Spice Restaurant

Miami Awning Co., Miami, Fla., United States

This is a custom dining terrace canopy for the terrace of Spice restaurant, designed to complement the Moorish architecture of the resort. The canopy projects 22' off a segmented wall and measures 93' in circumference.

The canopy was designed to protect the restaurant's dining terrace and shelter patrons from the heat of the dry season and the downpours of the rainy season without restricting the views of the water.

The wall of the restaurant was segmented and as the canopy radiussed outward, all points were transferred to it. Posts were bolted to an existing short wall. Since the canopy was installed with no welding, all connections were determined in the shop. The entire project was fabricated out of marine grade aluminum and engineered to 110mph winds. Innovative construction methods were used to measure, design and fabricate the canopy so installation would be fast.

The canopy creates the seaside dining that the owners hoped for. The space is fresh and vibrant—like the cuisine. It is dazzling and, at the same time, relaxing. The white canopy reflects and accentuates the colors of the water. This was also a good choice for being “green.”

This project was challenging because it was in the Caribbean. This canopy was measured with one trip. Our motto is to have everything done right the first time, since the distance from the factory to the jobsite was extensive. Design, fabrication, shipping and installation had to be coordinated, along with work permits for the crews that were installing the frame and fabric. The finished project complements the architecture of the surrounding buildings and embodies how fabric architecture can be an asset to any project.