Landscape Architecture

Pacific Plaza Park Pavilion

July 24, 2020/in Landscape Architecture Civic, Pergola, Urban Design Dallas--Texas HKS Line Silver M 2020 /by cmorris

The City of Dallas hired SWA Group to masterplan one of several site in Downtown Dallas since they are experts at understanding the benefits of urban heat island reduction. HKS Line was brought in to work in concert with them, developing geometries and patterns for an elegant open-air pavilion, which draws inspiration from the former railroads that transited through Dallas during the westward expansion.

Zahner was brought on board to provide Zahner Assist services, budgeting and ultimately engineering and fabrication of 323 unique perforated panels that make up the elliptical pavilion. For those conversant with Morse code, the perforated panels can tell a story. In addition to reducing the urban island heat, it also provides dappled light for casual visitors.

Pacific Park Pavilion

Photo by Ramsey Attia, ARKO | © A. Zahner Company

Pacific Park Pavilion

Photo by Ramsey Attia, ARKO | © A. Zahner Company

Pacific Park Pavilion

Photo by Ramsey Attia, ARKO | © A. Zahner Company

Pacific Park Pavilion

Photo by Ramsey Attia, ARKO | © A. Zahner Company

Académie Lafayette

October 17, 2017/in Landscape Architecture Education, Playground Kansas City KEM Studio S 2013 /by cmorris

“

We couldn’t have asked for a better collaboration or end result. Zahner took something complex and made it easy.

Jonathon KemnitizerIDSA.

Académie Lafayette Playground

Académie Lafayette Playground is a KEM Studio-designed playspace for students which features a slide manufactured and donated by Zahner. Académie Lafayette is a French immersion public school operating on multiple campuses in Kansas City serving grades K-8.

To maximize the school’s budget, the forms of the playground were designed to be easily built by volunteers and found/recycled objects + donations were utilized (phase one). Through fundraising and a successful crowdfunding campaign the slide/tunnel/climbing wall was completed as a second phase in Fall 2013.

Académie Lafayette students enjoy the new slide in Kansas City.

Installers add plywood ribs to the Zahner-manufactured structure.

Children at Académie Lafayette play underneath the slide made by Zahner.

Designer's rendering of the new playground at Academie Lafayette.

Artesia

May 12, 2017/in Art & Sculpture, Landscape Architecture Residential Mexico, Mexico City Hendrix + Studio, Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos Jan Hendrix M 2014 /by cmorris

Artesia Campos Eliseos

Artesia is a luxury residential complex in Mexico City which runs along the Campos Eliseos boulevard in Polanco. The residence’s ground levels feature permanent artworks by Jan Hendrix which were manufactured by Zahner. Working with Hendrix+Studio, the team developed a concept which fits into the overall architectural vision by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos.

The artwork by Hendrix is a permanent art installation made up of a series of massive perforated columns. Each column is made using mirror-polish aluminum, perforated to exacting standards based on the illustrated drawings by Hendrix+Studio. The aluminum plates were perforated using a mill process and connected using with custom-joinery. The forms are further polished to achieve a uniform mirror finish.

Related Project

Patio de las Jacarandas

Patio de Las Jacarandas is a Jan Hendrix and Hendrix Studio-designed work of public art in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The project's metal canopy was developed and fabricated by Zahner in water-jet cut aluminum.

Detail of the aluminum forms at the Artesia residential complex.

Perforated aluminum columns adorn the entrance of Artesia.

Zahner fabrication of the perforated aluminum column forms in Kansas City.

Block 21 Hotel

January 16, 2017/in Exterior Architecture, Landscape Architecture Highrise, Hospitality, LEED Austin--Texas Andersson-Wise Architects Brown M 2014 /by cmorris

Block 21 W Hotel and Residences

The W Hotel and Residences complex is a new centerpiece for the city, occupying a prime location in the skyline framing Austin City Hall and Lady Bird Lake. The design by Andersson-Wise Architects includes a covered entry clad in Solanum Steel, a preweathered steel manufactured by Zahner.

The multi-use project includes Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater, a 2700-person-capacity live music venue and recording studio for the venerable PBS television production. The complex has truly activated this part of downtown Austin while adding a new dimension to the city’s musical culture.

Conceived to set a higher standard for environmentally engaged design in Austin, the development has received Silver LEED certification and will be the largest building in the Central Texas region with this certification, and the only one that is mixed-use.

Block 21 Hotel and Residences in Austin, Texas.

A restrained presence is a key component of the entire complex. Massing and scale make a strong connection to the neighboring buildings, especially to City Hall, which is immediately to the south. At the street level, open air spaces invite gathering and access from Austin’s Second Street District, a growing urban neighborhood.

