Big Span Structures, a leader in concept-to-completion solutions for signature lightweight tensile membrane structures, provided the new exterior tensile façade for The Quin – Belvidere parking garage in Charleston, S.C.
Featuring approximately 300 spaces, the Belvidere’s 125,748-square-foot parking deck was built with pre-cast concrete and features 11,700 square feet of PVC mesh façade with multi-gray metallic colors on the two visible sides and a top “jagged” edge design layout. In addition to the parking garage façade, Big Span provided PVC mesh fabric for a small “sawtooth undulating shaped” walkway canopy structure featuring catenary cable edges.
Big Span’s scope included design, engineering, fabrication, supply and installation of the steel support framing system for the façade, PVC mesh, clamping and hardware. The structural steel framing system was fabricated and painted at Big Span’s 30,000-square-foot, AISC-certified steel plant facility positioned on 7 acres of property at Big Span headquarters in Summerfield, Fla. The two-tone colored PVC mesh tensile façade panels were manufactured at Big Span’s 42,000-square-foot membrane fabrication plant, which houses a 150-foot automatic RF (Radio Frequency) welding machine, along with a 15-foot x 100-foot automatic digital cutting table.

Once the PVC membrane panels are fabricated, they are packaged and crated to be shipped to site for final installation by Big Span’s construction crew. These in-house capabilities allow Big Span to meet accelerated project schedules and regulate production quality.
“Big Span was thrilled to be a part of the exciting new developments at The Quin,” said Michele Taylor, business development manager, Big Span Structures. “Our sustainable PVC mesh façade brings a sleek exterior look to the Belvidere parking garage and will help provide cooler interior temperatures and natural daylight for visitors in the Charleston area.”
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is the baseline industry standard for structural fabric construction since the early 1960s. This extremely versatile fabric material is fully color printable and carries an expected design life of 10 to 20 years. Due to its lightweight nature and ability to span long distances, PVC membranes offer substantial cost savings versus traditional construction materials. In its natural white state, the fabric significantly reduces net radiant heat retention, making it ideal where cooler interior temperatures are desired while also providing natural daylighting.
PVC membranes are produced as a mesh for shading purposes and are commonly used in tensile façade projects where natural ventilation is key, such as parking garages. PVC membrane is a fully recyclable, zero-waste industrial product.
Partners for the project included Frampton Construction and McMillian Pazdan Smith Architecture. The Quin is owned by White Point Partners.
The Quin is a $35 million venture in Charleston’s upper peninsula that will soon include a 112,635-square-foot, five-story office building. The retail and office space is surrounded by nearby entertainment venues such as Workshop, the new Flyway music venue, Edmund’s Oast, and The Wonderer, as well as outdoor recreational amenities including a ping pong area, putting greens and outdoor seating.
For more information on Big Span’s tensioned membrane structures, tensile facades, air-supported fabric-clad structures and fabric pre-fab frames, visit bigspans.com.
About Big Span Structures
Big Span Structures is a North American leader in the design and development of signature lightweight tensile membrane structures. A turnkey company with 40 years’ experience in the industry, Big Span provides concept-to-completion, customized design, engineering, manufacturing, fabrication and installation solutions for tensioned membrane structures, tensile facades, air supported fabric-clad structures and fabric pre-fab frame supported with a customer-focused service model. Based in Summerfield, Fla., Big Span has three additional U.S. offices and a presence in Mexico. For more information about Big Span Structures, call 352.419.4890, visit www.bigspans.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.