Designed, engineered, and fabricated in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Tulip Canopy is a visible reminder of the craftsmanship and capabilities behind our Lightweight Structures™ products.
We’re proud to showcase this work at our headquarters, where associates, customers, and partners can experience firsthand the innovative tensile and architectural fabric solutions we deliver every day. For those who helped bring it to life, the canopy stands as a lasting symbol of the impact their work has across our company and beyond.
At A Glance
Structure Size: Approximately 600 square feet
Material: Shelter-Rite® 8028 with Brite White Tedlar® PVF
Fabric Used: 74 linear yards
The finished canopy features a distinctive tensile design that draws fabric to a central ring, creating the tulip shape.
A Buildable Solution
With the unique shape and size of the tulip canopy, the team had a unique set of challenges to overcome, particularly around fabric geometry, tensioning requirements, and environmental loading.
“Preventing ponding was a major consideration throughout the design process. If a fabric structure isn’t properly shaped and tensioned, water can collect in low areas and create significant stress on the system. We modeled the canopy and used finite element analysis to simulate ponding behavior, snow loads, and structural reactions, which allowed us to verify the design and ensure the supporting steel and attachment details would perform as intended.”
– Shaun Hansen, Drafter/Designer
Investment on Display
After the final design was approved, our Shelter-Rite fabric was manufactured and shipped to Allentown for fabrication before being installed at the Wooster headquarters. For the Allentown team members who traveled to Wooster during installation, seeing the canopy take shape was a rewarding reminder of their hard work and the steps being taken to expand the Lightweight Structures product line.
Left to Right: Jo Repriels, Helen Shafer, Dirk Cos, Shaun Hansen, John Schmidt
