PCT was commissioned by Enclos Tensile Structures (ETS) from the US to manufacture carbon components for seven large size sunshades which are located at the Nashville Yards building in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The PTFE fabric canopy is placed on a parking deck between two high-rise towers in an urban space to provide shelter from rain and sun.
 

The upper canopy structure of the trees is made up of an assembly of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) tubes consisting of the upper ring, straight tubes and curved tubes which are connected to each other by a bonded clamshell connection, creating the structural support for the PTFE membrane. The trunks consist of a cylindrical structural CFRP tube which is covered with a non-structural FRP cladding to form the visible segmented geometry of the trunk. The components were manufactured using a monolithic carbon fibre buildup for maximum strength and light weight.
 
The tree canopies spanning 11 x 7,6m are all the same size with the trunks varying in height. The resulting tree heights from 7m to over 10m allow the canopies to overlap and provide ideal shading.
 
All trees where dry pre-assembled in Dubai and then bonded on site using custom installation jigs.

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CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) offers significant benefits in construction, including high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. These properties make CFRP ideal for creating lightweight, durable structures with enhanced performance and longevity.