Chrysalis Monterssori Perth School COLA
Project Details
Location: Glendalough, WA
Completion Date: October 2025
Size: 18m x 20m (370sqm)
Fabric: PVC - Mehler FR700N
Client: Shade Engineering
Photography: © Shade Engineering
At Chrysalis Montessori School in Perth, MakMax Australia helped Shade Engineering deliver a bright and functional covered outdoor learning area (COLA). The result is a stylish, all-weather space that enhances the school’s outdoor play and learning environment, perfectly demonstrating why shady schools are cool schools.
The Brief
The school needed a versatile shade structure to cover a busy outdoor play area that includes a stage, playground equipment and a mini sports court. Shade Engineering worked with MakMax’s engineering team to adapted our classic TensoCola design to suit the site’s layout, ensuring the canopy provided maximum coverage and architectural appeal.
The Concept
The Materials
The 18m x 20m arched TensoCola features a Mehler FR700N PVC membrane for excellent UV protection and durability. MakMax fabricated and supplied the tensile membrane and detailed the fixing components, while Shade Engineering supplied and fabricated the steel frame to MakMax’s specifications, and then were in charge of installing the structure at the school.
The TensCola canopy includes a cantilevered edge beam that extends over an adjoining building, adding valuable shade and weather protection for the stage and play areas below.
The Result
The new COLA has transformed the school’s outdoor space into a year-round activity zone, offering protection from Perth’s sun and showers while maintaining a light, open feel. The collaboration between Shade Engineering and MakMax showcases how a well-engineered TensoCola canopy can be adapted to deliver stylish, practical and long-lasting shade for Western Australian schools.
