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Caring for critical infrastructures such as roads and bridges, equipment, and other resources is a big task for those working in local, state, and national government agencies. Entrusted with taxpayer funds, these leaders must find efficient ways to ensure public assets are maintained and used effectively. Despite this, public works departments across the country face the challenge of doing more with less.

One way to maximize resources is through tensioned fabric structures.

What Are Frame-Supported Tensioned Fabric Structures?Frame supported tensioned fabric structure

A fabric building, or tension fabric building, is a structure made from industrial-strength fabric cladding supported by steel frames. These innovative buildings differ from traditional concrete, brick, and wood buildings built from the ground up. Instead, a steel skeleton or web frame is assembled and rooted in a solid foundation, and the fabric membrane is then tensioned around the frame.

Advantages of Fabric Buildings for Public Works

Fabric buildings have many advantages, so when it comes to their use in public works operations, it should come as no surprise the benefits are plentiful. Let’s look at some of the biggest advantages of fabric buildings for public works.

YEAR-ROUND AVAILABILITY

Tension fabric structures are made with a thermally non-conductive fabric material that doesn’t transfer heat or cold like steel or concrete. This allows the inside of a fabric building to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. That said, if you’d like to insulate your structure, you can do so and install HVAC systems to allow for air-conditioned or heated environments.

Fabric structures offer virtually all the benefits of metal buildings regarding durability and longevity. The two components of a Legacy fabric building include rigid steel frames and our proprietary ExxoTec™ fabric, which has a minimum lifespan of 20 years. These materials are incredibly weather resistant and can withstand the harshest conditions, such as wind, storms, snow, and ice.

QUICKER BUILD TIMES

Thanks to their limited parts and components, the build time for fabric structures is significantly faster than traditional brick-and-mortar buildings, regardless of size. End-to-end manufacturing processes also provide the ability to design, build, and install an entire structure in a third of the time while eliminating delays from using multiple vendors and ensuring quality control standards.

CUSTOM-BUILT

Why use a one-size-fits-all approach to building when you can design a custom structure to fit your needs? Legacy’s design process allows us to tailor each building for our clients without adding cost or time. Once the initial drawings are finalized, the project moves to our steel and fabric manufacturing plants, and the whole building is loaded on trucks before being shipped to your site.

We consider every detail of the structure’s purpose, daily use, environmental factors, and building code requirements. Our design criteria ensure your fabric structure is optimized to maximize efficiency and your return on investment.

COST-EFFECTIVE

The return on investment for a fabric building pays off in time, overall value, and money saved. Tension fabric structures are cost-effective for a variety of reasons:

  • Rapid construction through a single vendor
  • Lower upfront building costs
  • Reduced lifecycle maintenance and repair costs
  • Replacing cladding is a fraction of the cost of metal or shingle replacement
  • Energy efficiency

10 Examples of Fabric Buildings

LANDFILLS AND WATER TREATMENT FACILITIESBasin electric power cooperative bottom ash dewatering facility

Basin Electric Power Cooperative Bottom Ash Dewatering Facility

Industry: Oil Gas & Energy, State & Municipal, Waste & Recycling

Size: 52,800 sq ft

Location: Stanton, ND

Year: 2015

Chillicothe correctional institution WWT & dewatering structure

Chillicothe Correctional Institution WWT & Dewatering Structure

Industry: State & Municipal, Waste & Recycling

Size: 6,550 sq ft

Location: Chillicothe, OH

Year: 2015

Max rhoads wastewater settling tank cover

Max Rhoads Wastewater Settling Tank Cover

Industry: State & Municipal, Waste & Recycling

Size: 15,232 sq ft

Location: Owensboro, KY

Year: 2017

 

SMM scrap metal recycling

SMM Scrap Metal Recycling

Industry: State & Municipal, Waste & Recycling

Size: 21,975 sq ft

Location: Jersey City, NJ

Year: 2018

SALT AND COMMODITY STORAGE

Bethel park reserve road salt storage

Bethel Park Reserve Road Salt Storage

Industry: State & Municipal

Size: 11,700 sq ft

Location: Bethel Park, PA

Year: 2017

 

Highland WRF covered sludge storage

Highland WRF Covered Sludge Storage

Industry: State & Municipal,  Waste & Recycling

Size: 20,400 sq ft

Location: Highland, IL

Year: 2018

 

Lee county ash monofill and compost site

Lee County Ash Monofill and Compost Site

Industry: State & Municipal, Waste & Recycling

Size: 19,400 sq ft

Location: Felda, FL

Year: 2014

 

Montgomery county salt

Montgomery County Salt

Industry: Bulk Commodity, State & Municipal

Size: 18,400 sq ft

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Year: 2019

 

Public works road salt storage building

Public Works Road Salt Storage Building

Industry: State & Municipal

Size: 7,200 sq ft

Location: Watford City, ND

Year: 2019

EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY STORAGE

City of Davenport bus barn

City of Davenport Bus Barn

Industry: Automotive, State & Municipal

Size: 21,000 sq ft

Location: Davenport, IA

Year: 2014

Build With Legacy

Legacy Building Solutions designs, manufactures, and installs custom-engineered fabric buildings for every industry, from manufacturing and sports to transportation and public works. We can create the ideal facility to meet your requirements, eliminate excess square footage, increase energy efficiency, and result in a faster return on your investment.

Our engineering team is among the most experienced in the industry and licensed in multiple states and provinces. We can provide stamped drawings for any location in the U.S. and abroad while working with government entities and private partners through P3 partnerships.