e Structure needs. The last couple of years has seen our installation teams working all over the country,...
e Structure needs.
Whilst a large part of the business is in the school market, we have extensive experience in both the restaurant and domestic.
If you have a project you would like to talk to us about, please contact us. Here are just some of the completed projects we have undertaken in the past couple of years:
Another first for Outside Structure Solutions Ltd! Our very first Dolce Vita Onda canopy went onto decking in South London to cover a fantastic timber-clad hot-tub. Views from the raised deck down into London towards the Shard make this a real statement. Installed in just 4 hours by two of our installation staff, it looks fantastic! The customer (herself an architect) loves the look and it compliments the cutting edge look of the garden office.
Working in conjunction with Beaux Art Landscaping and a high quality development company, we were very pleased to supply a single Med Isola free-standing retractable canopy to a new property in Chelsea. Designed to cover a small patio area we supplied a single structure which has a retractable roof which operates at the touch of a button. The Italian flair of the canopy design fits well with the crisp lines in the garden.
Working with a prestigious sports club in South London we installed a Redwood Andalucia to provide a covered barbecue area. The white tensile fabric roof matches well with a permanent marquee which is used for weddings, balls and events. However there was a requirement for a small canopy which can be used for any form of external cooking. The site was sloping so we used extra long legs which were shortened on site to ensure a level canopy. 2 man install team took 7 hours, and it is now in place and looking fantastic.
Following the installation of a terrace canopy some years ago, Savannah café-bar in Haywards Heath were interested in replacing it with something newer and more robust. Following extensive email and phone discussions, we visited site to see whether the proposals we had come up with would work. The decision was then taken to install a Med Unica structure measuring over 10m wide with a 4m projection. The roof had a single cloth and motor meaning that just one remote control was required. To make it all-weather we also installed four individual roller walls which kept the wind and rain off the seating area, but still allowed the customers to stand outside in the smoking area.
Working in conjunction with a high quality development company, we were very pleased to supply two individual Med Isola Front Leaning retractable canopies to a new property in Surrey. Designed to cover an area just outside the kitchen doors which was to be used for outside eating and entertainment we supplied a pair of structures which would retract in opposite directions to leave a minimal framework. To add to the complication of the brief, the structures needed to interface with the household automation system. This was a first for us, and saw both structures operating separately and together and being controlled by a touch-screen inside. The automation system also enabled the customer to open or close the roofs from anywhere in the house.
In late September we installed a Redwood Andalucia at the Nene Valley Day Nursery on the Northampton General Hospital site. Whilst they have a good amount of both indoor and outdoor space, unfortunately there was very little cover. We were asked to supply and install the Redwood, however the stipulation was that it must be done without disturbing the children! Therefore we decided that the only option was to install at the weekend, and so the install team arrived on site at 8am one Saturday morning. 6 hours later it was all done and the canopy was in place and looking fantastic.
The Barge Café in Southend is one of 10 cafes which are situated in the arches on the waterfront. Originally using “butchers awnings” these cafes were difficult to keep running during inclement weather. However the new owners of the Barge decided that the installation of a Med Elite retractable terrace cover would be the best approach for them. Giving a solid timber framework with a high quality electrically operated retractable roof, this type of structure is perfect for this area. Installed in two days, the whole café has been transformed and re-branded. Now called Coastal Bite, it offers chic dining all day with a fantastic blue roof to keep the rain (and occasionally the sun) at bay.
We were asked to provide two new Qube canopies to complement an existing structure already on the site. As part of a massive growth programme we worked with Bouygues UK to move the existing canopy to a new location and to then supply and install two more canopies to provide a statement entrance to their huge new building. Each canopy covers a separate door and means that two classes have direct access to a covered outside play area. As the canopies were all installed close together we were able to provide a seamless area measuring over 20m wide. By working closely with Bouygues UK we were able to ensure that the canopies were installed exactly as required allowing for the rainwater to run directly to their new drainage system.
This was our largest project to date in conjunction with the LDBS Diocesan surveyor and involved the complete remodelling the reception playground and front play area. Existing fences, gates, trees and grass were removed and the area excavated to provide a solid basis for the other works. This involved the laying of sub-base, curb-edging and coloured softplay within a new powder-coated fenced area. Outside the fenced area, the tarmac was cut back to give a semi circular arch which was then edged with stainless-steel to enclose the new resin-bound gravel system. An extensive planting border was made and new topsoil used to create a planting area for herbs, spices, flowers, fruit trees and trailing plants. Two specimen trees were planted (one inside the play area) with a teak tree-bench and a hand-made Oak bench complemented the planting. Within the play area, we planted a huge Buxus border which comprised 16 plants specially imported from Italy. In addition a bespoke gate and entry system was installed to the customer’s specification which linked in with the existing security and CCTV system. Since completion, the planting area has continued to evolve and is now well established.
