Canopies are used for a wide range of functions from a dining, rest or play area to a shelter, entrance area or walkway but over time they can outgrow their original use.
It’s understandable. Pressure on space changes all the time whether in a school, healthcare facility, leisure centre or business.
That’s why Spaceshade canopies are so versatile. Their modular designs are not only robust and long-lasting but extremely adaptable to our customers’ changing needs.
You can easily change the function of your canopy by transforming it into a new space.
For example, if you have an open entrance, walkway, play or activity area or shelter you can enclose area on two or more sides with side walls and doors to create another room.
Our side walls come in clear glass or tough polybarbonate to provide all year-round weather protection.
With budgets being squeezed from all directions, upgrading or repurposing your existing canopy is a much cheaper and easier option than building a new traditional structure.
An equivalent traditional new build can cost up to three times the cost of a canopy and takes far longer because you will probably need planning permission.
LED lighting and heating can easily be added to provide an ambient temperature and atmosphere during the darkest winter months.
Their addition allows you to provide an extra waiting room, a quiet space for patients or restroom for staff.
All our canopies have anti-ligature features meaning it’s difficult to tie anything onto the canopy and therefore keep patients in mental health facilities safe.
Like our frames, our roofs are available in a range of cheerful colours.
These brightly coloured roof panels can be added to canopies easily helping to bring some sunshine into a school or hospital on the dullest cloudy days.
We have fitted ‘rainbow’ roof panels to many outdoor playground canopies where children can take part in outdoor learning and messy play.
You can also brighten up an older canopy at the same time as increasing safety at schools by installing foam padded post protectors to the legs of your canopy.
As we move towards Net Zero in 2030 and away from fossil fuel reliance, more schools, businesses and hospital facilities are investing in renewable energy.
Solspans’ canopies are unique in that they can be retrofitted with solar panels at any time.
Solar panels can help cash-strapped schools and hospitals slash their energy bills and lessen the impact of soaring energy prices and a volatile energy market
The energy generated by the sun not only cuts your carbon footprint but frees up money for you to spend where it’s most needed whether that’s on students, patients or staff.
For example, we have fitted 50 solar panels to a playground canopy at the Three Peaks Academy in Tamworth helping to save up to £10,000 in energy bills for the Trust and cutting carbon emissions by 9.3 tonnes CO2e per year.
If you already have solar panels fixed to your roof, our Spaceshade® solar canopies are an alternative to rooftop solar panels.
Installing solar canopies or solar panels on canopies also provides an excellent opportunity for learning at schools.
Students can learn about how solar energy works in real time while under the canopy, helping to spark an interest in science and renewable energy.
If you’re being squeezed by ever decreasing budgets and space, our experts will be happy to talk to you through the options of repurposing or upgrading your canopy.