Art & Sculpture

James Turrell Skyspace

March 31, 2025/in Art & Sculpture, Exterior Architecture Private Art Council Bluffs--Iowa James Turrell Silver 2020 /by Alexandra Contreras

James Turrell is a master of light and space. He is known for his immersive installations, which explore the interplay of light, form, and human perception. These installations create ethereal environments that invite awareness and contemplation.

In 2020, Zahner had the unique opportunity to collaborate on a Turrell project for a private residence. The challenge was constructing a massive stainless steel sphere to enclose one of his signature oculus light installations. The goal was to craft a seamless, immersive space where form, materiality, and light converge into a one-of-a-kind sensory experience.

The sphere is clad with in Zahner Angel Hair Stainless Steel panels.

PHOTO ©️ A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Turrell provided exact specifications to ensure the sphere’s geometric purity. Zahner’s engineering team shaped the structure using ZEPPS (Zahner Engineered Profile Panel System) and cladded the exterior with Angel Hair® Stainless Steel panels to match the client’s home’s aesthetic. Every detail was meticulously considered to maintain the integrity of Turrell’s vision.

The 14' dual-curved oculus cover features intricate patterning rendered with Angel Hair panels.

PHOTO ©️ A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

The sphere during construction at Zahner's headquarters in Kansas City.

PHOTO ©️ A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Inside the sphere, a custom-designed teak and stone bench, built by Matt Castilleja of Castilleja Furniture and Objects, was installed for visitors to sit and experience the space. A stone floor and a whisper-quiet HVAC system were incorporated to create a comfortable yet undisturbed environment.

The project also includes a custom aluminum table and a viewing deck with a glass handrail, designed in collaboration with Wallace E. Cunningham. But perhaps the most striking feature is the oculus—a perfectly curved stainless steel cone with a circular aperture that allows light to enter and interact with the space dynamically. The oculus required precision filing to achieve the desired effect, creating a razor-thin edge that enhances the illusion of infinite depth.

A custom-designed teak and stone bench by Castilleja Furniture and Objects provides seating inside the sphere.

PHOTO ©️ A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

The oculus — the core feature of Turrell's artwork — creates an ever-changing experience of light within the sphere.

PHOTO ©️ A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Two of the project’s most complex engineering feats were the entry door and the oculus cover. Designed with the help of artist and inventor Chuck Hoberman, the curved entry door operates with seamless precision, retracting effortlessly while maintaining the sphere’s curvature. The custom hardware allows the door to be opened from either side, ensuring functionality and aesthetic continuity.

The oculus cover, a 14-foot dual-curved dome, was designed to withstand wind and snow loads while maintaining smooth operation. Zahner fabricated a curved track system to match the sphere’s contours, ensuring that the cover glides smoothly into place. Extensive testing was conducted in Zahner’s workshop before the final installation, guaranteeing flawless functionality.

This remarkable project is a testament to what can be achieved when artistic brilliance meets innovative engineering.

The entrance to the sphere features a curved door that seals the viewers within the experience.

PHOTO ©️ A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Grand Foyer in the Ambassador Building at Embassy Gardens

July 23, 2024/in Art & Sculpture Hospitality, Sculpture London--England Luis Bustamante Jan Hendrix White M 2016 /by Katie Barone

Located in London’s Nine Elms cultural district, the Embassy Gardens residential and commercial development features an award-winning lobby in the Ambassador Building across from the US Embassy.

Zahner collaborated with Luis Bustamante on the stunning lobby design which also features an art wall design by Jan Hendrix, illuminated by Gia Equation. Zahner crafted waterjet-cut aluminum panels, using 12mm recycled aluminum, with a white powder coating.

The panels feature a unique v-cut fold, giving a sculptural edge without welds, showcasing Zahner’s advanced machining technology. This seamless design enhances the forest canopy image as studied and designed by Hendrix. The project exemplifies innovative collaboration and sustainability, with all cut-out material recycled and the artwork designed for future recyclability.

