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Blog
More and more schools across the UK are experiencing the benefits an all-weather MUGA (multi-use games area) canopy can deliver. We speak to our resident Education expert, Ethan to find out more…
Ethan – installing a covered MUGA feels like an ambitious project to undertake. What’s involved and how long does it take to install one?
All-weather MUGAs deliver so much but don’t have to be complex to install if you partner with the right provider. At Fordingbridge, we can deliver a covered MUGA as a turnkey, ready-to-go project. We can liaise with your architect, undertake any necessary groundworks, design and manufacture an all-weather MUGA canopy that means activities can continue year-round no matter the weather!
We’ve worked on all-weather MUGA projects that have taken as little as 3-4 weeks from start to completion, carrying out the groundworks, installing the canopy and reinstatement to hand-over a transformed space. You can see an example of this in our Saltash Community School case study, where a new MUGA canopy and dining canopy were installed with minimal disruption to school life.
Where is the best place to install a covered MUGA on a school site?
The beauty is that they can be installed anywhere. On dedicated school playing fields they become an integral part of your school sports offering, or we’ve seen schools transform previously disused corners of their sites into valued hives of sporting activity.
What sports can you accommodate under an all-weather MUGA canopy?
One of the huge benefits of all-weather MUGAs is their versatility. The areas created can be used for football, netball, basketball, tennis and fitness drills, so can really help to diversify your sports offer.
What makes a canopy truly all-weather?
When people think of introducing canopies across their school site in the UK, their primary consideration is normally to protect pupils and students from wet conditions, as rain disrupts so many outdoor plans in this country.
But it’s also important to consider weather like wind and sun. Mesh inserts around your MUGA can protect your courts from debris like leaves to ensure optimal playing conditions year-round. And our unique Opal 60 canopy fabric helps screen out harmful UV rays, while allowing 60% daylight penetration, to create courts that are flooded with light but safe to play on, even on the hottest days!
How bold can you get with the look of your MUGA canopy?
With polyester powder coating available in up to 400 different colours we can colour match your canopy structure to blend with your surroundings, to match your school logo, or to create a striking contemporary look to really highlight the facility. You could even take a lead from top gym providers David Lloyd who have gone with a bold black and orange colour scheme for their all-weather padel courts – creating instant stand out. Take a look at our padel canopy projects to see how colour and design can create truly eye-catching sports facilities.
Are there any important design considerations you see schools often overlook?
One of the most important considerations is eaves height. We work on lots of padel projects around the country that demand serious 6m+ height and can create canopies of any height you want. As a rule, you want to go as high as possible to create a feeling of space and light beneath. Greater eaves height also allows greater versatility. You can introduce games like basketball if you have generous height beneath your canopy. But you obviously have to also consider your surroundings, and with many schools sitting in broadly residential settings, we’ve also created MUGA canopies that are only 4m high but still accommodate multiple sports in an inviting setting.
If you’re considering a new sports canopy, our education team is always happy to discuss the best solution for your site and budget.
