Blue | Zahner

Contemporary Jewish Museum

The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco

Designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind with WRNS Studio, The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco features a facade and building envelope manufacture by Zahner. Originally founded in 1984 in San Francisco, California the museum’s mission was renovated with a new addition. The museum’s mission is to offer contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. The Museum reopened June 9, 2008.

3,028 sheets of blue iridescent cross-fire interference stainless steel clad the surface of the museum, which is formed in the shape modeled off of the Hebrew script for ‘L’Chaim’ which translates ‘To Life’.

Zahner was responsible for the design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of the facade and total building envelope, inclusive of the metal, glass, and substrate. The project uses the Inverted Seam roof and facade system, the most powerful roof and building envelope surface for water control, planar uniformity and long-term performance.

Zahner engineered the skylight windows to integrate into the Inverted Seam roof and building envelope system, inset with four-sided structural silicone glazing. The 36 custom skylights sit perfectly flush with the surface of the metal, giving the roof and siding a smooth, uniform facing.

Evening photograph of the Studio Daniel Libeskind-designed Contemporary Jewish Museum .

Cantilevered section of the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.

Daniel Libeskind examines the light reflectivity of one of Zahner's panels.

The metal panels of the Contemporary Jewish Museum at mid-day.

Blue metal panels of the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.

Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco during construction.

At certain angles the metal panels reflect iridescent colors.

Aerial view of the blue metal panels on the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Franicsco.

Aerial view of the blue metal panels on the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.

Detail of the blue panels on the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

The subtle raised edges on the surface of the metal are a custom touch designed by Libeskind. The architect was able to design a custom raised indentation with Zahner design consultants and fabricators using the custom indentations for automated alteration of the metal surface.

This is the first major project whose facade was produced by Zahner for Daniel Libeskind. Since then Zahner has completed the Libeskind-designed 18.36.54 private residence and summer home in Connecticut, and in 2014, Zahner provided art fabrication on his design for the Ohio Holocaust and Liberators Memorial.

Clyde Frazier NYC

August 15, 2016/in Interior Architecture Restaurant New York City Morphosis Black, Blue, Blue-grey, Brown, Charcoal, Gold, Green, Grey, Indigo, Light blue, Magenta, Orange, Red, Silver, Violet, White, Yellow M 2012 /by cmorris

Clyde Frazier’s Wine & Dine in New York City

Clyde Frazier’s Wine & Dine is a new construction high-end sports bar and eatery designed by Morphosis. The space features a Zahner-manufactured ceiling, made using generative design and automated fabrication.

Designed by Morphosis for NBA Champion and former New York Knicks Player Walt Clyde Frazier, this New York City restaurant expands a full city block in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. A swarm of suit jackets dominates the central corridor of Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine, a 10,000 square foot experience which mixes American and Asian cuisines.

Zahner provided the ceiling architectural feature. This ceiling is made up of custom cut and folded aluminum plates, 544 in total. The aluminum plates are printed from photographs of Mr. Frazier’s suit jackets. These parts are segmented into six unique shapes, where are placed at intervals of increasing distance. This interval placement creates the illusion that every part is unique.

Clyde Frazier's Wine & Dine in New York City.

The colors in the model categorize the panels according to breaks and sizes. Between the differing anchor placements, prints, panel sizes, and panel shapes, all 544 aluminum panels ended up being unique.

Even more complex were the ribs which held them in place. Because the panels were anchored at different angles, every drill hole had to be custom placed. Thus, each of the 69 ribs had 6 segments for a total of 463 segments, each with 3 unique faces.

3D model for Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine.

“The transformative feature in the room, however, is suspended from the ceiling, where a 170-foot-long assemblage of colorful, patterned, flat and folded aluminum fins floats over the dining area, bar, and lounge. Morphosis found the stripes, plaids, and prints for this polychromatic sculptural reef in Frazier’s closets.

The architects photographed their contents and, working with Zahner’s metal fabricators, digitally printed images for a film adhesive applied to 544 aluminum panels of six shapes. The palette varies from blue to brown-gold to charcoal, with red painted undersides enhancing the gestalt. ‘It’s mesmerizing,’ says Frazier.” — Suzanne Stephens, Architectural Record.

Five threaded rods support each rib. The central columns do not hold the weight of the panels.

Aluminum fabricated-metal forms with custom printed and mounted graphics.

Installation process at Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine

Installation of the printed aluminum fabrications.

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

August 15, 2016/in Exterior Architecture, Landscape Architecture Bridge, Exhibit, Museum, Pedestrian Bridge Tacoma--Washington Andersson-Wise Architects Dale Chihuly Blue, Grey M 2002 /by cmorris

Chihuly Bridge at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington

The Chihuly Bridge is a destination feature for Tacoma, Washington. Designed by Andersson-Wise Architects as an addition to the Tacoma Museum of Glass, the project provides a pedestrian bridge to downtown Tacoma. Made possible by a donation from Jim and Carolyn Milgard, the bridge crosses over major rail lines and links the Museum of Glass to Union Station and the State History Museum.

Zahner served as both the sole contractor and manufacturer in the production of the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. This construction included all structural steel, glazing and cladding elements as well as fiber optics and vacuum HVAC system within the cases.

Related Project

Museum of Glass

Zahner produced the metalwork for the glass bridge as well as the massive cone which can be identified throughout the downtown area. The cone was manufactured in stainless steel diamond panel system which was attached to a ZEPPS structural framework, each made by Zahner.

