Canopies For Education

How we can help you.

Where do you start selecting a supplier for the new covered space project at your school? There are plenty of canopy manufacturers to choose from and with the investment being a significant one, finding a company with the right credentials and an informed, attentive approach to your enquiry is essential.

At Streetspace we’ve been working with Schools and Colleges across the UK for over 20 years now, and our projects have spanned MUGA canopies with associated civil engineering and surfacing works, Design & Build Dining Halls right through to small playground shelters and street furniture installations.

We design all Streetspace canopies in house using the latest 3D CAD technology from survey to manufacture which means our team can accommodate challenging site constraints or particular design features with ease. We manufacture all products and bespoke fabrication from our two factories in East Kent with skilled and dedicated teams working across the country to install these.

Aftercare and maintenance is equally important to the success of your canopy project as its design and installation. Our comprehensive warranty, subject to the required cleaning and maintenance regime, covers you for up to 25 years with Streetspace specialist engineers always available for planned and reactive maintenance.

Watch the videos below and find out how we could help at your school.

Playground canopies at School

Quick Quote

Send us an email with an idea of your new canopy requirements and we will provide a guide price, usually within 24h!

    Canopies For Schools

    School Canopies From Streetspace

    Streetspace canopies for schools are based around a modular design theme, providing a consistent aesthetic and efficient cost structure with the flexibility for specific site requirements and constraints. All of our canopies are designed and manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1090 EXC 2 accreditation and our company processes subject to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2008.

    Triton polycarbonate roof canopies are well proven with many schools, colleges and universities offering outstanding durability from an all-steel frame with polyester powder coat finish, multiwall polycarbonate roof panels, aluminium glazing system and galvanised steel rainwater goods. Triton canopies can be designed as outdoor classrooms, covered dining areas, covered walkways and entrance canopies along with many other uses. The unobtrusive curved roof design format is available in symmetric, asymmetric forms with a mono pitched option. These standard formats make the Triton product highly versatile for covering both large playgrounds with free space and classroom canopy areas adjoining buildings.

    Orion fabric structures can be specified with either the waterproof PVC membrane or shade fabric cover and are produced in five design formats, hypar, conic, star cantilever, shield cantilever and barrel vault. All of our Orion fabric structures are manufactured with the same immensely strong steel frame to maintain canopy tension throughout the lifespan of the structure. The flowing design form and unique ambience of fabric engineering lends itself to a wide variety of canopy types from small conic playground shelters, hypar shade structures to large covered spaces such as MUGA Canopies.

    Our Centaur cycle parking products are ideal for schools and colleges as cycle shelters, cycle racks and cycle lockers to suit a wide variety of applications for space available, security levels and numbers of cycles to be stored. The metroSTOR product line from Streetspace includes green roof options fully integrated into the structure design for many outdoor storage applications from bin stores to cycle shelters.

    Streetspace Design & Build Capability provides a complete single source construction package for projects in the education sector including dining halls, courtyard redevelopment projects, sports canopies and surfacing.

    Covered Walkways For Schools

    Covered Walkways

    Cycle Shelters For Schools

    Cycle Shelters

    Fabric Canopies For Schools

    Fabric Canopies

    MUGA Canopies For Schools

    MUGA Canopies

    Canopies For Early Years & Primary Schools

    Covered Space for Early Years & Primary Schools

    Covered play areas are central to the provision of outdoor learning environments that are safe and weather protected for year-round use. The benefits are widely acknowledged, with improved concentration and behaviour being positive outcomes attributed to increased play, learning and dining spaces in the great outdoors. This is supported by the Ofsted Early Years Foundation Stage Report as an essential element of a diverse and rounded curriculum.

    School playground canopies from Streetspace can be selected from a wide variety of design formats to suit both the differing building fabrics we have in the UK and the space available to cover, whether this is in a city centre or a rural environment. Just as the extent of facilities available and the number of pupils subscribed will vary from school to school and region to region, so the requirement for covered space will be different and this is where the resourcefulness of the design team you have selected comes into play. It could be an enclosed walkway canopy for pupil safeguarding needs, covered dining and social space to ease overcrowding, or shade provision for a particularly sunny spot on your playground and the way the canopy is integrated into existing facilities will often make the difference between a solution everyone is proud of and one that fulfils the essentials.

