Dumpton School, Dorset

The youngest pupils at Dumpton School in Wimborne, Dorset, were welcomed back to a new term with this complete makeover of the pre-prep & nursery garden. The vibrant new playground incorporates brand new resin-bound rubber crumb and artificial grass surfacing while an ORION Shield canopy provides a covered seating area offering much-needed shade and protection from the elements in this free-flowing outdoor play and learning space.

The school approached Streetspace looking for proposals on a canopy design that would complement their vision for the updated playground. Prominently situated on the main drive, the Pre-prep’s new playground and covered area needed to work in unison to create a great first impression for visitors and parents arriving at the school. 

Working closely with the school, Streetspace proposed an 8m x 4m Orion Shield tensile canopy offering a good balance of effective cover, attractive design form and minimal column interference with the cantilever structure, keeping the play area as free as possible from obstructions. The school felt the design would be an ideal fit and Installation was scheduled to coincide with the summer holiday before the students’ return and to fit around planned resurfacing works.

The attractive curved spine profile of the tensile canopy structure delivers a distinctive and elegant aesthetic feature for the new playground while the consistent eaves height offers excellent weather protection and shade for children using the seated area under the canopy. The soft tensile membrane fabric diffuses natural light and offers excellent acoustic properties, helping to reduce echo and absorb the sound of voices and rain. The canopy uses a one-piece highly durable waterproof PVC fabric membrane manufactured with a PVDF self-cleaning outer layer, preventing dirt from becoming ingrained in the canopy surface and helping to reduce maintenance.

The white tensile canopy fabric, coupled with the striking ultra-marine powder coating on the canopy framework and matching post protectors helps contribute to a visually exciting and inviting outdoor learning and play environment for the pre-prep pupils at Dumpton School. 

Follow the link for further information on canopies for schools OR give our team a call on 01227 200404