What International Tension Structures does

International Tension Structures (ITS) is a US-based specialty contractor founded in 2002 by Richard and Barbara Henderson in Fountain Hills, Arizona, focused on the design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of custom tensile membrane structures. The company combines structural and architectural steel with fabric membrane panels to deliver turn-key fabric architecture solutions spanning entry canopies, walkways, façades, long-span roof systems, retractable structures, fabric graphics, and sun protection systems. ITS works with a range of membrane materials including PVC-Coated Polyester (20-year life expectancy), PTFE-Coated Fiberglass (30+ years), ePTFE, Silicone-Coated Fiberglass (25 years), ETFE Foils (30+ years, 1% the weight of glass), and HDPE shade fabrics (10-15 years).

ITS operates a project-based revenue model with custom quote-based pricing determined by membrane type, structural complexity, and installation requirements, engaging clients through direct sales and a dedicated team of designers and fabricators. The company serves a horizontal set of market segments including commercial/retail, education, healthcare, stadiums and sports facilities, transit/airports, government and municipal entities, military, hospitality, and parks/recreation. Notable customers span GoDaddy Global Tech Center, Chandler Regional Medical Center, ASU Barrett Honors College and SkySong 3, Amkor Technologies, Silverbell Army Heliport (US Army National Guard), and City of Phoenix Central Station Transit Center, with project geography concentrated in Arizona and Nevada. ITS has accumulated industry recognition including multiple IFAI International Achievement Awards, a DBIA National Award of Merit, NAIOP awards, and ENR Southwest recognition, and was featured on the March 2017 cover of Specialty Fabrics Review.

The company operates with 11-50 employees as a privately held, founder-owned entity with no disclosed external funding, venture capital, or private equity involvement. ITS provides full lifecycle services including post-construction structural reviews, special inspections, routine maintenance, structure modifications, repairs, and industrial cleaning of membrane panels, positioning itself as an end-to-end partner rather than a simple fabric installer. The company's value proposition emphasizes engineering depth in tensile design principles (opposing curvatures, anticlastic forms, pre-stress compensation) alongside sustainability credentials supporting LEED-certified projects and environmentally responsible construction methods.

Name

International Tension Structures

Legal name

International Tension Structures

Website

https://intenstructures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Tension Structures is a US-based specialty contractor founded in 2002 that designs, engineers, fabricates, and installs custom tensile membrane structures combining structural steel with fabric membrane panels. The company serves commercial, healthcare, education, government, military, and sports clients across Arizona and Nevada through turn-key design-build project engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fountain Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Tensile Membrane Structure Design-Build: ITS generates revenue through turn-key design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of custom tensile membrane structures. Services are project-based with pricing determined by project scope, complexity, materials (membrane type), and structural requirements. The company serves diverse market segments including commercial, healthcare, education, government, and sports facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

International Tension Structures (ITS) is a US-based specialty contractor that provides turn-key design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of custom tensile membrane structures. Core offerings combine structural and architectural steel with fabric membrane panels to deliver long-span roof systems, canopies, shade sails, fabric facades, retractable structures, and deployable structures for commercial, institutional, healthcare, education, government, military, and sports/recreation clients.