Interior art wall featured within the lobby of the Embassy Gardens in London.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Close up of interior art wall featured in the Embassy Gardens. The image depicts a forest canopy.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Detailed side view of interior art wall.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Detail of the panels' v-cut, miter-like folded corners.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Pembroke Hill Dining Hall

March 26, 2024/in Art & Sculpture Education Kansas City Gould Evans Associates, Multistudio Jan Hendrix Silver M 2021 /by Katie Barone

Zahner’s latest metal artwork collaboration with world-renowned artist Jan Hendrix is now on display at Pembroke Hill’s new dining hall. Part of a $52 million campus addition, the stainless steel artwork dazzles passersby with its organic pattern and reflective allure.

When Pembroke Hill and a donor approached Zahner about introducing art as part of the sun shading system for the 37-foot high barrel-vaulted dining hall, Zahner engaged Hendrix for the project. Since Hendrix’s art is highly influenced by nature, he created two botanical images for the massive glass walls. Hendrix wanted the students to feel as if they were inside a living plant.

Zahner cut the images out of stainless steel and engineered layers of stainless steel and developed a method of holding the stainless steel panels in place with the glass walls. The end result was an incredible work of art on a budget that was not much more than that of a conventional horizontal sunscreen. All panels are accessible and removable.

The filtered light through the leaf-patterned veins fosters a soothing environment for daily student gatherings and other special events. The installation, blending nature and artistry, aims to captivate students and encourage a deeper connection with the environment.

CEO Bill Zahner is pleased to be part of the largest and most visible Hendrix work in Kansas City. “We’ve worked with him all over the world,” he said. “And now we have a beautiful piece in town that everyone can enjoy.”

Stainless steel screens over the windows of the Pembroke Hill dining hall, designed by artist Jan Hendrix.

Close-up view of the stainless steel screen system, showing the dual layers of screens.

Interior view of the Pembroke Hill dining hall and Jan Hendrix window installation.

Interior view of the metal screens system.

Exterior view of the Jan Hendrix installation.

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.

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PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

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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.

Queen Anne’s Lace

October 18, 2017/in Art & Sculpture Private Art Kansas City Dierk Van Keppel, L. William Zahner Blue, Brown, Green, Indigo, Light blue, Orange, Red, Rose S 2010 /by cmorris

Queen Anne’s Lace artwork for Private Residence

Queen Anne’s Lace is an artwork made in collaboration with Dierk van Keppel for a private residence, manufactured using Zahner CNC-cut 1/2″ plate aluminum. The artwork draws inspiration from an image of the Queen Anne’s Lace flower found in the collector’s garden.

Zahner worked with Dierk Van Keppel whose studio at Rock Cottage Glass created the glass inlay for the artwork. The metal component of the piece was made in aluminum at the Zahner facility in Kansas City. The aluminum surface is processed with a GB-60 finish, providing a muted reflectivity.

Related Project

Queen Anne’s Lace

Detail of the Queen Anne's Lace artwork, showing how light can pass through the glass inlays.

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.

Melka Winery Seat

September 1, 2017/in Art & Sculpture St. Helena--CA Signum Architecture 2017 /by Winifred Wright

St. Helena, CA

A single, finely perforated painted aluminum panel which forms the front of a metal seat.

Backlit, finely perforated painted aluminum panel which forms the front of a metal seat.

Finely perforated painted aluminum panel which forms the front of a metal seat.

Backlit, finely perforated painted aluminum panel which forms the front of a metal seat.

Detail of finely perforated painted aluminum panel which forms the front of a metal seat.

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.

Angel Gate

June 10, 2017/in Art & Sculpture, Interior Architecture Private Art, Worship Center Kansas City L. William Zahner Brown, Gold S 2003 /by cmorris

Angel Gate at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Angel Gate is a bronze and aluminum art feature which was manufactured at the Zahner facility in Kansas City. Commissioned by The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the bespoke metal artwork provides a functional gate entry into an inner worship space.

The artwork is made up of stacked plates of aluminum and bronze. To increase the contrast between the two metal components, Zahner created a stepped layout between each metal plate. This provided a bolder feel for the light gateway. The use of bronze accentuates the gold-gilded capitals of the two Corinthian columns in the doorway, visually integrating the gate with the church’s original late 19th century design and context.