Stockport Academy in Greater Manchester Add Two Fabric Umbrella Canopies

There are many options available from our range that suit this type of requirement, but in this case we choose the Maxima Umbrella™.

Project Specification

  • Product: Maxima Umbrella™
  • Size: 8000mm x 8000mm
  • Steelwork:
    • Ultramarine Blue

  • Fabric:
    • White - RAL NO. 9010

What was the brief?

The Stockport Academy in Cheadle Heath wanted to explore options to add value to their outdoor areas. Their campus offers many facilities to its pupils and to the wider community. With a large main hall, AstroTurf pitches, atrium, dance studio and refectory, the school is accessible for local groups to hire for events, as well as providing students with a great learning environment.

To add to these facilities, the school wanted to consider options for outdoor shelter, offering refuge from both rain and hot sun. Their approach to A&S Landscape centred around obtaining advice and guidance on how to achieve this.

What was our canopy umbrella solution?

Fabric umbrella canopy at Stockport AcademyThe first thing that the A&S Landscape team do when scoping out a design, is to work with the client to establish the exact plans for usage and location of the canopy. The specific brief from the Stockport Academy set out the requirement for a waterproof covering. The main intention was to provide sun and rain shelter for pupils during the course of the school day.

There are many options available from our range that suit this type of requirement. But in the case of the Stockport Academy the chosen option, following thorough exploration of the brief, was for two Maxima Umbrella™ canopies. With a tensile canopy system, these umbrella-style shelters look fabulous as either a single sun shade or grouped in multiples to cover a much wider area.

Each of the canopy umbrella shelters in the Stockport Academy design was 8 metres by 8 metres. Completed with steel uprights in Ultramarine Blue (RAL 5002) and finished off with white waterproof PVC fabric from our wide range of colour choices, the shelters were erected next to one another. This meant that each standing canopy provided cover over a substantial footprint.

What was the result of the new fabric canopies?

The canopy architecture of the Maxima Umbrellas™ makes them a real statement piece. These types of sun shades immediately draw the eye in, and on rainy days and sunny days, they are a magnet for those seeking shelter.

Stockport Academy has completed the design with attractive seating areas beneath each canopy umbrella. Encircled with low half-walls, which are also at the perfect height to provide bench seating, they have created a wonderful space for those seeking refuge from the elements. Even when the weather is not an issue, the space is a draw for meeting up and socialising and is also perfect as event shelters for those community groups hiring the campus facilities.

About the client

Stockport Academy is located in Cheadle Heath within the metropolitan area of Greater Manchester. Recipient of a range of awards, including the Safeguarding Initiative during COVID-19, the school has much to celebrate. Their students, too, are award winners, with their Head Girl winning the football anti-racism campaign Kick It Out award for Artwork and Creative Writing for three years in a row.

Officially rated as a ‘good’ school, Stockport Academy is part of a group of schools providing a broad education across England. Their umbrella organisation, United Learning, is based in Peterborough.

This part of Greater Manchester is the home to a number of significant engineering companies. It makes it a great place for apprenticeships and jobs for those pupils from Stockport Academy wanting to pursue a career in engineering or technology.

Why invest in an umbrella canopy?

The Willow Primary School Umbrella CanopyAside from the obvious benefits of providing shelter on rainy days, there are a number of additional benefits of installing an umbrella canopy, like the Maxima Umbrellas™ shown in this project. These include:

  • UV protection on hot sunny days
  • An attractive focal point which also acts as an easy assembly area for groups
  • Durable steel and PVC make them a low maintenance and robust option
  • They can be used in a single or multiple configurations to suit any space
  • Sturdy construction means that they are wind, rain and snow safe

Why schools should encourage lessons to be taken outdoors and what actions they can take to ensure this can help all-year-round

Classrooms have long been the setting of choice for a great deal of schools, but the merits of outdoor learning are quickly being recognised. You might possibly think that it’s not feasible, especially with the irregular British weather, but with a shelter, teaching outside can become a reality. With many dimensions available for varying applications, any school can install a canopy to repurpose any outdoor area into a new form of classroom.

Want to discover more? Click here to carry on reading our article about the benefits of outdoor learning.

How can A&S Landscape help you?

Our team are on hand to help you, whatever your project needs. From small, single sun shelters, to large-scale steel walkway design, our expert designers can develop plans perfect for your project. We also offer a range of free resources on our website to help you get started with your ideas for your commercial school project. These include:

If you would like to discuss in more detail how A&S Landscape can help you, get in touch with our team today. They can be reached by telephone on 01743 444100 and by email at [email protected].

Read about some of our other jobs located in Greater Manchester

Shelter we designed for Netherwood AcademyNetherwood Academy Add Covered Seating to Campus

Working for our building contractor client our team constructed a curved roof canopy at Netherwood Academy, Wombell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The job involved one Motiva™ Mono monopitch curved roof canopy measuring 16000mm X 6000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Straight Roof Shelter Designed for England Lane Academy

Working alongside our building contractor client our engineers constructed a straight polycarbonate roof canopy in England Lane Academy, Knottingley, West Yorkshire. The job involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 15500mm X 3500mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Prince Edward School Add Shade Sail to Site

In combination with our trade partner A&S constructed a sail structure for Prince Edward School, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The contract included one 7000mm X 7000mm Maxima™ tensile waterproof fabric sail including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Fabric Shade Sail Structure Designed for Network Rail Depot

In combination with our trade partner A&S built a sail structure at Network Rail Depot Audax Road, York, North Yorkshire. The full contract involved one 3000mm X 3000mm Maxima™ tensile shade cloth fabric sail structure comprising of one triangle sail on three uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Sail installed at Shipley CollegeShipley College Add Large Shade Sails to Campus

A&S built a waterproof sail structure for Shipley College, Shipley, West Yorkshire. The contract included the supply and installation of one Maxima™ tensile waterproof fabric sail structure comprising of two sails on five uprights and one wall bracket including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Curved Roof Entrance Cover Made for Abbeywood School

Working with our building contractor client our engineers constructed a curved roof canopy at Abbeywood School, Bramley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The job involved one Motiva™ Entro curved roof canopy measuring 3000mm X 2000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

High Hazel Academy Add Straight Roof Entrance Cover

Working alongside our building contractor client we erected a straight polycarbonate roof canopy at High Hazel Academy, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The contract included the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 14400mm X 5800mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Two Straight Roof Covers Made for Selby High School

In collaboration with our building contractor client our engineers made two straight polycarbonate roof canopies at Selby High School, Off Armoury Road, Selby, North Yorkshire. The contract included two Motiva™ Linear monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 5700mm X 1650mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.