    The minimal support columns of Orion Fabric canopies from the cantilever product range are well suited to maximising available play space. They can be specified with either fully waterproof PVC or shade mesh fabric cover. Both options afford protection from the suns harmful UV rays and minimise the risk of sunburn for pupils and staff while going about their activities on sunny days.

    Consistent eaves height on new canopies is an important consideration for year round outdoor learning and fabric cantilever canopies such as the conic and shield are well suited to playground shelters. Classroom canopies tend to require a linear format which will often be better suited to either polycarbonate roof steel canopy or a barrel vault fabric canopy.

    Windbreaks can be specified on edge supported canopies fully integrated into the structure design for longevity, aesthetics and cost efficiency. The Canopy windbreaks are manufactured from timber slat panels, solid polycarbonate or toughened glass each with stainless steel glass mounts.

    Case Study – Bespoke playground shelters at John Keats Primary School

    Situated in the ground and first floors of the Bermondsey Works apartment complex in Rotherhithe New Road, John Keats Primary School is a brand-new school serving the London Borough of Southwark. With capacity for over 400 students, the school has beautiful external spaces designed by Innes Associates. These provide plenty of covered outdoor areas that allow the students to spend time outside in any weather.

    Playcubed, a company specialising in landscape construction for schools, contracted Streetspace to provide two striking outdoor teaching shelters to provide space where groups of students can learn out in the fresh air. The value of students being able to be out in the fresh air even in poor weather cannot be underestimated – it has significant impact on physical and mental health, as well as student outcomes.

    Playground Shelters at School
    Green Roof Shelters

    Green Roof Shelters

    Green roof shelters can provide pupils with an excellent opportunity to bring the enriching and enlightening natural world closer to their everyday lives while helping to safeguard our environment and its fragile ecosystems. They provide a great opportunity to create pockets of biodiversity, encouraging a wide range of bees, insects, birds and butterflies, particularly in areas where the habitat has been eroded by urbanisation.

    Case Study – Bespoke Green Roof Shelters at Kingsford School

    The two stunning bespoke triangular structures are steel framed with timber cladding, supporting 64m2 of wildflower meadow providing a valuable contribution to the biodiversity of East London as well as being visually appealing when viewed from upper floors of adjacent buildings.

    The requirement for ease of supervision of this alfresco dining space was met by enclosing the area with matching raised planters complete with mature shrubs, leaving just two entrances which could be cordoned off. The matching furniture and resin bound surfacing with contrasting colours has created an attractive all year round space which is robust enough to stand up to the demanding environment.

    Bespoke Green Roof Shelters at School
    Secondary Schools & Academies

    Secondary Schools & Academies

    The requirement for canopies and covered walkways on the larger secondary schools and academies in the UK will often be driven by the need to reduce overcrowding and facilitate student flow around the campus rather than to provide the benefits of the outdoor play.

    Many of these larger schools are finding that one of the best ways to realise the potential of existing space is to cover or enclose underutilised outdoor areas. This can create valuable covered areas, comfortable for year round use and suited to a wide range of short-duration uses such as outdoor classrooms, al fresco dining areas, playground shelters, locker enclosures and social space.

    As the built facilities of our education infrastructure are extended to accommodate changing teaching requirements and increasing student numbers, well-designed new covered space can provide the additional capacity needed very effectively and at a reasonable cost. An uncomplicated design and construction process allows you to create covered walkways and courtyard atrium areas that enable student flows through the campus, safely and in all weathers.

    With competitive sport playing a major part in student development programmes throughout the secondary school years, MUGA canopies can massively increase participation year round with capital costs typically around 25-30% of a traditional build sports hall.

