Rooftop Pergola Project
The winter of 2020 was a difficult time for the hospitality industry in general, and restaurants in particular. At the height of the pandemic, as outdoor dining looked to be the only option for diners, one restaurant in historic South Beach Miami sought out our manufacturing partner, Azenco, to help design and expand its outdoor space with a rooftop pergola. The restaurant owners wanted to create an all-weather outdoor dining space while carrying the trendy nightlife vibe of the restaurant interior into the rooftop dining space without losing its open and airy feeling.
Designing a Rooftop Pergola
The proud owners of this mid-century architectural beauty loved spending time in their already-gorgeous backyard. With a sprawling patio extending into a pool surround, the outdoor space was a family favorite destination to relax on the weekend and host family gatherings. With no shade on the patio, though, afternoon parties could become unbearably hot. Plus, the constant afternoon rain showers often drove guests off the pool deck and back into the house. Adding a wind-resistant pergola was the ideal combination of style and function that would satisfy their every wish.
Project Conceptualization
Benefits of the Louvered Roof System
Rooftop Pergola Color Selection
Challenges of Building in a Storm-Resistant Pergola in a Historic District
Constructing a rooftop pergola for a restaurant within the confines of a historic district that was attempting to match a mid-century architectural neighborhood is never an easy feat. With a unique combination of style and durability, the R-BLADE™ pergolas found a fond audience with the local regulators. Because the R-BLADE™ has no external assembly hardware, it carries perfectly clean exterior lines into every project. The complimentary and sleek exterior of the R-BLADE™ was the ideal fit for the district. Like the mountain regions around Colorado Springs and Denver, this region sees a lot of storm activity with high winds being a regular presence. Because of these weather patterns, all outdoor living structures must pass strict engineering standards. Azenco was able to anchor the multiple pergola structures together to sufficiently safeguard the structure against these high winds. The regulatory approvals were further accelerated because the R-BLADE™ had already been certified by the local regulators as hurricane-resistant, and awarded a NOA certificate denoting that the product had been tested and endured hurricane-class winds. Since reopening with its new rooftop pergola, the new MILA restaurant terrace has become one of the town’s hottest reservations. While the project was born of necessity during unique pandemic dining restrictions, with diners protected from the extreme sun and inevitable rain showers, the restaurant owners are now able to guarantee reservations and actively anticipate revenues from the rooftop restaurant.
