Fabric architecture company MakMax Australia recently received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2010 International Achievement Award (IAA) held by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications.
The innovative shade structure specialists received the highly respected award in the Commercial Canopies category for its John Power Stand project.
Bernie Neylan, MakMax Managing Director explained that the company was proud to win such a prestigious award for a project that was not only so close to home, but one that also demonstrated the dynamic applications of tensile membrane designs.
“Our company was able to create a unique fabric ceiling that refreshed the overall image of the John Power Stand,” Mr Neylan said.
“Originally built in the 1950s, we used the perimeter of the historic building as well as the structural columns to support the fabric which in turn created an aesthetically pleasing and unique structure.
“As the main seating arena at the iconic Eagle Farm Racecourse, the John Power Stand project is literally just down the road from our Brisbane office,” Mr Neylan said.
The IFAI award ceremony was held at IFAI Expo Americas 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. IFAI Expo is one of the largest specialty fabrics trade show in the Americas.
Mr Neylan said that as the IFAI International Achievement Awards (IAA) has recognised excellence in design and innovation for more than six decades, winning the Commercial Canopies category for this project was even more special.
“Having been operating in Australia since the 1980s, at MakMax we pride ourselves on creating the highest designs for each project need and all with the budget in mind,” Mr Neylan said.
“The John Power Stand project is a perfect example of this, being a creative and effective combination of high tensile fabric working together with a traditional solid structure.”
There were 383 entries from 13 countries received by IFAI and entries were judged by industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals. The winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function.
The goal of the International Achievement Awards is to promote awareness of the specialty fabrics used in thousands of products and applications.
