User:Inside2Outside

The POCCA (Permanent Outdoor Covered Curriculum Areas) Qube® is a unique tensile structure designed and manufactured specifically for the purpose of creating outdoor covered areas for schools, to be used for a variety of purposes including outdoor learning and play.

The Qube® was designed by Dr. Robert Carpenter, managing director of Inside2Outside Ltd., whose previous experience of working with tensile structures led him to conclude that there might be a demand for this kind of canopy in schools. This proved to be correct; the Qube® provides a good alternative to conventional school extensions for a margin of the price. The unique membrane materials used for each Qube® are translucent, creating ample shade when required, but also allowing light through to create a pleasant environment. They also filter harmful ultraviolet rays to protect children's delicate skin and eyes. The tensile membrane itself is versatile and has been used in many major projects including The O2 (London); completely waterproof and tightly tensioned to create a "drum skin" surface, it works in a similar way to Teflon® and is easy to clean and maintain with a life expectancy in excess of 20 years.

In 2000, Dr. Carpenter established his Qube® canopy as the first of its kind to offer a solution to a common problem in the education sector - nearly every school has a need for versatile and protected outdoor spaces. The curriculum continues to change and develop, with more and more activities suited to an outdoor environment. Nearly ten years after installing the first POCCA Qube® in a school, Dr. Carpenter has gone on to develop a whole range of tensile structures for a variety of uses.