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Experience Music Project (now the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP)

Celebrating the Extraordinary Life & Works of Frank Gehry (1929–2025)

By L. William Zahner Frank Gehry’s passing marks the close of a remarkable chapter in architectural history, one defined by fearless experimentation and daring creativity. For me, Frank was more than a global icon. He was a friend, collaborator, and a mentor whose imagination reshaped not only cities around the world, but also the way many of us think about architecture itself. For nearly half a century, Frank was a source of inspiration. I had the rare opportunity to work with him on numerous projects throughout my career, and each collaboration challenged every assumption we held about materials, form, and process. Frank never accepted the familiar industry norms of the day. His relentless desire to create something entirely new pushed all of us to see further, think deeper, and work harder. Mit Stata Center at Cambridge, MassachusettsPHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. Mit Stata Center at Cambridge, MassachusettsPHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. Our shared exploration centered on architectural metal surfacing. My firm’s expertise was in sheet metal, but with Frank, those materials took on an entirely new life. Together, we explored thin cladding in ways no one had before: how light could reflect from surfaces and edges, how color could shift through interference-colored stainless steel, how titanium could bend, shimmer, and transform a building into sculpture. Diffuse finishes, layered reflections, and unconventional textures became part of his architectural language. Frank embraced all of it, not for novelty’s sake, but in service of expanding what architecture could be. It was, quite simply, a blast. Maggie’s Centre in Dundee, ScotlandPhotograph © Arcspace by Kirsten Kiser Maggie’s Centre in Dundee, ScotlandPhotograph © Arcspace by Kirsten Kiser Maggie’s Centre in Dundee, ScotlandPhotograph © Arcspace by Kirsten Kiser No two Gehry projects were ever alike. Some, like the Experience Music Project in Seattle, pushed us into entirely new territory, where generative design was brought from concept to reality. We had to invent new ways to define and fabricate surfaces while working on one of the most complex projects ever conceived. Even today, when I walk by that building, I still pause in disbelief that we actually pulled it off. Experience Music Project (now the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP) Experience Music Project (now the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP)PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. Other collaborations, including Bard College, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western, and Team Disney Anaheim, each presented its own challenges and rewards. Photograph of the setting sun on the Fisher Center at Bard College.PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. PRITZKER PAVILION AT MILLENIUM PARK.PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. But one project that remains especially close to my heart is the OHR O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi. Set along the Mississippi shoreline, it honors the unconventional ceramic genius George Ohr, and its series of sculptural buildings reflects both the spirit of Ohr’s work and Frank’s fearless creativity. OHR-O'KEEFE MUSEUM OF ART FEATURING ANGEL HAIR STAINLESS STEEL.PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. To realize these forms, we were often forced beyond conventional systems. Standard methods simply wouldn’t work. So we invented new ones, shaping curved architectural forms with modular components fabricated through highly defined, computer-driven manufacturing. In many ways, these collaborations helped change the industry's approach to building surfaces. Frank, along with the remarkable teams who worked with him, transformed not just what buildings look like, but how they are imagined and constructed. OHR-O'KEEFE MUSEUM OF ART AT DUSK, DESIGNED BY FRANK GEHRY PARTNERS.PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. OHR-O'KEEFE MUSEUM OF ART MAIN BUILDING AT DUSK, BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI.PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY. Frank was kind enough to comment on our professional collaboration and also share his design philosophy on metal in a foreword he wrote for my first book in 2005, “Architectural Metal Surfaces.” It is a prized memento of our work together: Foreword

Daylight illuminates the escalator space, amplifying the glow of the gold anodized aluminum.

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Caesars Superdome Shines With New Architectural Metals by Zahner

The Caesars Superdome has stood as a symbol of resilience, entertainment, and sportsmanship in New Orleans since its opening in 1975.

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Zahner Honored for Manufacturing and Environmental Excellence 10th Year in A Row

Zahner is recognized by the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, for environmental protection compliance and pollution prevention efforts.

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Celebrating the Life and Works of Antoine Predock (1936-2024)

By L. William Zahner 10/28/2024

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Introducing Moda: A Versatile Metal Panel System for Any Space

An innovative modular wall panel system offering architects and designers unparalleled flexibility and aesthetic options.

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Introducing Luster Wall System

Luster Wall System offers point accessible wall panels by WPS, clad in unique metal surfaces by Zahner.

Detail of the Fin Facade on the DTE Central Energy Plant

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AN talks with Bill Zahner about AEC industry trends, sustainability, and running a family business

The Architect's Newspaper editors recently interviewed Bill Zahner on AEC industry sustainability trends, recycling, and embodied carbon tracking in metal production.

The Monticello DairyMonticello Dairy Building at The Dairy Market in Charlottesville, VA, featuring Zahner Star Blue Copper.

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Charlottesville Dairy Market Features Zahner Star Blue™ Copper, Wins Prestigious Copper Alliance Award for Restoration

The Monticello Dairy in Charlottesville, Virginia, underwent a remarkable transformation, breathing new life into this cherished community landmark.

Zahner's VP of Sales Engineering, Tony Birchler, presents at TEDxMissouriS&T event.

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Zahner VP of Sales Engineering Presents at TEDxMissouriS&T on the Power of Sketching In Design

“Sketching is visual thinking that enhances your ability to come up with solutions.”

A portrait of architect Zaha Hadid rendered on gold stainless steel using Zahner Imagelines perforation technology.

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AN features the painting-like perforations of ImageLines in new product spotlight

The Architect's Newspaper recently featured our latest graphic perforation innovation — ImageLines — succinctly and accurately describing it as “a perforation style that renders a painting-like appearance.”

The New Horizons Foundation Podcast - Clip from Episode 7

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Podcast: The Value of Collaboration Between Architects and Architectural Metal Fabricators

Perkins&Will and Zahner have created a dynamic design process that speeds up decision-making, allows for more creative iterations, and delivers to clients the highest quality solutions. Nick Cameron and Ryan Sutton were recent guests of The New Horizons Foundation Podcast where they discussed the genesis, the process, and the benefits of this innovative workflow.

Zahner ImageWall was used to create the custom perforated facade that clads the awning of the EJI Legacy Pavilion.

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An Architect’s Guide to Perforated Metal Panels

In "An Architect’s Guide to Graphic Perforated Metal Panels", Architizer editors explore the creative potential of perforated metal panel systems like Zahner ImageWall® – and its latest innovation Zahner ImageLines® – from the design process to technical detailing and application.

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Architizer Spotlights Zahner’s Collaboration with Top Architects Worldwide

Architizer is a media platform and online community connecting architects, engineers, and product manufacturers. Eric Baldwin, Firmwide Communications Manager for Perkins&Will, in his latest article on Architizer, explores how Zahner is redefining architecture today.

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The FABRICATOR Talks with Bill Zahner About Architectural Metals and the Latest Zahner Products

The FABRICATOR is the industry’s most widely circulated fabricating and forming magazine. Editor-in-chief Dan Davis recently invited A. Zahner Co. CEO Bill Zahner to share more about the company’s history, current projects, and latest innovations in metal materials, patinas, and finishes.

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Metal Architecture Talks with Bill Zahner About the Industry Past, Present, and Future

Metal Architecture is the leading authority on the use of metal in architectural applications and building design. Editor Paul Deffenbaugh recently posed 10 questions to fourth-generation A. Zahner Co. CEO Bill Zahner on the evolution of the industry, the history of the 125-year-old firm—and what lies ahead for both.