Pneumatic Structures

Air-supported membranes were first employed in the late 1940s and were soon used as covers for swimming pools, temporary warehouses, and exhibition buildings. Pressurized air within inflated building components, usually air tubes or pillow systems, supports air-inflated structures that are shaped to carry loads in a traditional manner. The Lightweight Structures Group designs and engineers both air-supported and air-inflated systems from US Army systems using high-pressure inflatables to traveling event structures and sports enclosures. Pneumatic structures are generally the most cost-effective type of building for large span requirements.