Birdair, the customised tensile membrane structures contractor, plans to bring unparalleled acoustical benefits to the new Imagine Clearwater Amphitheatre, a 4,000-seat covered outdoor entertainment venue in Clearwater, Florida.

The amphitheatre, which will feature a 48,500-square-foot tensioned membrane roof, is part of Imagine Clearwater, a $64.5 million waterfront transformation and revitalisation project in the city.

It will sit in the middle of a 24-acre park and will not always be used as a concert venue, and as a result, the Birdair team was challenged to design a light, airy roof that looks aesthetically pleasing and visually engaging both for performances 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 amphitheatre roof will consist of a combination of Tensotherm, Birdair’s acoustical tensile fabric roofing material, and single-layer PTFE-coated fibreglass membrane. As part of the redevelopment project, Birdair will also construct 15 PTFE Quasar model shade canopies throughout the park.

 “The state-of-the-art amphitheatre will showcase Tensotherm’s tremendous acoustical benefits and serve as a must-see destination for Clearwater residents and visitors,” said Hikaru Konno, president of Birdair.

Tensotherm, as the world’s first and only translucent and insulated tensile fabric roofing material, is ideal where significant acoustic dampening is required.

Its sound attenuation ability is due to its aerogel core and interior PTFE-coated acoustical membrane liner. Additional benefits include diffused glare-free natural daylight and enhanced temperature control, even in the most extreme environments.

www.birdair.com