Fabric Covered Walkway, Penzance Quay
Regular passengers on the Scillionian III Ferry that connects The Isles of Scilly with the Cornish mainland were delighted when approval of the plans to create a covered area for queuing on the quay were granted by Cornwall Council. The announcement has been long awaited by visitors to the Islands who have frequently experienced the unpredictable wild and windy weather on the incredibly exposed quay.
Brief
After the lengthy planning process was finally approved, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group approached ARC to design, build and install a bespoke fabric canopy on the Penzance quay.
It was a challenging brief, as the quay itself is a Grade II-listed structure, which limits construction work on the site and prohibited the erection of any permanent structure.
Outcome
Our solution was to supply a 50m long fabric walkway canopy tensioned over a supporting steel masts and arches that will stretch the passenger waiting length of the quay. A continuous series of 15 PVC coated fabric bays connect to form one long membrane over the galvanised steel frame.
The tensile fabric structure has been designed and engineered with demountable capacity, so that it can be taken down in the event of bad weather, or as the sailing season ends.
The walkway canopy has been met with wide approval from locals and travellers alike. The structure was engineered to withstand the inclement weather conditions that the exposed position of the quay is often subject too, because of this it provides dependable shelter from wind and rain, as well as shade in the sunnier months.
“The long-awaited structure has vastly improved the travelling experience for passengers to the islands, providing them with comfort and protecting them from the elements as they wait to travel.”