A&S Landscape transform The Gilberd School with outdoor canopy

The Gilberd School in Colchester, Essex, like many schools in the UK, had a need for additional dining space. Dining areas are often one of the first resources to be outgrown as a school grows. To avoid an overcrowded dining room, the school wanted to transform a large area into an outdoor seating space for the students.

A&S Landscape in partnership with Architects and Project Managers Ingleton Wood LLP, worked to create a bespoke solution for The Gilberd School.

A&S Landscape offer school canopies with fabric or polycarbonate roofing options, allowing many different designs and configurations. In this instance the school chose a steel and polycarbonate structure from the Motiva Duo range. The large structure measured 24m x 15m in order to make the most of the available space. The steel work in RAL 7011 Grey complements the Poppy coloured polycarbonate panels. These were installed to match the design elements of existing school buildings and ensure the overall look was seamless.

With seating underneath, the new dining canopy has created a large new space for students to use all year round. They can sit and study, eat, socialise and relax whatever the weather has to offer! A totally bespoke solution which has changed school life for students at The Gilberd School for the better.

You can hear how the project enhanced the wider works as well as life for the students …

“Ingleton Wood were delighted with A&S Landscape’s support throughout the design process to help us achieve our vision of the external covered dining space. We found A&S Landscape very professional and accommodating to provide the unusual feature coloured panelling to the building. This panelling provides essential weather protection for pupils but also links back to other architectural projects on the site.” Ingleton Wood

“The canopy has quickly become the centrepiece for the school and attracts a lot of attention from visitors. The students love it and being outdoors it somehow makes for a more relaxed atmosphere. The whole process from initial enquiry to completion was stress free from our perspective. The installation was carried out during term time in close proximity to school buildings and was carried out safely, on schedule and with minimal disruption. I also feel the need to add that the installation team couldn’t have been more professional and yet pleasant in manner.” The Gilberd School

Click here for more information on school canopies.