Fabritecture was engaged to design and construct a curved ETFE entry canopy at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Gainesville, Florida. The structure extends from the building’s main entrance out to the vehicle drop-off, creating a sheltered arrival experience for patrons of one of North Central Florida’s most recognised performing arts venues.
Delivered under a Design and Construct contract, the scope included the engineering, supply, and installation of a single-skin ETFE canopy using 300 micrometer printed, laminated Nowofol ETFE.
The membrane was supplied by Fabric8 Membrane Services and fabricated by Nowofol, ensuring precision manufacturing and consistent material performance across the structure.
The total plan area spans 2,230 sqft, forming a single ETFE canopy integrated with the building’s primary public entrance.
Sculptural curved geometry: The sweeping curved form required precise steel fabrication and careful panel sequencing to achieve a seamless translucent roofline that complements the building’s civic architecture.
High-performance ETFE system: The selected Nowofol 300 micron printed, laminated ETFE provides daylight diffusion, weather protection, and long-term resistance to environmental exposure in Florida’s humid climate.
Active public venue: Working on a live performing arts campus required careful coordination, controlled staging, and installation sequencing to minimise disruption to patrons, staff, and ongoing events.
The new ETFE canopy delivers a refined architectural presence at one of the region’s leading cultural institutions, transforming the arrival experience for thousands of annual patrons.
By combining a lightweight translucent roof system with a sculptural curved form, the canopy offers weather protection and daylight diffusion while reinforcing the civic identity of the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
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