Western Washington University

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Western Washington University

System: Solucent
Attachment Method: Eclipse
Metal Fabric Pattern: Shade

Project: Western Washington University
Location: Bellingham, WA
Executive Architect: NAC Architecture, Seattle, WA
Design Architect: Opsis Architecture, Portland, OR
General Contractor: Dawson Construction, Inc., Bellingham, WA
Completion Date: June 2008
Renovation or New Construction: New Construction

Project Details: The 120,000-square-foot Academic Instructional Center in Western Washington University features a Cambridge Solucent architectural mesh shading system, dressing the southwest-facing exterior of the building. Long panels of woven metal fabric are installed in tension, perpendicular to the structure’s windows so that they meet the sun at the proper angle. This facilitates daylighting for the interior while blocking harsh sunlight and the heat that it generates.

The Solucent system was fabricated with mesh in Cambridge’s Shade pattern, which features flexible open weaves that shade and screen structures.

Cambridge’s Eclipse tension attachment hardware was used to install the Shade product. Tailored edges are provided for expanses of flexible metal fabric in tension. Elegant, custom-cut apertures receive the metal fabric ends in tubing that is integrated into a bracket and structural support design. Eclipse hardware is appropriate for lengths of metal fabric held in tension up to 100 feet.

The inherent nature of architectural mesh allows it to block the sun without blocking airflow or views – making the Solucent system an exceptional solution for both interior and exterior applications.

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