A landscaped public plaza on the southeast corner opens to cooling breezes off Lady Bird Lake and bridges to the W’s outdoor bar and restaurant, Trace. An adjoining open loggia provides a shaded passage from Lavaca Street to the hotel entrance.

Scratches to metal surface will self-heal as part of the Solanum Steel alloy's weathering properties.

Wichita Riverfront

January 6, 2017/in Exterior Architecture, Landscape Architecture Bridge, Pedestrian Bridge, Transportation Wichita--Kansas HNTB Brown M 2005 /by cmorris

Keeper of the Plains Pedestrian Bridge in Wichita Kansas

For the city’s riverfront revitalization, Zahner worked under HNTB to provide the pedestrian bridge in Wichita, Kansas. Zahner’s scope included primarily the metal panel systems used at the base of the bridge, for which the team provided both fabrication and installation.

The pedestrian bridge is divided into two spans, which each meet at the rivers’ confluence. Zahner provided the metal panel system using raw copper, which means that a dark patina will quickly form on the surface. Over the years, this patina will weather and eventually take on an overall green appearance.

Related Project

Douglas Avenue Bridge

Designed in collaboration with Mark Spitzer Designs, the artworks are each made up of a number of stainless steel tower forms with lighting systems. The forms were inspired by Wichita’s aeronautical heritage and the Jayhawk sail boat, an America’s Cup competitor that is permanently installed adjacent to the bridge at the city’s historic boathouse. The towers allude to the ship’s bow and billowing sail, creating a ceremonial space for pedestrians crossing the bridge, and a beautiful site for the city’s river festival.

Keeper of the Plains Bridge in Wichita, Kansas.

Irving Courtyard

January 5, 2017/in Exterior Architecture, Landscape Architecture Education, Passive Security Kansas City Gastinger Walker Harden Brown, Orange L 2006 /by cmorris

Irving Courtyard Screenwall at Kansas City Art Institute

The Irving Courtyard Screenwall is a large gateway, entry and artwork designed by Gastinger Walker and made by Zahner for the Kansas City Art Institute, completed in 2006. The architecture firm worked with Zahner engineers and fabricators to design, build, and install the sculptural screen which protects the school’s northwest entrance.

The design uses a custom die and unique pattern. Zahner software translated the architect’s pattern into a machine language to custom perforate the panels. The material is a preweathered corten or weathering steel surface.

Related Project

Irving Courtyard

Exterior view of the perforated metal gateway entry for Kansas City Art Institute.

Custom obround die-shapes were used to create the oval perforation patterns in the weathering steel.

The large gate provides a sense of privacy while allowing for open events at the school.

The perforated metal gate motif continues onto the brick wall as an wall-mounted metal artwork.

reBarn

December 30, 2016/in Art & Sculpture, Landscape Architecture Public Art, Sculpture Muncie--Indiana Ball State University, Project One Kevin Klinger S 2009 /by cmorris

reBarn by Project One

reBarn is a multi-use sculptural form designed by Project One with the students and faculty at Ball State. Permanently installed at Westside Park in Muncie, Indiana, the installation was made using reclaimed donated barn wood and Zahner-manufactured aluminum panels and hardware. The City of Muncie commissioned the artwork in partnership with Professor Kevin Klinger’s design studio at Ball State University and the Institute for Digital Fabrication.

As part of the designer’s intent, Zahner developed a series of etched patterns into the aluminum plate. In all, five water-jet aluminum plates were cut for the outer shell and over 350 aluminum joints were cut which align the sculptures form underneath the surface.

The reBarn project is installed at Westside Park as part of the public recreation trail running along the White River.

reBarn a collaborative project by Project One / Institute of Digital Fabrication / Ball State University.

Detail of the etched aluminum patterning on reBarn sculpture.

Related System

Etched & Engraved Metal

Etched and engraved metal processes provide a canvas of possibility for expression on plate and panel surfaces. Learn more about laser engraving and CNC engraving, as well as how laser etched and chemical etched metal systems are possible with Zahner fabrication and engineering.

Project One visited A. Zahner Company’s headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, to discuss the materials, tolerances, and processes that would be advanced in the project. Zahner assisted in the design of the connections between the wood and metal elements in reBarn.

The hardware made by Zahner controlled the form’s shape during the onsite construction and ensured a nearly seamless connection between wood and aluminum. Zahner’s unique ability to construct complex metal geometries and conceal a structure’s fabrication techniques from viewers helped Project One realize its design concept.

Tony Birchler at Zahner discusses digital fabrication with the design team.

The design team meets at Zahner in Kansas City to develop the concept.

reBarn provides a climbable multi-use sculptural form with seating and a sense of place.

