Relaxing in outdoor seating is a favorite part of eating at the Frisco Barroom, a restaurant located in the St. Louis, Mo., area that has both a 50-seat back patio and a shaded rooftop deck that accommodates 42. The sun protection on that upper perch was an improvement made a few years after the eatery opened, installed by local business Lawrence Fabric and Metal Structures Inc. Shading on the deck was always in the plan for the business, says Sam Kline, the front of house manager, but it took some time for the right solution to come to the fore. That answer came in the shape of shade sails.
The two installed HDPE shade sails are about 20 by 15 feet each and are attached to three 4-inch painted steel beams. The original idea was to anchor the sails to the two taller buildings alongside the rooftop deck, but using those existing walls didn’t receive engineering approval. The solution was steel saddle brackets, attachment tabs, 14-inch square wall plates and 20-foot-long steel beams that were spanned between the two buildings. The structural loads were thus transferred to the beams instead of the exterior brick walls.
The low-maintenance shade sails are easily removed for the winter in November and reinstalled when outdoor seating season resumes in April. They also enhance the curb appeal of the building, which is located on a busy street.
Project Name: Frisco Barroom
Location: Webster Groves, Mo.
Design, Project Management and Installation: Lawrence Fabric and Metal Structures
Engineer: CASE Engineering
Fabric: GALE Pacific Commercial 95-340 FR Natural
Images: Lawrence Fabric and Metal Structures Inc.
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