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Wilmott Dixon required the construction of

Our designers at Setter Shelters love a challenge, and the curved walls of Henry Allen Infant Schools main building presented just that. Fortunately, as leading designers, manufacturers, and installers of wooden curved beam canopies, it was a challenge we were well equipped to surmount.

Henry Allen wanted a covered space for the parents to wait whilst they dropped off and collected their children. The proposed build site presented quite a challenge, due to the size of the space, the lack of potential areas for the feet to be installed, and as mentioned, the curved walls of the building.

We proposed a design that would surmount all of these challenges; by utilising the curved beams that are normally part of the roofing system, but as the uprights, we could mimic the curve in the wall. This intuitive and efficient design worked perfectly, thus ensuring the space was fully enclosed, as desired by the school.

A look at the curved uprights:

An overview of the entire scheme. Note the neat and unobtrusive steel feet used in the design.

A look at both the curved uprights, designed specifically to echo the curved wall, as well as to not interrupt the view from the window, nor the opening of the door.

Another look at the finished canopy

Oakley Lower chose Setter Shelters to build a new walkway canopy to join their two buildings. They opted for a monopitch canopy with customised roofing sheets.

The combination of yellow, turquoise, and blue casts an interesting shadow on the floor.

Oakley were after something new and different, and were ecstatic with what we built.

The canopy provides a covered walkway between the two main buildings of the school, with shade in the summer and shelter in the winter.

Oakley Lower were thrilled with their new canopy! And we were proud of another job well done.

Uffington Primary School’s Headteacher, Amy Carnell, approached Setter Shelters to design and build a canopy in place of their old one which was in desperate need of replacement. Upon visiting the need for a replacement was apparent; the purpose of the canopy was valid, however their aging canopy was both structurally unsound and leaking. A look under the previous canopy:

The space Uffington wanted to expand into:

In their brief, Uffington wished to not only replace their old canopy, but also extend it so that their two EYFS classrooms were interconnected underneath the canopy. This then expanded their all-weather-play area massively by creating a new covered outdoor space for both classes to use. A look at the new canopy:

A view from further away:

Uffington Primary School is in a sensitive location in an idyllic village in Oxfordshire, so the shelter had to not only be sympathetic to its surroundings, but also be complient with planning laws. As you can see from the pictures above, the canopy certainly fits in with the surroundings. It also succesfully conjoins the two classrooms as requested. With regard to the planning laws to be complied with, Setter Shelters acted as Uffington’s planning advice and consultancy service, to assist with any issues Uffington had with planning permission. This meant we provided a complete service from start to finish, making it a lot easier for Uffington to order from us.