Covered Outdoor Learning Areas
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Steel COLAs are permanent shelters most often used in school environments. The term ‘covered outdoor learning area’ is pretty generic and could be used to describe any outdoor space protected by a shelter, but thanks to a large government investment in 2007, the term COLA has become synonymous with large steel structures in schools!
COLAs are most often constructed over multipurpose sports courts, or in quadrangles/courtyards at schools as they are one of the most durable all-weather shelters available. As a large span steel structure, they also work very well for outdoor eating areas and other large spaces. Steel structures can also be designed for areas like covered walkways and bus stops.
COLAs typically span anywhere from 10m wide to 50m wide, however due to the way they are constructed they are almost limitless in size.
Along with the area they can cover, the ability to construct them with a curved or gable roof makes them a great option where sports grade clearance heights are required.
Traditionally these structures are designed as a rectangle as this is the most efficient layout however, as all Greenline structures are designed in-house, they can be customised to best fit your space.
Gable – this is the classic COLA shape
Curved – this shape is sometimes referred to as a barrel vault and is a modern take on the more traditional gable style.
Skillion – a flat or angled roof steel structure
Aesthetically, one of the main aspects of your COLA will be the roof cladding (external layer). This is typically constructed from Colorbond which comes in a range of colours. If you choose to add skirts (see more on this under ‘endless possibilities’ on this page) to your structure, these are usually constructed from the same Colorbond cladding as the roof. The gutters and downpipes can either be matched to the roof colour, or you can choose a contrasting colour to create a two-tone feature.
The other main aspect of your COLA is the steel work. There are two main finishes for columns
Skylights and Infills
Adding some (or all!) of the following features to a traditional COLA can transform your space into a functional and practical multipurpose facility.
How much do COLA’s cost?
Wondering what it would cost to have a Covered Outdoor Learning Area built at your school or organisation? Try out our cost estimator tool – you’ll just need to know a few details like rough dimensions of the space and how accessible the area is. If you don’t know the size of your area, give us a call and we will map it out for you on Nearmap (an accurate and up to date aerial mapping service).