Tenshon builds custom shade structures for playgrounds, schools, sports facilities, parking lots, pool decks, and commercial properties — engineered steel frames with tensioned fabric roofs, sized and priced for your exact site.
I'm Kristin, the founder of Optimal Outdoor Oasis. A shade structure is different from a shade sail — a sail is fabric only, tensioned between points you already have. A structure is the whole system: engineered steel columns and frame, built and permitted for your site, with Tenshon's own engineering covering wind and load. That's why every structure is priced per project instead of listed with a size and a price tag.
What kind of shade structure do you need?
Tenshon makes dozens of configurations. The right one depends on your site, your budget, and what's underneath it. Broadly:
- Hip structures — Hip, Extended Hip, Cantilever Hip, T-Post Hip, Ultra Span Extended Hip, Stepped Double Hip, Multi Panel Extended Hip. The workhorse shape for playgrounds, courts, and open gathering areas.
- Pavilion and multi-panel structures — Octagon, Multi Panel Octagon, Hexapavillion, Multi Top Pointer. Good for round or hexagonal gathering spaces, picnic areas, and bandstands.
- Umbrella structures — Pyramid Umbrella, Cantilever Pyramid Umbrella, Hypar Umbrella. Single-post shade for smaller footprints like pool loungers or café seating.
- Sail-style structures — Tsunami, Signature Sail, Multi Panel Sail, Triangle Sail, Cabana, Inclined Cantilever Sail, Inclined T-Post Panel. The sculptural, layered look seen on resort pool decks and entrances.
- Retractable roofs — Standard Roman and Grand Roman. Fabric that opens and closes, for courts and spaces that need sun some days and open sky on others.
Not sure which one fits? Send us a photo of the space and we'll point you to the right configuration before you request a formal quote.
Where these get used
- Playgrounds and schools — Tenshon has shaded outdoor classrooms, playgrounds, and a children's hospital rehabilitation space (Banner Health's The Big Outside, Mesa, AZ).
- Parks and sports facilities — bleachers, courts, picnic areas, and community parks (Mansel Carter Oasis Park, Queen Creek, AZ).
- Pool decks and waterparks — hotel and resort pools, water features, and zoo exhibits (Audubon Zoo, New Orleans).
- Parking and walkways — covered walkways, entrances, and vehicle shade.
- Stadiums and large commercial venues — Tenshon built the shade sails over the Washington Nationals' Scoreboard Walk in Washington, DC.
Fabric and color options
Structures use the same fabric families as Tenshon's shade sails: GALE Commercial NinetyFive 340 (up to 96.5% UV block, 22-24 standard colors), Commercial Heavy 430 (up to 87.5% UV block, built for large-scale tension structures), and DualShade 350 (up to 93.2% UV block, two-tone knit). Steel frames are powder-coated in 11 standard colors, with super-durable finishes available for an added cost.
Engineering, Stamping, and Pitch
Tenshon engineers every structure project to get the steel sizing and construction right, and stamps that engineering by default. If you'd rather skip the stamp, you can sign off to waive it — some buyers do, when a project doesn't need it for permitting. As Tenshon finishes pre-engineering its standard structure configurations, that engineering comes included at no added cost.
One thing Tenshon doesn't engineer: a structure you already have. If your project attaches to an existing building or structure rather than new Tenshon-engineered columns, that structure's engineering is your responsibility (yours or your own structural engineer's) — Tenshon will provide the reaction and force loads the shade will exert, so your engineer has real numbers to work from.
For pitch, Tenshon's general rule of thumb is roughly a 5:1 ratio of run to rise — about 1 foot of drop for every 5 feet the structure spans — to keep rain shedding properly. It's a strong starting point, not a strict requirement, and your site's clearance needs factor in too.
Built to Last
- 25-year limited warranty on the structural steel frame.
- 10-year limited warranty on the fabric (2 years on green, purple, red, or yellow pigments against fading).
- Limited lifetime warranty on stainless-steel hardware.
How Long Does a Custom Structure Take?
Structures are engineered and built to order, so plan ahead. Tenshon's current published lead times run: engineering 8-10 weeks, steel fabrication 6-8 weeks, steel transit 5-7 days, sail manufacturing 5-6 weeks, and sail transit 5-7 days. That's an average built from their own published timeline, not a promise — call or text us for where things stand today before you lock in an opening date.
One more thing worth knowing ahead of time: if columns are part of the project, the delivery address needs to be able to receive freight and unload with a forklift.
Fill out the form below to request your quote — it asks for exactly what Tenshon's own engineering team needs, so the more you give us, the faster your quote comes back (their own target is 5-7 business days once they have everything).
Need shade faster, or working with mounting points you already have? See our standard shade sails, sized and priced to order today. Furnishing a whole property? Visit our commercial and hospitality outdoor furniture and shade page.
If a custom structure isn't the right fit for your space or budget, I'll tell you so, and point you to what is.
Request a Quote
Prefer to just call or text? 1 800 914 0074 or 352 274 6387, or email sales@optimaloutdooroasis.com directly.