Timber School Shelters: Price & Performance Compared
A Smarter Shelter Solution for NZ Schools
NuSpan is the smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional steel structures. Designed specifically for New Zealand schools, kura, and community spaces.
Crafted from glulam, a high-performance engineered timber, NuSpan delivers exceptional strength, long clear spans, and a natural aesthetic that enhances modern learning environments. With outstanding acoustic performance, fast installation, and proven durability, NuSpan is the go-to solution for covered outdoor courts and recreational areas.
Built for Budget-Conscious Projects
NuSpan Shelters deliver serious value being around 15% more affordable than steel alternatives. With full project pricing typically ranging from $250,000 to $350,000 +GST, you get high-end architectural performance without the high-end price tag.
Our most popular option, the Single Court Design & Construct Package (18m x 30m), is priced at $280,000 +GST. A complete solution including design, engineering, and construction. It’s a cost-effective, future-ready structure built to handle the demands of New Zealand schools and community spaces.
The Sustainable Strength of Timber Court Covers
NuSpan is our engineered timber shelter system, built using glulam: a precision-engineered material made by laminating multiple layers of structural timber under high pressure. The result is a timber solution that outperforms standard materials in strength, versatility, and aesthetic appeal.
This isn’t just timber – it’s timber, upgraded. Here’s what makes NuSpan the smart choice for schools and public spaces:
- Stronger than steel by weight: Handles long spans with ease, reducing the need for intrusive supports
- Sustainable by nature: Timber stores carbon for life and keeps your project’s footprint low
- Warm and natural visual impact: Enhances the character of learning environments and connects students to nature
- Bird-proof by design: Prevent nesting and roosting, keeping the shelter clean and low-maintenance year-round.
NuSpan combines structural performance with visual warmth bringing together form, function, and long-term value in one smart shelter solution.
A Natural Fit for School Environments
A natural timber school shade structure that perform well and looks right.
The warm tones and organic textures of a timber roofed shelter complement the materials already common in school architecture, from brick and weatherboard to concrete and steel.
Timber blends seamlessly into landscaped spaces and supports biophilic design, creating shaded areas that feel calm, grounded, and connected to the outdoors. Ideal for learning, gathering, and play.