Dick & Fritsche Design Group wanted the parking deck it was designing for Arizona State University to stand out from other garages on campus. And through its use of products from Cambridge Architectural's Parkade™ line, that goal was unequivocally met.
The architect used light-gauge steel framing in conjunction with two patterns of Cambridge tensioned metal fabric panels to break up the boxy mass of the 400- by 75-foot concrete building. Cambridge's Balance and Stripe metal fabric patterns shade vehicles and pedestrians by day while permitting security personnel to see into all levels of the structure at night.
Cambridge’s large-scale flexible open metal fabric patterns also allow daylight and fresh air to pass through the parking structure, reducing the need for costly HVAC and exhaust systems. These metal fabric products can be fabrics in lengths up to 200 feet, allowing for the most efficient installation possible. Cambridge stainless steel metal fabric products are also virtually maintenance-free.
The Arizona State University parking structure, completed in June 2005, features both Balance and Stripe metal fabric patterns, mounted with specially engineered Scroll, Eclipse and J-hook attachment hardware. The metal fabric used in this project meets fall protection requirements and, when used with crash barriers, eliminates the added cost of handrails. The attachment hardware, invisible from outside the structure, was designed to keep an aesthetic focus on the metal fabric and requires far fewer structurally embedded supports than its heavier, panelized alternatives.
Scroll attachment hardware grips the metal fabric and holds it in tension. Quarter-wrapped brackets attach to the structural supports to hide the hardware. Scroll is appropriate for lengths of metal fabric held in tension up to 100 feet.
Eclipse hardware provides tailored edges for expanses of flexible metal fabric in tension. The metal fabric fits into custom cut apertures in tubing that integrates into brackets and structural supports. Like Scroll, Eclipse is appropriate for lengths of metal fabric held in tension up to 100 feet.
J-hook attaches metal fabric to structural supports via J-hooks. The clearly articulated connection requires a rod that is threaded through the mesh at top and bottom edges. J-hook is appropriate for lengths of metal fabric held in tension up to 20 feet.
Cambridge maintains a fully staffed engineering department to assist with installation details, framing design, and load characteristics. Experts are also always available to supervise installations. Aesthetic and functional applications for Cambridge products include sunshade systems, parking structures and stairwell envelopes, space dividers, window treatments, curtain walls, custom applications and more.