Public Art | Zahner

Schwab Residential Center at Stanford Graduate School of Business

Zahner collaborated with Legorreta Arquitectos and artist Frida Escobedo to bring the Schwab Residential Center’s Davis Courtyard vision to life at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

In the Davis Courtyard, Zahner engineered and fabricated a Solanum® Steel wall inspired by the sound of striking a picket fence, designed to “sing” when interacted with. Working closely with Escobedo, Zahner developed a dynamic mechanism using weathering steel plates and tuned metal tubes to produce distinct notes. All surfaces were preweathered in Zahner’s Texas facility.

Zahner also created a striking custom entryway from a custom aluminum extrusion. This element was finished in a purple powder-coated paint. All elements were engineered, fabricated, and installed by Zahner, ensuring durability and artistic integrity.

Schwab Residential Center at Stanford Graduate School of Business

Preservation Plaza

February 9, 2023/in Art & Sculpture, Exterior Architecture Performance Center, Public Art, Sculpture Arnolds Park--Iowa RDG Planning & Design Silver, White M 2022 /by Jeneane Dunlap

The Preservation Plaza Stage offers a one-of-a-kind concert setting with the backdrop of West Lake Okoboji’s blue waters glistening in the background. The desire by the Historic Arnolds Park Incorporation (HAPI) and RDG Planning & Design to transform the area into a permanent event space has been realized from what was previously a green space frequented by lake goers for events.

Through a Zahner Assist engagement, Zahner worked with RDG to develop and refine the 6,400 square foot amphitheater that resembles the lake waves above and wooden boat hulls below. Nestled within the structural steel bays are Zahner’s patented aluminum ZEPPS. The structure finishes out with custom finished stainless steel flat seamroof panels, painted aluminum perimeter fascia, and columns covers.

Incorporated within Zahner’s work is the phenolic soffit system underneath which required intricate coordination with the provider. Apart from the structural steel and phenolic system, Zahner self-performed the installation over the course of six months and the project was completed in September of 2022. The Preservation Plaza Stage offers yet another unique experience to the charm and delight of the area and serves as a cornerstone anchoring the park for enjoyment by future generations.

The Preservation Plaza Stage in Arnolds Park, Iowa.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

The preservation plaza creates a permanent event space within Arnolds park.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

THE PRESERVATION PLAZA STAGE IN ARNOLDS PARK, IOWA.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

THE PRESERVATION PLAZA STAGE IN ARNOLDS PARK, IOWA.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Mockup stainless steel skins were created to determine the best finish

Stainless steel skin mockup for THE PRESERVATION PLAZA.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Custom finished stainless steel skins.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

210012_Preservation Plaza_Skin Option 2_Close

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

210012_Preservation Plaza_Skin Option 1_Close

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

The Preservation Plaza Stage lights up the night

The Preservation Plaza Stage offers a one-of-a-kind concert setting.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Kravis Bench

July 25, 2020/in Art & Sculpture Public Art West Palm Beach--Florida Robin Oglesbee-Venghaus Fuschia, White M 2019 /by Winifred Wright

Kravis Bench; West Palm Beach, Florida

Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts commissioned artist Robin Oglesbee-Venghaus to design, build and deliver a sculptural entrance setting. He collaborated with Zahner to develop an elegant solution for his composition entitled “The Embrace.”

Zahner designed and engineered the benches which were comprised of individual elements fastened together to form a dynamic bench—forms which use painted aluminum segments to form two 27 foot long curving benches. The bench heights are exaggerated for dramatic effect and taper in counterpoint to each other. The back side of the benches are clad in a translucent LG solid surface and are illuminated by continuous programmable LED fixtures.

Facade for 178 North Eleventh with antique copper patina in Brooklyn, New York.

