R A Butler Academy adds Dining Area Canopy in Essex

An underused area outside the dining hall at R A Butler Academy has been given a new lease of life by the addition of a smart dining canopy. With so many children all wanting to have their lunch at the same time, the more space you can have, the better! In this case, more space has been added for students to eat as well as socialise, just by adding a lovely Linear canopy to the courtyard area.

Project Specification

  • Product: Motiva Linear™
  • Size: 10200mm x 5000mm
  • Steelwork:
    • Gentian Blue - RAL NO. 5010

  • Roof:
    • Opal

The Motiva Linear canopy was installed at 10.2x5m, with Mid Blue (RAL 5010) steelwork and Opal roofing. The remit was to add a canopy that was not completely enclosed, one which allowed light to flood into the area. With this in mind, we proposed and agreed upon the Motiva Linear canopy, which provides the necessary shade and shelter to make it a usable space all year round. Just as R A Butler specified.

If you can increase the footprint of your school and its facilities by adding a cleverly designed canopy then this has to be a great option. Where courtyard areas already exist, particularly when they are adjacent to dining halls or classrooms, what better way to extend your space than by building some shelter. School canopies can also add brand new usable space to unloved outdoor areas, such as playgrounds and fields, the options are endless!

“Excellent workmanship. Hard-working team, polite. Everything has been left clean and tidy. The guys went out of their way to do a top job.”

Headteacher – R A Butler Academy

How lovely to hear such positive comments from the team at R A Butler. Another project completed efficiently and to our client’s satisfaction.

If you want to discuss options or indeed review our gallery of projects for some inspiration, please get in touch on 01743 444100 or browse our gallery online.

Should eating outside at school be a privilege or necessity?

There are a large number of proven benefits to alfresco dining as a part of the school day. As students spend most of the day in a classroom setting, it is integral that they are given time to breathe at lunchtime. In spending this break outdoors, it not only promotes a peaceful environment but can also lower levels of hyperactivity in a child. If a pupil is made to occupy their break indoors, it can mirror the classroom setting and prevent them from taking a healthy amount of time to relax. Eating outside is also a really sociable activity, free by the dining hall environment young people can connect with other year groups easily.

Over on our blog you can see how schools can encourage their students to dine alfresco regularly – click here.

We’ve worked with many other great schools in Essex

Shade sail we designed for Thomas Willingale SchoolTensile Shadecloth Canopy Installed at Thomas Willingale School

Our team designed a shade sail structure in Thomas Willingale School, The Broadway, Loughton, Essex. The job involved one 5500mm X 3500mm Maxima™ tensile shadecloth fabric sail structure comprising of one square sail on four uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings and four post protector pads.

Straight Roof Shelter Designed for Montgomery Infant School

A&S erected a straight polycarbonate roof canopy for Montgomery Infant School, Colchester, Essex. The contract included the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Saint Nicholas School Added Three Sails 

We constructed three sails at Saint Nicholas School, Hobbs Cross Rd, Old Harlow, Essex. The full contract involved manufacture, supply and installation of three sails using monotec 370 fabric (strongest in industry – 15 year guarantee) including for new tensioning mechanisms.

Friars Nursery Add Play Area Shade Sail

Working for our building contractor client we made a waterproof sail structure for Friars Nursery, Centurion Close, Shoeburyness, Essex. The contract included one 4000mm X 4000mm Maxima™ tensile waterproof fabric sail structure comprising one square sail on four uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings required and four post protector pads.

Shelter we installed at West Hatch High SchoolLarge Dining Area Shelter Installed at West Hatch High School

We erected a curved roof canopy at West Hatch High School, Chigwell, Essex. The contract included one Motiva™ Duo duopitch curved roof canopy measuring 11000mm X 6000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Tensile Shade Sail Fitted at Downhall Primary School

We constructed a canopy and a shade sail structure at Downhall Primary School, Brooklyn Drive, Rayleigh, Essex. The job involved one 12000mm X 6000mm Maxima™ tensile shade cloth fabric sail structure comprising of two square sails on six uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings and one Motiva™ Duo duopitch curved roof canopy measuring 8000mm X 5000mm.

Shelter installed for The Coopers Coburn SchoolWhite Curved Roof Dining Area Shelter Designed for The Coopers Company and Coborn School

We designed a curved roof canopy in The Coopers Company And Coborn School, St Mary’s Lane, Upminster, Essex. Full details are: one Motiva™ Duo duopitch curved roof canopy measuring 16000mm X 8000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish and eight post protector pads. The job involved one Motiva™ Duo duopitch curved roof canopy measuring 16000mm X 8000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish and eight post protector pads.

Shelter we installed at Hamstel Infant SchoolHamstel Infant School And Nursery Install Straight Roof Shelter

Our engineers created a straight polycarbonate roof canopy for Hamstel Infant School And Nursery, Southend On Sea, Essex. Full details are: the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 15000mm X 3000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish. The contract included the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 15000mm X 3000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Kingsdown School Install Straight Roof Shelter

Working with our building contractor client A&S created two straight polycarbonate roof canopies in Kingsdown School, Snakes Lane, Southend-On-Sea, Essex. The full contract involved the supply and installation of two canopies.  One Motiva™ monopitch straight roof coloured polycarbonate canopy measuring 13950mm X 5000mm with glazed panels to side elevations and two double doors also including for glazed panels to side elevations and one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof coloured polycarbonate canopy measuring 7600mm X 7855mm.  Both canopies included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.