Entry Canopy

Context

A civic building is moving its main entrance to the side street. The architect wants a canopy that tells visitors where to go, keeps the rain off a queue of people, and respects a heavy masonry facade without competing with it.

Constraints

The canopy cantilevers from an existing wall, so fixing positions depend on what the engineer finds when the masonry is opened up. The entrance stays in use during installation. Rainwater has to be collected without a visible downpipe on the front elevation.

Scope

A 9.6 metre wide cantilevered canopy with tapered plate arms, a perimeter hollow section frame, laminated glass, and a concealed gutter draining into the wall. Fabrication, finishing, installation and coordination with the engineer, glazier and roofer.

Process

We drew two bracket options before the facade was opened, then finalised the design within days of the engineer’s inspection. The tapered arms were cut from plate, welded and ground smooth, and one full arm with its bracket was trial-fitted in the workshop for the architect to review. Installation was planned for two weekends with a small mobile crane and the entrance temporarily moved to the old door.

The glass sits on continuous silicone-bedded supports with stainless retaining plates, so no fixings pierce the panels. A small fall built into the frame carries water to the concealed gutter, and the gutter outlet was tested on site before the glass went in. The finished canopy was checked against the agreed tolerance for straightness along its front edge, which is the line visitors notice first.

Handover

The client receives as-built drawings, the powder coat specification and colour reference, gutter maintenance notes, and a glass replacement procedure that does not require dismantling the frame.