    Increased dining and social break out space is an ongoing requirement for many larger schools with increasing student numbers. Fully enclosed ZONE glazed structures or TRITON enclosed canopies can have a vital role to play in freeing up core space within existing buildings for teaching.

    Case Study – Triton Enclosed Canopy at West Lakes Academy

    Our team worked with the West Lakes Academy team in Egremont, Cumbria to help solve overcrowding issues with a new Triton enclosed canopy.

    “We had a clear requirement for additional space. Streetspace designed a building which best fitted the specific location with a stylish, sympathetic and pleasing structure. We are very pleased with the result. The new area is superb; we have a much calmer, more amenable environment for all our students who can sit and eat at tables with their friends. Behaviour has improved, students enjoy their break and lunchtimes and staff find the whole experience so much better.” – Stephen Lester MBE, Chief Operating Officer, West Lakes Multi Academy Trust

    Enclosed Canopy at West Lake Academies
    University & Further Education Canopies

    Universities & Further Education

    Sixth form colleges are constantly challenged to explore new dynamic approaches to their education offering that will nurture independence and encourage leadership. They invest heavily in designing state of the art environments where students can flourish and the opportunity to create more learning and social space within the confines of a pre-existing campus is becoming a popular and smart cost effective decision.

    With even minor, unavoidable routine maintenance at heavily populated sites having an impact on the smooth running of an operation, Streetspace Urban Structures have the expertise and experience to guarantee delivery of swift, compliant and safe projects that will reap long term benefits without impacting on your campus fraternity.

    Case Study – Orion Shield Canopy at Kew House School

    We recently worked with Kew House School, in Brentford, Essex on their Sixth Form Centre; designing and installing a canopy solution for the roof deck, designed to encourage independent study for students approaching adulthood.

    The striking fabric canopy features a symmetric central ‘spine’ design with in-line support columns and finished with a perimeter cable edge. The canopy’s signal white steelwork complements the champagne finish of the PVC membrane fabric and is coordinated with the roof deck architecture.

    The structural design required close coordination with the construction architect and contractor with connections to the RC Frame steelwork. Modular manufacture enabled the canopy components to be craned up to the 6th floor for installation.

    Fabric Canopy At Sixth Form Centre
    Main Uses For Canopies In Schools

    The Main Uses For Canopies In Schools

    Dining Canopies

    The provision for indoor dining space can be surprisingly limited even on newer education facilities. This often results in school corridors or even classrooms being used for lunchbreaks when the weather is unfavourable. Staggered lunch breaks can be a solution though there are increased costs and disruption they can bring to consider. The Streetspace Zone is a glazed dining hall that provides a full specification building extension with an internal steel frame, double glazed aluminium curtain walling, composite insulated roof systems and HVAC systems as standard for heating and cooling for typically 60-70% of traditional build costs.

    Read more about Streetspace Dining Hall Design & Build

    You can achieve year round dining space for a lower outlay with Triton enclosed canopies. These versatile structures are specified with multiwall polycarbonate roof cladding, glass wall systems and infra-red heater units mounted within the roof structure.

    Case Study – Orion Conic Fabric Canopy at Midhurst Rother College

    Midhurst Rother College in West Sussex is a great example of how existing canopies can be adapted to provide increased protection from the elements. A multiple conic structure provides a striking aesthetic to the front elevation of the buildings, with the canopy now covering over 1000m2 and the front elevation a glass wall.

    Streetspace have provided high-quality covered areas for many schools within United Learning’s portfolio, and Midhurst Rother College is no exception. Since 2014, we have worked in several areas around the college and in 2019 completed the final phase of an enclosed and covered dining area to the front elevation.

    Orion Conic Fabric Canopies create a striking architectural feature as well as providing large areas of cover. In this case, the canopies have fixed edge tensile membranes that discharge rainwater into integrated guttering.

    Conic Fabric Canopy at Midhurst Rother College

    On a smaller scale but equally effective for less formal outdoor dining requirements is the polycarbonate roofed or fabric canopies that can be easily located close to canteens or break out spaces.

