In collaboration with Höweler + Yoon and SWA Landscape Architecture, Rootlab led the accelerated technical design, fabrication, and installation of 16 custom shade structures along Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston, completed ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

‍

The design is based on a modular system of three primary components arranged in eight unique configurations, creating variation and visual rhythm across the corridor while maintaining a consistent architectural language.

‍

To achieve the structures’ complex curved geometries, Rootlab fabricated the frames from a combination of SCH 40, SCH 80, and XXH stainless steel pipe. Each component was roll bent and assembled using custom fabrication jigs developed specifically for the three primary structure types.

‍

One of the project’s central technical challenges was developing a reliable method for tensioning PVC mesh across the structures’ irregular, three-dimensional surfaces. Rootlab developed a novel 3D-printed stainless steel tensioning system specifically for the project, allowing the mesh to be precisely adjusted and tensioned across the non-planar frames.

‍

The result combines advanced digital fabrication, heavy stainless-steel construction, custom tooling, and purpose-built hardware into a repeatable system designed for a highly visible public setting.