Outdoor Dining Area at Sir John Talbot’s Technology School

Sir John Talbot's Technology School wanted to create an all-weather outdoor dining area, a social space that meant students could be outside whatever the weather.

Project Specification

Product: Motiva Duo™
Size: 12000mm x 6000mm | 4000mm x 4000mm
Steelwork:
- Brown Red - RAL NO. 3011
Roof:
- Opal

We had a fantastic experience installing this outside dining area in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Sir John Talbot’s Technology School wanted to create an all-weather outdoor dining area, a social space that meant students could be outside whatever the weather. But an outdoor dining space can present a problem for the staff. The students stay dry, but what about the poor kitchen staff wheeling out all of the delicious food?

Well, that’s why we provided a link to the kitchen doors at Sir John Talbot’s Technology School that means everybody stays dry and outdoor dining is fun for everybody!

We did this with a sleek Motiva Duo, 12000mm x 5000mm and 4000mm x 4000mm in an attractive Brown Red (RAL3011) steelwork and opal roofing.

The school were impressed with the work we did, their Business Manager noting, ‘A most professional service from design to installation’.

Read more about similar projects on our blog.

The Benefits of Eating Outdoors and What Schools Can Do To Facilitate Alfresco Dining

There is a lot of research that shows us the benefits of spending time outside; lowering heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and muscle tension. It can also lift your mood. Enhancements in attention, memory and concentration have also been shown.

How does this effect children in school? Well, being inside for nearly all of the day is connected to increased anxiety and depression. Couple this with the call of computer games and social media at home and you can see how paramount it is to offer children as many opportunities to be outdoors during the school day as possible.

Spending time outdoors boosts Vitamin D levels (an important hormone that helps to protect against an array of diseases such as osteoporosis, depression, heart attacks and stroke). It is stated in research that many of us do not get an adequate amount of this important vitamin, so more time outside is key to help address this deficiency.

With the longest break in the school day being the lunch break, a good solution is alfresco dining. More and more schools are adding to their outdoor areas, erecting outdoor dining spaces, with canopies, shade sails, umbrellas and even enclosed outdoor dining rooms. With increasing pupil numbers, this is a solution to the increased pressure that existing dining rooms come under as schools grow.

Continue reading our article to explore how schools can combat this issue and let their students to spend more time outdoors.