Utilitarian design, or ‘form follows function’, is a design theory that the shape of a building should be based mainly on its function and purpose. Focusing on the function of your building – whether it’s sheltering an RV, storing equipment or protecting your companies most valued assets – can be helpful in guiding you to design your most efficient and economical building solution. Understanding your building design options is critical to making the best decisions.

One important consideration is a building’s ‘profile’. A building’s profile is the ‘outline shape’ of a building’s end wall framework (its width or span) when viewed from the outside. Though there are a wide variety of profiles and numerous terms to describe them, profiles are generally described in three broad categories – Arch, Gable and Custom.

Arch

In fabric building terms, an Arch profile includes a mostly curved frame. There are many Arch profile variations; some are true semicircles (half of a circle), some include a point like a gothic arch, others include straight or nearly straight sections. Arch profiles generally provide less interior clearance than similarly sized Gable profiles and thus are often combined with legs – or erected atop walls – to provide more interior space.

Arch profiles are highly-rigid and handle environmental loads well. Arch profile buildings are generally quicker to install and more economical than comparatively-sized Gable profile buildings. We offer Arch profile buildings up to about 125’ wide, but they typically offer the most value in widths up to about 75’.

Gable

In fabric building terms, a Gable profile includes a frame with vertical or near-vertical legs and a peak. Typically, the peak is located at the centerline of the building’s width and includes two equal and opposite (symmetrical) sloped rafter sections. However, Gable profiles can be configured with off-centered peaks to accommodate most needs.

Like Arch profiles, Gable profiles are rigid and handle environmental loads well, but are significantly more customizable. Gable profiles can be configured with straight or slightly curved rafters, sharp or rounded eaves and peaks, and almost any leg and peak height. We offer standard Gable profile buildings up to and exceeding 250’ in width and in almost any configuration.

Custom

We provide fabric building solutions to a wide variety of market segments. Each market has different needs and each customer has unique requirements. Though our customer collaborations often start with a ‘basic’ design, more often than not, the final design is a customized building. Alaska Dreams, Inc. is committed to providing superior fabric buildings focused on quality, value and customer satisfaction. If you have a vision – whether it’s a small Arch building, a large Gable building, or a completely Custom building from the foundation up – we will collaborate with you to design your custom building solution.