Product overview

International Tension Structures (ITS) is a US-based specialty contractor offering a unified portfolio of custom tensile membrane structures. The core offering is tensile membrane structures combining structural/architectural steel with fabric membrane panels, supported by complementary services including Retractable Structures and Fabric Graphics. ITS provides comprehensive professional services spanning concept/design development, engineering, fabrication, installation, and post-construction maintenance. The company also manufactures various membrane materials including PVC-Coated Polyester, PTFE-Coated Fiberglass, ePTFE, Silicone-Coated Fiberglass, ETFE Foils, and HDPE Shade Fabrics, each with distinct properties for different applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tensile Membrane Structures Custom tensile membrane structures engineered and constructed using a high-tech blend of structural and architectural steel and bold curving fabric membrane panels, including tensioned fabric structures, canopies, sun shades, shade sails, long-span roof structures, fabric facades, exterior UV protection, and frame and cable-supported structures.
• Retractable Structures Custom-designed retractable structures for roofs, shade structures, and canopy systems that can be opened or closed as needed, engineered for unique project requirements and spaces.
• Fabric Graphics Services Graphics and print imagery services applied to fabric to bring an additional level of art and aesthetics to tensile membrane projects through customized printed or applied imagery on fabric membranes.
• Design & Engineering Services Professional design and engineering services including concept development, design assistance, construction documentation, membrane selection, specifications, structural analysis, and engineering calculations for tensioned fabric structure projects.
• Construction Fabrication & Manufacturing Fabrication and manufacturing of complex structural steel and aluminum support structures as well as various membrane types including HDPE, PVC, and PTFE.
• Construction Installation Services Installation of steel, cable systems, and fabric membrane panels by skilled crews proficient in various membranes, navigating project schedules professionally.
• Post-Construction Services Structural reviews, special inspections, routine maintenance, structure modifications, repairs, and industrial cleaning of tensile membrane panels.
• PVC-Coated Polyester Membranes Solid membrane or mesh material with PVDF lacquer protection, available in various vibrant colors, can be waterproof with graphics printed or applied; average life expectancy of 20 years.
• PTFE-Coated Fiberglass Membranes Teflon-coated fiberglass membrane highly durable and fire-resistant, known for long-life expectancy and low maintenance for permanent structures; average life expectancy exceeding 30 years.
• ETFE Foils and Films Foil or film membranes fabricated in sheets or multi-layered cushion structures (air-filled pillow systems); extremely lightweight at 1% the weight of glass, self-cleaning, chemically inert, and transparent; life expectancy exceeding 30 years.
• HDPE Shade Fabric Membranes Heavy-duty knitted High Density Polyethylene monofilaments and/or tapes available in various colors, sun-blocking coverage properties, and strengths; average life expectancy of 10-15 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Life expectancy of 20 years for PVC-Coated Polyester membranes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FTL Design Engineering Studio: FTL is a New York-based engineering and design firm specializing in tensile and fabric architecture. Comparable to ITS as a specialty design-build firm delivering custom tensile membrane structures for cultural, commercial, and civic clients.
• Base Structures: Base Structures is a UK tensile fabric structure specialist providing design, fabrication, and installation of bespoke membrane structures. Directly comparable in offering custom engineered fabric architecture for commercial and public-sector clients.
• Architen Landrell: Architen Landrell is a UK-based designer, manufacturer, and installer of tensile fabric and membrane structures. Operates the same design-engineer-fabricate-install model as ITS for sports, retail, and public-sector projects.
• Birdair: Birdair is the largest US-based tensile membrane and cable-net structure contractor, serving stadiums, airports, and commercial clients worldwide. Most directly comparable competitor to ITS in turn-key design-build of tensile fabric architecture.

Regional players

• Hightex Group: Hightex is a global tensile membrane contractor headquartered in Germany with projects across Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Comparable technology and service offering, but operates outside the US Southwest market.
• MakMax Australia: MakMax is Asia-Pacific's largest tensile membrane contractor, delivering stadium roofs, shade structures, and ETFE facades. Comparable offering to ITS but focused on Australia and Asia markets.
• Taiyo Birdair (Taiyo Kogyo Group): Taiyo Kogyo Group is the parent of Birdair and a major Japanese/Asian tensile membrane and fabric structure firm. Comparable turnkey membrane engineering capability to ITS but Asia-centric footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Serge Ferrari:
• SEFAR Architecture: SEFAR is a global manufacturer of architectural fabrics and mesh for facade, ceiling, and acoustic applications. Comparable as a supplier of architectural-grade membrane materials that ITS deploys, though positioned upstream as a fabric producer.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Intenstructures
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalTensionStructures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-tension-structures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Tension Structures