Birdair, Inc, the world’s leading specialty contractor for custom tensile membrane structures for over 60 years, will bring unparalleled acoustical benefits to the new Imagine Clearwater Amphitheater, a 4,000-seat covered outdoor entertainment venue in Clearwater, Fla. The amphitheater will feature a 48,500-square-foot tensioned membrane roof.
The amphitheater, which is part of the Imagine Clearwater project, a $64.5 million waterfront transformation and revitalization in the city of Clearwater, will sit in the middle of a 24-acre park and will not always be used as a concert venue. As a result, the Birdair team was challenged to design a light, airy roof that looks aesthetically pleasing and visually engaging both for performances it will hold and simply as part of the park setting.
Birdair’s project scope includes design, engineering, fabrication and installation of the main structural steel, fabric roof, cables, catwalks and attachment hardware. The amphitheater roof will consist of a combination of Tensotherm, Birdair’s signature acoustical tensile fabric roofing material, and single-layer polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]-coated fiberglass membrane. As part of the redevelopment project, Birdair also will construct 15 PTFE Quasar model shade canopies throughout the park.
“Birdair is thrilled to be a part of Clearwater’s redevelopment project and to provide the bandshell structure at the Imagine Clearwater Amphitheater,” said Hikaru Konno, President, Birdair. “The state-of-the-art amphitheater featuring Birdair’s signature tensile membrane roofing system will showcase Tensotherm’s tremendous acoustical benefits and serve as a must-see destination for Clearwater residents and visitors.”
Imagine Clearwater’s project team consists of Stantec, one of the most renowned architectural and engineering firms in the world, and world-leading general contractor Skanska. The amphitheater is scheduled to be completed in spring/summer 2023.
Daryl LeBlanc, principal, senior design director, Stantec, said the amphitheater’s tensioned membrane roof had to meet stringent criteria for acoustical performance. Birdair met these requirements by proposing the roof feature the unique and proven combination of Tensotherm and single-layer PTFE fiberglass membrane.
“Birdair is one of the most well-known companies in the tensile fabric industry, and they are very well-suited for this project,” LeBlanc said. “The tensile shade canopies are some of the most prominent aspects of the park and will serve as a beautiful backdrop to the bay beyond. We believe Birdair’s tensioned membrane amphitheater roof and shade canopies support our vision of Imagine Clearwater, and we’re eager to see them installed.”
The world’s first and only translucent and insulated tensile fabric roofing material, Tensotherm is ideal where significant acoustic dampening is desired or required. With a Tensotherm roof, even the din of a large and cavernous space, like a gymnasium or arena, can be made to sound more like an intimate living room setting. Tensotherm can block out the sound of a jet taking off or hold the sound of a rock concert inside.
Tensotherm’s remarkable sound attenuation ability is due to its aerogel core and interior PTFE-coated acoustical membrane liner. Additional benefits of Tensotherm include diffused glare-free natural daylight; enhanced temperature control, even in the most extreme environments; and innovative sustainability.
Designed to connect the waterfront to the downtown Clearwater community, Imagine Clearwater includes an expansive park and recreational spaces, a gateway plaza and bluff walk that connects the park to downtown, a bay walk promenade overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and a lake area with picnic shelters.
A full-service design-build contractor for tensile architecture, Birdair features a comprehensive range of pre-construction services including design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project schedule development. Birdair’s in-house capabilities include design development, engineering, fabrication, construction (installation) and service and warranty services.
For more information on Birdair’s innovative roofing systems, canopies and skylights, visit Birdair.com and follow Birdair on Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Birdair
Birdair, Inc., is the leading specialty design build contractor of custom tensile structures around the world. In addition to pre-construction services such as design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project scheduling, Birdair provides design-build solutions in all aspects of project design, fabrication, installation and maintenance. The company offers a selection of architectural fabric membranes, including PTFE fiberglass, ETFE film, PVC and Tensotherm™, an insulated tensioned membrane system. Birdair, based in Buffalo, NY, is a member of the Taiyo Kogyo Group, with operations serving North and South America and other international locations. For more information about Birdair, call 1-800-622-2246 or visit Birdair.com.