Preparing Your Outdoor Space

Maximizing outdoor space has become an urgent priority for facilities and operations managers. All varieties of organizations are seeking innovative ways to boost outdoor use. This desire isn’t unique to restaurants- opening outdoor seating. Organizations from large-scale manufacturing to small family-owned businesses are all considering ways to extend what would typically occur inside- to the outside.

While for some, making outdoor space happen was an overnight move of furniture to a parking lot- an urgent shift in operations. But for others, the opportunity for a more viable space that is better suited for conditions is a much better investment option.

Implementation of structures that provide shade and some degree of covering are a critical consideration when planning outdoor space.

As organizations lean to installing these shade structures or coverings, we encourage you to ask yourself these questions to make sure you’re on an efficient path to ensuring what you need happens.

Why are you pursuing this option?

Articulate why you are seeking a structure to ensure the project is going to meet your needs. Some things to consider- how temporary will this structure be? Is this just for one event, a season, or year-long? How will the space be utilized- what types of things will happen in this space? Who is it for- employees, customers, visitors, equipment? Identifying these questions and solidifying your interest in a structure can greatly impact not only the product, but the process.

What do you want to get out of it?

Further specify your goals for the structure- identify what you’d like the structure to do. Is it strictly for offering shade? Or, do you intend for the structure to offer rain shelter? Furthermore- are you seeking a space that sustains in winter, or just warm weather? These types of questions determine whether things like ventilation or heating should be considered. Similarly, if open air is opportune, or additional covering would be of interest. Having a clear understanding of how your organization will use your space and what you’d like it to offer you is imperative to beginning the process.

What type of lighting and electrical needs will you have?

This is a great question to ask yourself from the beginning. Have you considered how daylight may impact your use of the space? Manufacturers, for example, might be looking to extend their break rooms to an outdoor space. But, depending on work shifts- adding lighting could be a priority. You may also want to consider WiFi access and convenience outlets for staff or customers to stay connected. There are a number of options to incorporate electrical and lighting needs into an outdoor shade structure- but consideration should be made early to ensure no delays in project timelines. Answering this question from the beginning, and identifying all of your needs will be a huge benefit when beginning the project process.

Do you have an engineering team?

There are a number of engineering design components that go into creating a sustainable outdoor shade structure or covering. For example, anchorage of tents should be worked on to avoid damage to existing patio structures. Similarly, designing a structure- temporary or permanent- should be specific to the needs of your organization, and the structural things that you have going on. You want a planning and engineering team that can make sure your goals are being met in a safe, accurate, and precise way.

Permitting and codes are another distinct reason to work with an engineering team that can help guide you through the process. A temporary structure can only be erected for a period of time (usually 180 days) to be considered temporary. After that, your structure is subject to building codes. Similarly, temporary structures are all subject to fire code, mandatory construction documents, permits, and egress requirements. While you may feel an urgency to get something up and get people out- working with a team that can help you do it correctly is well worth it.

Consider these questions as your first step to moving towards getting a suitable outdoor space set up for your facility. Then, we encourage you to get a virtual consulting call on your calendar to begin the process.

#ProblemSolved: Our Facilities Engineering Team is here to help. If you have questions, send an email to Kitty Bell, Vice President at kitty.bell@ssmgroup.com or give a call to 610-898-3066