Sun Pavilion

September 22, 2017/in Art & Sculpture Public Art El Paso--Texas RDG Red, Silver S 2017 /by cmorris

Sun Pavilion, Artwork in El Paso, Texas

David Dahlquist and Matt Niebuhr with RDG Dahlquist Art Studio designed Sun Pavilion, a public artwork commissioned by the Museum of Cultural Affairs for the City of El Paso, Texas. Zahner provided engineering and custom art fabrication for the artist’s design.

Zahner fabricated the cut aluminum plates in shapes inspired by paper cutting craft traditions of the area. The face of each metal plate is painted silver while red paint covers the verso. Lit within, the structure resembles a paper lantern in the evening, inviting continued use of the space.

Detail of Sun Pavilion roof during installation.

Framing a place to gather, the Sun Pavilion provides sheltered space for park goers to share the stories of the day with each other. This public art project reinforces the role of regional parks as civic anchors and places of community gathering and cohesion and with imagination, the patterned shadows and colors echo faces of the past and put us together in the present with each other creating a special place, a distinctive place, for Blackie Chesher Park and the community.

Book Forms

June 10, 2017/in Art & Sculpture Private Art, Public Art, Sculpture Duluth--Minnesota Steven Woodward M 1995 /by cmorris

Book FORMS at the University of Minnesota

Book Forms is a pair of sculptures by artist Steven Woodward completed in 1995. The artworks were made using Zahner art fabrication team. The artwork was manufactured in Kansas City and shipped to Minnesota where it was installed. Commissioned by the University of Minnesota, the artwork is located on the rooftop plaza outside of the Kirby Lounge at the school’s campus in Duluth, Minnesota.

Woodward worked closely with A. Zahner Company to manufacture the two massive metal book sculptures from copper, stainless steel, and weathering steel.

Related Project

Quill

Quill is the second sculptural collaboration between Zahner and Woodward. The first collaboration, Books of Knowledge, is located at the University of Minnesota.

Zahner engineers and craftsmen helped Woodward realize his design concept by concealing the hardware used to create each sculptural book. The books have become an outdoor study destination on top of the the Kirby Student Center rooftop.

Steven Woodward also worked with Zahner to design, engineer, and fabricate another sculpture entitled Quill at Upper Iowa University.

Starlight Donor’s Circle

January 11, 2017/in Art & Sculpture Performance Center, Public Art Kansas City Gastinger Walker Harden Dierk Van Keppel Gold, Silver S 2007 /by cmorris

Donor’s Circle at Starlight Theatre

In 2007, the Starlight Theatre added a Donor’s Circle designed with local glass artist Dierk Van Keppel. The Donor’s Circle for the Starlight Theater features stainless steel, glass and lighting elements in both the ceiling and floor of the outdoor patio.

Zahner engineers and artisans worked with Gastinger Walker Harden, with Bob Rohlf and the Starlight Theatre Association of Kansas City to engineer, fabricate, and install the artwork. The surface features glass cast by local Kansas City artist Dierk Van Keppel.

Related Project

Starlight Theater

In the late 1990s, they theatre company recognized a need to fortify For the Theatre's centennial, a new building was completed to improve that quality of productions which could be performed at Starlight. In 2000, Zahner was responsible for manufacturing the new roof system for the amphitheater. Named the Jeannette and Jerome Cohen Community Stage, the new stage also included a roof for Starlight theatre, and increased its technical capability, making it one of the largest roadhouses in the country.

Zahner manufactured the stainless steel memorial ceiling pieces as well as the inset floor and framework for the glass floor system. The stainless steel and floor medallions are etched with the inscription of “Anita B. Gordon Honorary Court”.

Detail of the metal ceiling system made for the Starlight Theatre Donor's Circle

Starlight Theatre Donor's Circle, featuring inset glass with floor and ceiling metalwork.

