St Benedict’s Catholic College – Coniston Apex Freestanding Canopy Case Study
Client: St Benedict’s Catholic College
Product: Coniston Apex Freestanding Canopy with Canopy Side & Front Panels
Size: 16.5 m x 9m
Frame Colour: Signal Blue RAL 5005
Installation Date: March 2025
Intended Use: All-weather Outdoor Space
Brief
In November 2024, St Benedict’s Catholic College in Colchester, Essex, reached out to us in search of a modern canopy solution to enhance their outdoor area outside of the entrances and exits of the building. Their goal was to create a durable, all-weather structure that would provide reliable shelter for students and staff during break times, as well as create a dedicated outdoor learning space.
With outdoor learning widely recognised for its numerous benefits to young adults’ development, the school wanted a high-quality, long-lasting canopy that would encourage more time spent outdoors without compromising comfort or productivity. We were delighted to offer a tailored solution that met their specific needs.
As a school that caters to 898 pupils aged 11-16, St Benedict’s Catholic College is committed to “striving for the highest standards” in everything they do. To ensure minimal disruption to students, they requested that the installation take place during the school holidays—a request we were more than happy to accommodate.
Proposal
Following a detailed site survey in December 2024, our team recommended the installation of a Coniston Apex Freestanding Canopy which is two Coniston Freestanding Canopies, positioned back-to-back to form a spacious 16.5m x 9m covered area, totalling 148.5 square metres. To enhance accessibility and weather protection between the building and the new canopied space, we also installed a 5m x 3m Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy.
For added comfort, we incorporated 12 canopy side fills to shield the area from wind and rain. To complete the transformation, our partners at Lonsdale Landscapes Ltd installed 270 square metres of artificial grass, creating a practical, visually appealing outdoor space.
Installation Timeline
The full installation was completed within a four-week period across two phases:
Phase One (3rd–19th March 2025): Lonsdale Landscapes began with groundwork preparation, followed by our team installing the canopy structure, polycarbonate roof panels, and weather-protective side fills.
Phase Two (20th–28th March 2025): Landscaping was completed and final canopy adjustments, including remaining side infills, were installed by our team.
Thanks to meticulous planning and our stringent health and safety measures, all work was carried out safely during term time, avoiding disruption to the school day.
The completed installation has provided St Benedict’s Catholic College with a versatile, attractive outdoor environment that is usable all year round. From outdoor lessons and sheltered seating to social gatherings, the new canopies support a broad range of daily school activities.
Client Feedback
We were delighted to receive the following feedback from the school:
“Super easy to work with Able Canopies. Install team were spot on. End result – Fab. Highly recommend.”
Service: Excellent
Installation: Excellent
Product: Excellent
Would you recommend us? Yes
Another successful project from Able Canopies – delivering functional, long-lasting shelter solutions tailored to the needs of UK schools.
