Sector Commercial
Size 1,450 sq ft
Location Hillsburgh, Wellington County, Ontario
Duration 3 months
Fabric Commercial Heavy - Charcoal and Red
Owner Wellington County
Architect/Engineer Shade Sails Canada Inc. & GM Blueplan Engineering
Hillsburgh Library

The Hillsburgh Library is an architectural wonder incorporating restoration and adaptive re-use of a significant heritage structure within the County of Wellington. The library was awarded the Gordon Gouling Restoration Award from the Architectural Conservancy Ontario in 2019. The structure combines an 1892 Victorian brick home with a modern glass expansion design to pay homage to the region’s roots and accentuate the fruitfulness of it’s future.
The County of Wellington approached Shade Sails Canada to provide shade for the entire 2,400 square foot outdoor patio area. The design parameters of the space required posts only on the perimeter of the space which meant that specific Shade Sail shapes and tensioning techniques had to be applied to successfully span the large distances between anchors. The design of the Shade Sail array creates significant shared strength between the four Sails and is rated to withstand enormous wind events.
Four large, interlinked Shade Sails spanning across eight large posts provide the space with a cool atmosphere promoting safety, outdoor reading and play, and welcoming community members to their new shared space.
Project Highlights
Project Highlights


Free Span Fabric Structures
Free Span Fabric Structures
A Free Span Fabric Structure is a cable-reinforced, high-tension shade sail stretched between multiple anchor points. The sail can be attached to existing buildings and/or engineered posts designed to handle significant loads.
These structures are suitable for both small and large areas and are especially visually striking when the attachment heights are varied to create hyperbolic (twisted fabric) shapes. While the posts are permanent, the fabric can be removed during winter or heavy storms.
Free Span Fabric Structures are used across a wide range of applications, including restaurants, playgrounds, seating areas, public parks, storage spaces, and event venues.
Key Features:
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Certified Installation Recommended
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Large Spans
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Limited Span
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Post Position Flexibility
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Shade Design Flexibility
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ShadeArt™
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Substantial Footings
