Knox Grammar Sports Court Canopy
Project Details
Location: Sydney, NSW
Completion Date: Jan 2020
Size: 24m x 36m (880 sqm)
Fabric: PVC - Mehler FR900N
Client: Knox Grammar
Photography: © Luke Zeme Photography
The Knox Grammar Sports Court Canopy is located in the new MacNeil Sports and Locker Facility, a multi-level redevelopment of existing sports courts at the prestigious Knox Grammar in Sydney. The development features a rooftop basketball court with a MakMax TensoSportTM PVC sports court canopy.
The Brief
The Knox Grammar Sports Court Canopy was a long-anticipated addition to the school. MakMax worked with the architect to propose and develop a design for a sports court roof which is modern and functional yet not intrusive against the older builders surrounding it. The weatherproof TensoSportTM PVC canopy over the basketball court was specified to include provisions for future extensions if required; as well as fixings for retractable basketball boards, plus integrated electrical provisions for lighting, shot clocks and CCTV cameras.
The Concept
The Knox Grammar Sports Court Canopy is created using our standard TensoSportTM barrel-vault-style structure, the complexity of the project came from construction on a restricted site. Working in and around the 100-year-old buildings of the historic North Sydney school required detailed project planning, and working while minimising disruption to school hours, meant tight working deadlines. A wide range of additional elements incorporated into the structure, such a scoreboards, adjustable basketball backboards and CCTV brackets, as well integrated lighting meant extra complexity and time pressure during the short installation window.
The Materials
The school initially requested the canopy to be mesh shade cloth, however also we provided a non-conforming PVC option during the tender phase. At the request of the project architect, the steelwork was engineered to a specification where it could be upgraded to PVC in planned project additions at a later date. At the 11th hour of the project, the specification was changed to the PVC option straight off the bounce to provide a longer lifespan for the structure. Other environmental considerations, such as PVC being able to be recycled at the end of its useable life, as well as greater sun protection for students appealed to the school.
While the initial engineering specification was created to incorporate PVC at a later date, the last-minute change required rapid redesign of construction drawings, as well as the inclusion of gutters and downpipes.
The Result
The weatherproof PVC membrane roof creates a more weather-protected basketball court, ensuring the students have a sun-safe playing area in the summer, and the sports court roof ensure continuity of play in the winter.
The elegant sports court canopy blends modern fabric architecture into an historic school campus. The clean, modern look provides the high-quality finish parents and students of the exclusive Grammar school expect and adds to the exceptional sporting facilities of the school. The project exemplifies the sporting ethos of Knox Grammar “Playing sport is an essential part of every boy’s education at Knox. Through sport our students learn about teamwork, mental fitness, fair play and how to deal with loss as well as success.”
For a unique view of the canopy within the school grounds – view the Knox Grammar virtual tour.