The metal base for the inset glass at Zahner HQ in Kansas City

Memorial ceiling before peeling the protective film from the stainless steel

Hyatt Regency Houston

January 4, 2017/in Art & Sculpture Hospitality, Public Art, Sculpture, Urban Design Houston--Texas Gensler Brown M 2015 /by cmorris

Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston, Texas

The Hyatt Regency Houston is a new hotel development designed by Gensler which includes several features made using Zahner engineering and fabrication. Among the features provided by Zahner: a massive art wall at the building’s porte-cochère, steel signage at its entrance, and a series of interior lobby partition walls screen dividers manufactured in Solanum Steel.

These architectural details are part of the new 260,000-square-foot, 14-story Hyatt Regency Hotel. Located next to the Houston Galleria, the new construction builds on an existing two-story retail building which was partially demolished and integrated into the new design.

Related Surface

Hyatt Regency Houston

Art wall, fabricated in Solanum Steel and aluminum, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston.

The Hyatt River Art Wall

The artist team responsible for developing the art wall Lester Yuen, Michael Gajevsky and Nancy Nodler. Yuen worked closely with L. William Zahner to develop the artwork, using polished aluminum plate to show a topographical section of the Buffalo Bayou river in Houston, Texas.

The artwork is located under the covered driveway entrance for the hotel. The base layers of the artwork are made using plate aluminum and clad in a final layer of weathering steel with a preweathered finish. Each plate was cut using automated CNC machinery at Zahner. These have a polished edge and are secured below the final layer of Solanum Steel.

Gensler partnered with Zahner’s Design Assist team at the project’s inception to ensure that the project could be developed within the client’s budget. In addition to reducing the overall cost, this process also improved the end quality of the details.

Art wall sections are manufactured in the Zahner shop facility.

Art wall at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston.

Detail of the steel and aluminum connection.

Interior steel partition walls made in preweathered steel.

Zahner-manufactured interior screen wall dividers at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston.

Details of the joints for the art wall at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston.

Detail of the Hyatt River Regency art wall joints.

Light reflects against the aluminum artwork.

Catalyst Sculpture

December 30, 2016/in Art & Sculpture Kinetic Art, Public Art, Sculpture Kansas City Matthew Dehaemers M 2008 /by cmorris

Catalyst: Kinetic Public Art in Kansas City

Catalyst is a kinetic sculpture in Kansas City by artist Matthew Dehaemers, engineered and produced using Zahner art fabrication services. Located at the intersection of of 31st Street and Troost Avenue, this public artwork was completed in 2010 for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.

Zahner engineers and artisans worked closely with Dehaemers to engineer, fabricate, and install the artwork. As a kinetic sculpture, the design included moving parts which were modeled digitally by Zahner engineers and the in-house design team. Zahner crafted the sculpture from galvanized steel, laser-etched stainless steel, and aluminum.

The sculpture’s form is inspired by the root of the Dutch word “Troost,” which means to “provide comfort, solace.” Its location on Troost Avenue is further informed by the diverse cultural perspectives of the area. Catalyst represents the past, present, and future of the street corner, which once served as the hub of Kansas City life in the early 20th century. Catalyst was Matt Dehaemers’ second collaboration with Zahner. His first collaboration was completed in 2008 and entitled Seven Sentinels.

Catalyst sculpture in aluminum, galvanized, stainless steel; custom engineering and fabrication for kinetic sculpture.

Catalyst sculpture looping video of its kinetic motion.

Metal fabricated landscape design for the Catalyst sculpture in Kansas City.

“My hope is for “Catalyst” to mean different things to different people as local citizens become stewards of Catalyst and the Troost corridor it represents … The form of sculpture for some may represent the form of a tree, or the abstraction of a spark of light or even yet the dawn of a new day as a sun unfolds its rays of light.” – Matthew Dehaemers

The 30-foot-tall structure stands above the MAX bus stop acting as an artful signal for the arrival and departure of the MAX transits. From far you can see that a bus has just left, or is currently arriving.

