Carmel College in Durham Adds Outdoor Canopies and Benches

What was the project brief?

Carmel College in Darlington was looking for two outdoor shelters that could fit in their differently sized courtyards and create new facilities to relieve pressure on the existing indoor ones during break times. They wanted to find a company that could install several dozen benches at the same time, so the canopies could be used for dining, socialising and more. The staff felt that both these and the shelters should look unobtrusive and modern, without flashy designs, and they contacted us to make their vision a reality.

What was our canopy solution?

Our team of canopy and shelter specialists looked at the client’s site and needs in-depth and, following our recommendations, Carmel College selected two of our product range. For the small courtyard, they chose a Motiva Linear™, which could offer excellent coverage with its 9000mm X 6000mm asymmetric roof. Alternatively, for the large courtyard, they selected a more extensive 20000mm X 10000mm Motiva Duo™, which has the benefit of a wide variety of side panel and door options. The staff made the most of this by adding glass panels to this canopy to keep out the rain when students were eating lunch or chatting with classmates beneath it.

What’s more, we were able to provide 30 Hercules Benches™ so that everyone could relax in comfort and style. These benches are built to the same rigorous quality as our canopies and are manufactured with schools and colleges in mind, with their heavy-duty steel frames and ultra-thick slats. We also met the brief of simple contemporary designs by installing the benches with Squirrel Grey slats and Slate Grey uprights. We even made sure they complemented the shelters, which had Slate Grey steelwork and Opal roofs.

What was the result of the new shelters?

The outdoor shelters have been a hit with the community at Carmel College; the new facilities have eased the pressure and crowding inside the buildings at break times so everyone has more room to relax and dine. The steel benches were a welcome addition too, and the staff love how they match the canopies with their unobtrusive, grey colour palette. Plus, the courtyards have been transformed into great selling points for the college. We were thrilled with the results and our client’s response.

About the client

Carmel College says on its website that ‘student teacher relationships are at the centre of our intent as we strive to “catch them being good”, noticing and celebrating their unique attributes’. It helps its learners to develop their talents alongside their academic success and it is a fully inclusive and increasingly diverse community. The institution is a member of the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust and its values underpin all that they do. We thoroughly enjoyed supplying this college’s shelters.

Carmel College is based in Darlington, Durham, which is a historic market town in the North East of England. Some of its most popular attractions include the Forum Music Centre where visitors can enjoy gigs and comedy nights throughout the year, the Darlington Hippodrome which hosts entertainment and theatre aplenty, and the Victorian Grade II listed Darlington South Park which features many walks for all ages, a skate park and a café.

What are the benefits of A&S Landscape benches?

We have an excellent selection of benches available to complement shelters and create covered seating or dining areas. Here are some of the best features of our models.

• Hercules Bench™ – this is possibly the strongest bench ever made. It can withstand whatever is thrown at it and it has an excellent whole life value.
• Hadrian Bench – this model has a straightforward assembly and a simple, classic design of three slats that lets it suit many different locations.
• Arthur Bench – available in two different sizes to accommodate either six or eight people, the Arthur Bench looks stylish with its Northern European Redwood timber construction and is an ever-popular choice.
• Cleopatra Bench – the combination of a steel frame and a polyester power coating means that you can always choose a colour to match your style.

Feel free to get in touch at [email protected] today if you have any queries about our products.

What locations does A&S Landscape work in?

We supply canopies to a range of businesses, organisations and schools across the country. As we are centrally located in the UK thanks to our Shrewsbury base, we can easily provide shelter solutions to customers in Wales, Scotland, and all around England. Call us on 01743 444100 now to start your canopy installation journey with A&S Landscape.