    Case Study – Triton GL Glulam Canopy at Marlborough C of E School

    The school had very limited dining facilities internally and very few covered sheltered areas externally, meaning that in bad weather students often had to take refuge in classrooms and corridors. The school approached a number of providers for proposals for creating a covered space.

    “The team’s communication was really good, the quote was easy to understand and the image provided was excellent to show Governors how the money was being spent. Our 15.0m x 6.0m Triton GL canopy has a glulam timber frame with a polycarbonate roof that allows maximum light transmission through the canopy. The timber frame helps the canopy to blend in with the surrounding landscape, whilst creating a warm and inviting feel to the inside of the canopy.” – Nicky Ward, Business Manager, Marlborough C of E School

    Glulam Timber Canopy at Marlborough C of E School

    Canopies For Breakout & Circulation Space

    The supervision of secondary school students during non-lesson times and breaks is quite different to that for primary schools, and the main requirement for these facilities will be maximising the area covered. Key factors to consider will be the integration of new structures with the existing school buildings and optimising their location alongside canteens or designated social areas.

    The new canopy design aesthetic must be given careful consideration and our consultants will offer advice on a canopy format that best fits with existing building architecture. The powder coated steelwork of our canopy steel frames will often be colour matched with window frames and curtain walling.

    Case Study – Orion Barrelvault Canopy at Isaac Newton Academy

    The breakout space canopies at Isaac Newton Academy in Ilford, Essex are a great example of how fabric canopy form can complement new build architecture.

    Barrel vault design provides a wide, clear-span area and an ambient sense of space. Tensile membrane canopies requires less structural steel columns to support the roof in comparison to traditional building materials. The space therefore benefits from minimal obstruction and clutter, guaranteeing a free flow of movement.

    PVC tensile membrane provides a flexible solution for the canopy covering; perfect for use throughout the day, as well as during darker evenings. In daylight, the semi-translucent fabric provides shade to protect occupants from UV radiation, while enough natural light is still able to penetrate to facilitate a pleasing, softly lit space.

    Barrelvault Canopy at Isaac Newton Academy

    Cycle Parking

    Our bicycle parking shelters are designed with flexibility, security and ease of use firmly in mind, along with greenroof options to further improve aesthetics and environmental benefits. The many design options available ensure that all outdoor bike storage requirements can be met, with the ultimate outcome being the cost-effective provision of increasingly valuable safe and secure bicycle storage.

    Case Study – Triton Canopy Cycle Parking at Reading Blue Coat School

    Reading Blue Coat School have a number of staff and pupils who cycle to school every day and their existing bike shed was tired and had not been upgraded in line with other buildings and facilities on the school site.

    Having already commissioned Streetspace for various other projects, the school approached us for a solution. We provided a complete package including the removal of the existing cycle shelters, resurfacing of the area, installation of drainage, a Triton 6.5m x 6.0m polycarbonate roof canopy and stainless steel Sheffield-style cycle stands.

    “I’m delighted that in the past year we could update this to a really smart site. Now we have a purpose-built bike shed which keeps pupils and staff bikes out of the rain. It has good drainage and also plenty of space. We even have dedicated staff parking spaces in the bike rack!” – Jesse Elzinga, Head Teacher, Reading Blue Coat School

    Cycle Parking Canopy Canopy at Reading Blue Coat School

    MUGA Canopies

    One of the biggest challenges in getting people consistently active is, of course, the weather, with up to 30% of all available playing time in the UK lost due to bad weather or poor light conditions. There is also the risks attached to extended exposure to the sun, for which the use of sun cream and wearing a hat are not always practical or convenient.

    Here at Streetspace we have been vocal supporters of active lifestyles for a long time and are proud to offer bespoke solutions of canopies for schools and other multi-use games areas (MUGAs). These MUGA Canopies are permanent architectural structures, dedicated to the provision of year-round, all-weather playing environments, which encourage people of all ages from the school and often the wider community, into sporting activities for their fitness and wellbeing.