Custom aluminum connections are fastened to concrete footings.

The wood and metal sculpture provides a solemn and yet playful experience.

In addition to providing a unique form, the design also was referential to its surrounding context. The design of reBarn references topographical of the adjacent river levees. Its playful form encourages a sense of place and identity for the visitors to the park.

Spencer Art Museum

December 27, 2016/in Exterior Architecture, Landscape Architecture Museum Lawrence--Kansas Pei Cobb Freed L. William Zahner Blue-grey, Grey, White S 2015 /by cmorris

University of Kansas Spencer Art Museum Renovation

Custom raw zinc plate planters were designed and fabricated by Zahner for the renovation of the Spencer Museum as part of the new landscape for the building. New donor plaques were also engraved for the Museum.

In 2010, the Spencer Museum partnered with architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners to develop a master renovation and expansion plan for its spaces. In April 2015, the Museum closed to the public for renovation. This 16-month project addressed the first part of the master plan and marked the first major renovation since the building’s opening.

Zahner was brought into the project by the Museum to provide landscape design. The company developed a design for the planters, and fabricated and delivered the zinc plate system. The zinc plates develop a white oxide layer, and will continue to weather and patina into a subtle grey-green over the years.

Pomona Planters

December 26, 2016/in Landscape Architecture Retail & Commerce, Urban Design Kansas City Young + Dring Grey, White S 2010 /by cmorris

Tree Surrounds and Planter Systems for Power & Light District

Working with Young + Dring, Zahner provided custom metalwork for planters in the Power & Light District of Kansas City. As the largest single implementation of streetscape in the downtown area, the installation of 180 Ginkgo trees resulted in a verdant urban forest.

Focused on tree health and long-term growth, custom planters and metal tree-surrounds were functionally and aesthetically designed by Young+Dring, which were then fabricated and installed by Zahner. Each of the aluminum plate planters was water jet cut to manufacture the patterned metal.

The award-winning Power & Light District is part of the current downtown Kansas City renaissance. In an ongoing effort since 2005, Young + Dring have participated in the revitalization of seven city blocks. The result is a more verdant, more walkable space in downtown Kansas City.

Related System

Pomona Planters

Detail of the Young+Dring planter boxes for the Power & Light District

Detail of the Young+Dring tree surrounds for the Power & Light District

Fabrication in the Zahner shop for the Young+Dring planters

Celestial Flyways

December 14, 2016/in Art & Sculpture, Landscape Architecture Kinetic Art, Public Art, Sculpture Kansas City Davison Architecture + Urban Design Laura DeAngelis Black, Blue, Indigo S 2008 /by cmorris

Star Disk and Celestial Flyways at Oppenstein Park

Celestial Flyways is a permanent interactive and kinetic artwork made through collaboration with Zahner art fabrication team. The public space includes a central piece by Laura DeAngelis entitled Star Disk, as well as a number of embedded stainless steel artworks inlayed in the concrete pavers. The artwork coincided with a complete redesign and rebuilding of Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park at 12th and Walnut in downtown Kansas City. The park was dedicated April 18, 2008 and named Celestial Flyways to celebrate the natural environment of the Kansas City area.

The artwork was developed by artist Laura DeAngelis in collaboration with Peregrine Honig with the leadership of Davison Architecture + Urban Design. The piece was commissioned by the Art in the Loop Foundation, a metropolitan organization of business and civic leaders with a continuing mission to enhance central Kansas City with public art.

Star Disk has a number of built-in features which align with the stars and sky. The stars are revealed through holes in the disks filled by acrylic lenses which are lit from below. Drawings of the mythological characters associated with the constellations are etched on to the surface of the disk. Park visitors rotate the star disk to a date and time with a motor operated by buttons on the base.

“

“I wanted to shift people’s perceptions and encourage a different kind of awareness of the space, reconnecting the park to the sky directly overhead and the continuous rhythms of the natural world, which are so easy to lose sight of in the middle of the city.

Laura deAngelisArtist.at

According to Astrolabe.org, the anaphoric Star Disk in the park is very likely the largest and most accurate astronomical machine of this type ever made. The ten foot diameter disk contains the positions of 457 stars in 50 constellations.

In addition to the Star Disk, a number of inlayed birds are scattered throughout the landscape of the Celestial Flyways park, pictured below. These were CNC-cut and etched by Zahner with artist renderings of birds.

This project was a cooperative venture between the city of Kansas City and Jackson Country Parks and Recreation. It required two years of work, the talents of at least 150 people at a cost of nearly $500,000, much of which was donated.

More information can be learned about the process, history, and installation of Celestial Flyways at the Astrolabes.org website.