SKYShades has successfully completed its project in Wilson Park
July 10th, 2010

SKYShades is proud to announce the completion of its project at Wilson Park

SKYShades completes 1st Solar Parking Structure using Konarka's Power Plastic® on Professional Golfer/Businessman Greg Norman's  West Palm Beach Office Complex
July 3rd, 2010

SKYshades is very proud and excited to announce the World's First Parking Structure utilizing Konarka's thin film photovoltaic Power Plastic® Panels.  This solar-powered parking structure will revolutionize the market in creating lightweight, more affordable alternatives to parking structures, while utilizing clean, green solar power.

SKYShades nears completion on Sarasota Yacht Club Project
May, 2010

SKYShades is close to completing its vast project in Sarasota for the Sarasota Yacht Club. Gracing the bay in Sarasota, the gleaming white of SKYShades structure encompassing front, interior and exteriors for the posh Sarasota Yacht Club stands out in its nautical flair, bringing its architectural expertise to the table in a challenging arena

SKYShades completes Daytona Beach Daytona 500 Budweiser Pavillion
March, 2009

SKYShades adds its flair to Daytona Beach's infamous Daytona 500 race, bringing 9 Red & White shade sails to its Budweiser Pavillion.  Standing out amidst the vast stands at Daytona Beach, SKYShades shade sails visibly enhance the stands. 

SKYShades San Diego Installs first 4 Solarbrellas in Southern California
December, 2009

SKYShades San Deigo franchisee succesfully installs US first newly designed Solarbrellas in 4 private schools in Southern California

SKYShades welcome new Franchisees in Tampa, Florida, MInnessota, and San Antonio, Texas
November, 2009

SKYShades adds on to its franchise network with the addition of franchisees in Tampa, Florida, Minnesota and San Antonio, Texas

SKYShades welcome Miami Franchisee Joe Cugliari, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers     

May, 2009

SKYShades adds on to its franchise network with the addition its franchisee in Miami Florida

SKYShades expands to San Diego in Franchise Agreement                                                        March, 2009

SKYShades adds on to its franchise network in the West with the addition of its San Diego franchisee

SKYShades Expands to Charlotte in Franchise Agreement
Nov. 25, 2008

Recognizing the rapidly growing opportunities within the U.S. shade structure market, an investor in Charlotte, N.C., has become the latest to purchase a franchise from SKYShades, an Orlando, Florida-based company recognized among the leaders in the tension-membrane shade industry.

SKYShades and Konarka Join Forces to Launch Clean Green Energy Source
Sept. 23, 2008

Imagine enjoying a meal at an outdoor cafe under the shade of a structure that was simultaneously powering your laptop and cell phone by way of clean green solar technology.

SKYShades Puts Solar Panels On Outdoor Umbrellas
Sept. 15, 2008

Since 2004, Longwood-based SKYShades has focused its business on protecting people from the sun. Now the company that makes umbrellas and other shade coverings for playgrounds, carwashes, restaurants and other locations is looking to harness the sun's energy by partnering with a Massachusetts company to put solar panels on its products.

Florida Governor Charlie Christ Congratulates SKYShades
Mar 6, 2008

Florida Governor Charlie Christ congratulates SKYShades on their campaign to help raise awareness of skin cancer and the importance of providing shade.

SKYShades Begins Field Testing For New Green Energy Resource
Feb 28, 2008

SKYShades®, one of the global leaders in supplying shade and tension membrane structures, today announced field-testing is underway at Lake Highland Preparatory School on a new "clean, green" technology - a SKYShades' umbrella that will use the sun's energy to create battery power to charge personal electronic devices. The umbrellas will use groundbreaking technology from Konarka Technologies in the form of organic photovoltaic material integrated into the umbrella's fabric membrane to create a source of renewable solar energy.

SKYShades Officials Say, 'Recession? What Recession?'
Feb 7, 2008

The economic slowdown hasn't affected SKYShades, Inc., an international tension membrane structure company based in Orlando. In January, its U.S. headquarters recorded a 400 percent growth in design/installation inquiries as compared to the same time last year.

Konarka And SKYShades Announce Development Agreement To Integrate
Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Material Into Tension Fabric Material
Jan 30, 2008

Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, and SKYShades®, one of the global leaders in supplying shade and tension membrane structures, today announced they have entered into a development agreement for the purpose of investigating the creation of photovoltaic electrical power for SKYShade products.

SKYShades Commits to Providing Clean Energy
August 27, 2007

SKYShades, the leading Global supplier of shade and Tension Membrane structures announced today that it is concluding a deal to commercialise the use of Organic Photovoltaics in its products.

SKYShades Wins Design Excellence Award
August 24, 2007

SKYShades announced today that they have won a Design Excellence Award in the 2007 Orange County Urban Design Commission Awards Program. SKYShades took home the Award of Merit in the Commercial Projects Section with its uniquely designed Shade Structure at Images Auto Spa.

SKYShades Donates $50,000 To Help Prevent Skin Cancer
March 25, 2007

With Melanoma Monday and Skin Cancer Awareness both taking place during the month of May, two central Florida schools are receiving $50,000 worth of shade to protect their students from the sun's harmful UV rays. One Florida business is playing an active role in educating and building awareness on the importance of providing shade for children. SKYShades has donated shade structures to Millennia Elementary in Orlando and Lyman High School in Longwood.

Shady Interests
Orlando Sentinel, February 28, 2007

It's a shady business, but somebody's got to do it. And there's room for more across the country, too. That's why SKYShades announced today that it's actively seeking franchise partners across the states to market and distribute its shade products.

SKYShades Makes A Move To International Franchising
Orlando Business Journal, January 26, 2007

Joe McKenna is switching the focus at his company from distributorships to franchising, a strategy he hopes will be lucrative enough to have it made in the shade.

City Joins The Fight In Sun Protection For Kids
January 5, 2007

Just one blistering sunburn can double a child's risk of getting melanoma later in life and with the Florida sun shining all year round it is still surprising to see how many playgrounds do not provide adequate shade for children to play under.

Shade Sails A Glaring Opportunity
Orlando Sentinal, May 22, 2006

When Australian businessman Barry Maranta first visited a Central Florida school playground, he was shocked at what he saw. The sun was blazing. Kids were running around bareheaded. And there wasn't a scrap of shade "He said, 'Why don't all these kids have hats on?'" recalled Joe McKenna, an Orlando native who has spent most of the past two decades Down Under. "And I told him, 'It's not made compulsory here, the way it is in Australia.'" For McKenna and Maranta, the way Orlando-area residents are routinely exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays is unthinkable -- and an unbelievable business opportunity.

WeatherStopper Installed At Savannah Quarters

During an event in Savannah, Ga., announcing the redesign of Savannah Quarters Golf Resort by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Norman informed the media of the first WeatherStopper Golf Range shade structure in the United States. "This will enable members to practice in the extreme summer heat, during inclement weather and even at night," Norman said.