    In more detail, our Sportspace365 MUGA canopy is designed around a PVC tensile membrane cover, tensioned over a steel framework through an alloy extrusion system. This is a proven design, offering cost efficiency in both construction and operational maintenance for large-scale covered MUGA space. Streetspace MUGA Canopies are open ventilating structures with dry, UV-protected and well-lit courts, having air flow and temperatures in line with the external environment. Shade mesh or perforated PVC panels can be added to the canopy elevations to keep out the elements without allowing stale air and condensation to build up.

    These projects will often be combined with refurbishment of existing sports areas including drainage, resurfacing line marking, safety fencing and even stadium type seating. These elements can be procured by a single source provider and managed within the same project scope by the Streetspace team.

    Case Study – MUGA Canopy at Revoe Learning Academy

    Streetspace worked with the Revoe Learning Academy in Blackpool to provide a new MUGA canopy. Ideal for schools and multi-use games area. The Sportspace365 MUGA canopy provides the perfect cover during all types of weather; shading on hot, sunny days and a waterproof area to continue sports and activities during wet weather. It is large and airy, creating a bright, open area underneath free from obstructive columns.

    Versatile synthetic turf was installed across the pitch and fabric mesh panels fitted to the ball stop fencing around the MUGA perimeter. Not only does this stop balls from escaping the enclosure, but it also provides effective protection from wind in this exposed coastal location.

    This highly effective covered MUGA has proved to be extremely popular with both pupils and the local community.

    MUGA Canopy at Revoe Learning Academy

    Covered Walkways

    As schools expand it is inevitable that with multiple buildings spread across a large site, staff and students will have to brave the less than favourable elements between lessons. There are the obvious safety implications to consider with this as well as comfort and security when the shorter hours of daylight available during the winter months are taken into consideration. A covered walkway that provides protection from the rain, wind and the sun, together with efficient lighting is a wise investment.

    Case Study – Triton Covered Walkway at Cockshut Hill School

    Streetspace designed and manufactured a 105m long walkway for the Cockshut Hill School in Birmingham connecting two main school blocks. The school commissioned the Streetspace design team to provide a visually appealing, weather-protected walkway enabling a safe and easy pedestrian passage. An additional consideration was that due to the sloping nature of the site water would run downhill and freeze in the winter months, presenting a serious slip hazard which had led to closures in the past.

    The Streetspace design team took the time to understand the unique circumstances and conditions required for a successful project outcome. The result is a high quality, safe and weather-protected pedestrian passage between sites for staff and pupils, eliminating a problematic winter weather slip hazard.

    Covered Walkway at Cockshut Hill School

    Dining Hall Extensions

    Optimising capital spending to meet the demands of a growing student intake is a challenge for many in the educational sector, with existing building space already filled to capacity and a shortfall in the necessary funding to initiate full-scale modifications using traditional building techniques.

    This is the challenge that Streetspace Zone Dining Halls were designed to fulfil, where outdoor space adjacent to existing buildings, has been identified with the potential to accommodate a new enclosed dining area extension. The Streetspace design team work closely with your school to create spacious dining facilities in a stylish, temperature moderated, glazed extension so premium learning space could be freed up in the core building.

    Case Study – Zone Dining Space Extension at Sponne School

    The dining hall at Sponne School could only seat 150 students, which wasn’t big enough. This resulted in students having to take their food away in disposable containers and grab a seat wherever they could – not a very satisfactory situation at all. Streetspace came up with an attractive and cost-effective solution to provide high-quality dining and social space for up to 200 students, while still maintaining the connection to existing facilities.

    The students love their new space and it is busy at all times from before school, during break, lunch and after school. The sixth form have also made use of it as a quiet study space where they can go and grab a coffee and do some work in a lovely light environment. The modern furniture we have selected has also enhanced the area and made it a nice place to be.” – Sue Wagstaff, Business Manager, Sponne School

    Zone Dining Extension at Sponne School

    Send us an email with an idea of your new canopy requirements and we will provide a guide price, usually within 24h!