Kansas City hybrid buses traveling southbound will trigger Catalyst to unfold its wing-like arm structures. Approximately a minute or two later the arms fold back up awaiting to repeat the gesture minutes later for the next bus. LED lights have been installed and cast brilliant ever changing light across the surface of the structure during the night time, hitting the entire spectrum of color.

Seven Sentinels

December 30, 2016/in Art & Sculpture Kinetic Art, Public Art, Sculpture Kansas City Matthew Dehaemers L, M 2008 /by cmorris

Seven Sentinels artwork in Kansas City

Seven Sentinels is a kinetic artwork and permanent public installation by Matt Dehaemers. Zahner provided engineering, art fabrication, installation for the public artwork, located in Kansas City, Missouri.

The installation consists of seven equidistant, elongated and oversized parking gates. These were manufactured several times the height of a standard parking gate. Each of the seven pieces were engineered to individually automatically open as a kinetic sculpture. As visitors exit the facility, each parking gate rises to salute drivers leaving the New Municipal Vehicle Impound Tow Lot Facility.

Looping animation of the Nerman Museum kinetic light display by artist Leo Villareal.

The moving lights at the Nerman Museum

Learn more about the artwork Microcosm at the Nerman Museum in Overland Park, Kansas.

Seven Sentinels kinetic sculpture made in galvanized steel. Each of the parking gate sculptures salute exiting drivers.

Detail of the kinetic sculpture Seven Sentinels, a public artwork by Matthew Dehaemers.

Seven Sentinels kinetic sculpture. Each of the parking gate sculptures salute exiting drivers.

Related Project

Catalyst Sculpture

The parking gates were each crafted from powder-coated aluminum and galvanized steel. The sculptures react to incoming traffic, lifting their gates as cars pass underneath. The kinetic movement is a reference to soldiers performing a sword ceremony, and as such shows respect to vehicles exiting the lot. Seven Sentinels was completed in 2008. It is the first public artwork collaboration between Dehaemers and Zahner. Dehaemers’ second collaboration with Zahner, Catalyst, was completed in 2010 and stands at the intersection of 31st Street and Troost in Kansas City.

Each gate tower is 16 feet tall and the each gate is 12 feet long. The towers are placed 30 feet apart for a total of 180 feet from end to end. The artwork is made in galvanized steel, with powder-coated aluminum gate bars, parking control mechanisms, concrete, and a surface-mounted loop detector to trigger the artwork’s kinetic movement.

Aerial photograph of the kinetic sculpture entitled Seven Sentinels, a public artwork by Matthew Dehaemers.

Restoration: “That Profile”

December 30, 2016/in Art & Sculpture Museum, Public Art, Renovation, Restoration, Sculpture Los Angeles--California Martin Puryear L 1999 /by cmorris

Note: Contemporary metal materials are known for their inherent immutability. While a number of metals can withstand many decades, it is important to consider how these materials are fabricated and installed, such that environmental concerns, galvanic corrosion, alloy selection, and other factors are properly considered and understood.

The long-term preservation of metal art and architecture is at the forefront of the research by CEO L. William Zahner. Through his role as chairman at Metalabs and his ongoing research and publications, Mr. Zahner hopes to promote the resilience of both immutable and transformative metals throughout the disciplines of art, sculpture, and architecture.

Restoring Art: That Profile, by Martin Puryear

That Profile is a forty-five foot sculpture by American artist Martin Puryear. The artwork rises into the air above the Tram Arrival Plaza at The Getty Center in Los Angeles, California. Installed in 1999, the stainless steel and bronze sculpture began showing signs of deterioration after a short time, which led administrators at The Getty to seek an expert in metal restoration.

The Getty contacted L. William Zahner, an expert in the field of metal sciences, to run tests on That Profile and determine how to restore and protect it for the future. His analysis revealed that the stainless steel “nodes” or joints which connect the linear aspects of the sculpture had weakened in the California weather. Mr. Zahner developed a two-stage cleaning process with a chemical wash and electropolishing process to revive the original stainless steel finish and add strength to the nodes.