile structure.

The Challenge

As the Air Station is situated on the Florida coastline, the Hypar fabric structures, which range in size from 145 ft2 to 380 ft2, were manufactured from a heavyweight woven mesh PVC and engineered for 160 mph hurricane force winds. The site was reclaimed from the sea and the ground was soft and uneven requiring specialist installation equipment with balloon tires to cope with the unstable ground.

The Solution

The end result is a bespoke permanent structure Fabric Architecture named the Skylar Evo. This iconic fabric structure provides unrivalled drama, serving as a beautiful memorial feature on the park. At over 40’ tall, the three ‘kites’ were arranged in a circular configuration to cater to the various possible viewing points from land, sea and air. The tensile structure is designed for wind to flow through, it making it extremely stable.

PROJECT SPECIFICATION

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