The system that Zahner used for the glass encasement of the artworks is the Drop Lock glass installation system, which allows for easy installation and sustainable maintenance. The system builds on Zahner’s patented Inverted Seam system for creating co-planar metal facades and roofs. The assembled panels provide rapid installation, require no silicone, and result in a visually clean edge with a dry look.

Visitors who walk across the bridge get a closer look at the work of artist Dale Chihuly. The bridge is divided into three sections:

— Seaform Pavilion: a glass ceiling and canopy system showcasing 2,364 works of Chihuly glass from his Seaform and Persian series.
— Crystal Towers: a permanent art installation by Chihuly, rising 40 feet above the bridge deck and serve as beacons of light.
— Venetian Wall: an eighty-foot long installation displaying 109 sculptures from three of Chihuly’s series: Venetians, Ikebana, and Putti.

Venetian Wall for the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, with Museum of Glass in the background

Pedestrians cross the Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Venetian Wall at the Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Seaform Pavilion at the Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Chihuly Bridge Seaform Pavilion, designed by Andersson Wise

Zahner field construction crew delivers the Seaform Pavilion for the Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Zahner field construction crew installs the Seaform Pavilion for the Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Plaque for the Venetian Wall at the Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Chihuly Bridge designed by Andersson Wise.

Press

US Glass Magazine – Chihuly Connections: New Bridge Creates A Link to Museum of Glass.
ArchNewsNow – Chihuly Bridge of Glass By Arthur W. Andersson, AIA/Andersson-Wise Architects

SUNY New Paltz

August 15, 2016/in Exterior Architecture Education New Paltz--New York ikon.5 architects Blue, Green M 2010 /by cmorris

SUNY Campus Commons at New Paltz

The State University of New York (SUNY) Campus Commons addition in New Paltz is a centerpiece for the school’s audacious program. Designed by ikon.5 architects, the glass and metal ‘crystalline palisade’ was ‘grown’ on the plinth of an existing concrete building. The new construction is designed for LEED Silver certification, incorporating radiant heating and cooling, photo-optic lighting controls, and substantial natural day lighting and views.

The muted turquoise surface is made using a pure copper alloy, preweathered and patinated (the process of developing a patina on metal) using a proprietary process developed by Zahner. The process results in an insoluble protective patina on the copper panel’s surface, variegated and eccentric.

The patinated copper surface was chosen by the architects because of the color’s association to nature and how it complements the glass shard. Zahner provided the sheets to local fabricators to create the flat-lock seam. The architects were already working with a manufacturer to fabricate the metal panel system, so the Zahner team supplied pre-patinated flat copper sheet and had a local team produce the panel system.

The ikon.5 architects-designed SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building

Interior view of the Star Blue™ copper panels at SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building

Star Blue™ copper panels at SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building

Detail of the Star Blue™ copper panels at SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building

Creating an Architectural Identity

The new design references the surrounding landscape of the Hudson River Valley and the Catskills. The building’s form was inspired by the nearby Shawangunk palisade, and its jade hue influenced by the Wallkill River’s muted blues.

The building also takes notes from the surrounding campus architecture. While the expanded student center stands in stark contrast to the neutral-toned concrete and brick buildings nearby, its angled roof continues the upward trajectory of an adjacent building’s ascending staircase. This attention to the building’s immediate context gives the new construction an integrated appeal, all-the-while maintaining its contemporary aesthetics.

The new building’s design has become a symbol for SUNY New Paltz, whose logo now incorporates the glass and metal pyramid. The exposed and triangulated framing underneath the glass zigzags across its fractal silhouette. Reflecting this exposed framing is the outdoor seating with its contemporary wireframe where students can enjoy the fresh air and sun while studying.

Photograph of the Shawangunk palisade alongside painting by ikon.5 architects

The building’s profile matches the upward accent of the original building’s staircase

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Detail of the exterior glass facade of SUNY New Paltz

Copper and glass facade of SUNY New Paltz

Detail of the copper and glass facade of SUNY New Paltz

Starlight Theater

October 21, 2010/in Art & Sculpture, Exterior Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture Historic, Performance Center Kansas City Gastinger Walker Harden Blue, Brown, Green, Red L 2000 /by cmorris

Starlight Theatre and Stagehouse in Kansas City

Zahner has been involved in a range of scopes for the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, ranging from the roof and cupola turrets, as well as the Donor’s Circle completed with artist Dierk Van Keppel.

Starlight Theatre has a rich history, which dates back to 1925, when a Romanian Queen visited Kansas City. The city’s Federation of Music worked to bring a musical showcase which raised nearly ten thousand dollars, which began the movement for an outdoor theatre space. In 1951, construction was completed.

Building the Stagehouse for Starlight Theatre

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.

Starlight Theatre in Kansas City.

Photo courtesy of America’s Roof.

Photos of Starlight Theatre during construction.

Photo A. Zahner Company.

In addition to producing their own shows, Starlight began presenting major national tours in 2000 so they could bring more recent and contemporary Broadway musicals to Kansas City as well as share their productions with indoor theaters around the country. This increased production versatility has continued to make Starlight Theatre a summer favorite for residents and visitors alike.

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

Related Project

Starlight Donor’s Circle

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.

Zahner manufactured the roof, cupolas, and turret towers in raw unpatinated copper, also known as “red copper”. This material quickly went from the golden-orange tones above into a warm darker tone. This material will continue to patina, and one day develop into a green verdigris patina on the building’s roof.