Working in conjunction with the Diocesan Surveyor, we created a raised decking area with a disabled ramp and new rainbow-coloured bow-top fencing for a school in Hampstead. At the same time a team of builders were renovating the classroom before installing full width doors and glazing to ensure a free-flow of play. They have created two playgrounds out of one and ensured that the younger children have a safe area to play in.
Following our installation of the first Castle Range building we were asked to create a garden office in Reigate. The customer already worked from a small garden office and this was a huge step up in terms of space as well as providing a fully insulated building with double glazed doors and windows. As part of the project we incorporated the existing office into the design with a link corridor as it was to be used as a filing and storage room. As part of the project we also laid a decking area to the front and linked this to the house with a decking path. Under the path we installed ducting to ensure that the customer could upgrade electrics and phones with little difficulty.
Our first Mendip canopy was installed at Links Primary School in South London. Due to the location of existing play equipment we designed the canopy with two different projections to ensure that we didn’t restrict play. In addition to this the final part of the canopy was installed with a third different projection. Covering more than 50m2 this project involved Building Control to ensure that we installed the canopies to both the customer’s specification and also to the requirements of Building Regulations. This canopy has been in constant term-time use ever since.
Prior to building our first Castle Range Building we installed a new “Lifespace Garden Office” into a customer’s garden. This included laying a new concrete base, as well as a path from the patio which had to blend into the garden. As this was a completely new project, the customer also required electricity as well as broadband and phone lines installing. In addition the inside of the office was insulated along with laying a laminate floor, filing cabinets and a work bench on two sides.
We have also completed a project for a nursery who share the use of a carpark. This involved laying new tarmac to give a safer play surface, as well as installing “softplay” to a ramp. We also installed decking timber to create a sturdy fence which is able to withstand impact from toddlers and toys. Finally we designed and installed a removable canvas wall system with lift-out posts.
We have supplied literally hundreds of post protectors and it is now unusual for us to produce something new. However we were asked to protect a floating pumping station with a set of four different size and shaped pads. We also provided 3 beam protectors which each measured 10.8m long for a photographic studio! Constructed in three parts to ensure we could get them in the truck they were delivered in four weeks and were protecting heads the very next day. In addition to that, we have supplied protectors for square, rectangular and cylindrical posts up to 2m long as well as designing a bespoke set of pads to protect the bases of football floodlights. Just ask, I am sure we can help.
In Stokenchurch we have installed a 6.5m x 5mQube with an 11m x 1.5m walkway attached. The main structure is fully glazed to enable all year round play and teaching. We later returned to the school to install a matching pair of 5m x 5m Qubes with retractable roller walls.
In North London, we were asked to supply a second Qube to a school for their nursery. Since installing their first structure during the summer for the Reception children, it has proved so invaluable that the school have asked for a replica for the nursery. This has also proved to be hugely popular and we were asked to return and install a canopy on the second side of the nursery. As part of our discussions the school said that they were going to install Retractable Roller Walls. We were therefore able to design the canopy to suit this meaning that we could ensure the minimum number of roller walls to keep costs to a minimum.
We were asked to install a matching pair of 6m x 4m Mendip canopies for the early years classrooms. The canopies were to be installed at the same time on different sides of the building. Due to the quality of the existing building we were able to install the Lean-to version of the canopy which reduced the number of legs in the play area. The building had powder-coated windows and doors and we were able to colour match the frame to make it look like the Mendip canopies were installed when the building was built.
We installed a walkway cover for this Academy school in Ampthill. Working within a tight time scale, we completed a full planning permission application coupled with Building Regulations compliance works. The canopy was designed to fit between two buildings to provide a covered area for the students to walk as well as providing a break-out area during lunchtime and other breaks.
We have installed a 12m long structure at a Community Special School in Middlesex where the teachers asked for the frame to blend in with the wooden cladding to the building. We managed to provide a special powder coated frame that looks like it has always been there, and the school are very pleased with the final results.
There are now structures in schools, pre schools, nurseries, academies and private gardens throughout North, South and West London, Surrey, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and South Yorkshire which we have installed. All the users have reported that they have transformed each area meaning that much more use is made, whether the weather is good or bad.
This is just a small portion of the jobs that we are able to tackle, please let us know what you need doing and we will endeavour to help.
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