Silver | Zahner

Google Bay View Campus

Google’s Bay View Campus, located at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, and comprising three buildings, represents a significant milestone as the company’s first self-designed and built campus.

Opened in 2022 and spanning 1.1 million square feet over 42 acres, the campus was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of renowned architectural firms Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Heatherwick Studio.

Grounded in Google’s core themes of innovation, nature, and community, the design prioritizes flexibility. Team spaces are located on the upper level, with gathering areas below, balancing focus and collaboration. Varied floorplates on the second floor create adaptable “neighborhoods” that evolve with team needs. The layout ensures that no employee is more than a two-and-a-half-minute walk from any other, fostering spontaneous interactions and collaboration.

Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Natural light floods the interiors through clerestory windows with “eyebrow” architectural elements crafted from Zahner’s Angel Hair® Stainless Steel, which add aesthetic appeal while diffusing sunlight to minimize glare.

Aerial view of Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Zahner also provided Design Assist services to ensure constructability, while preserving design intent and considering budget. Zahner collaborated with BIG and Heatherwick designers, as well as general contractor Whiting-Turner, on material selection, fabrication details, engineering, and installation.

The Zahner team inspects progress on installation of the Angel Hair eyebrows.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Modular construction facilitated efficient installation of the eyebrows.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Another standout feature of the campus is its distinctive “dragonscale” roof, composed of approximately 50,000 custom-designed solar panels, manufactured by SunStyle. This innovative roofing not only generates nearly seven megawatts of energy but also enhances insulation and reduces thermal heat gain.

Zahner Angel Hair eyebrows and Google's custom-designed dragonscale solar skin roofing.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

The Zahner team inspecting the Angel Hair eyebrows at Bay View during construction.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

Dragonscale building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar shingles, manufactured by SunStyle, clad the roof at Google's Bay View.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Zahner Angel Hair eyebrows and Google's custom-designed dragonscale solar skin roofing.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

The campus is also home to North America’s largest geothermal pile system, which efficiently manages heating and cooling needs, leading to a projected 50% reduction in carbon emissions and saving an estimated five million gallons of water annually. Furthermore, the campus aims to replenish 120% of its water usage by 2030 through on-site recycled water systems.

Aerial view of Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

The Google Bay View Campus has earned LEED-NC v4 Platinum certification, making it the largest building in the world to hold this certification. It’s also on track to become the largest facility ever to achieve the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge (LBC) Water Petal Certification.

Panoramic view of Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Google’s Bay View Campus stands as a testament to the company’s vision of integrating cutting-edge design with sustainability and employee-centric spaces, setting a new benchmark for future workplace environments.

Panoramic view of Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

Panoramic view of Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.

Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio

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.

UT Arlington Cooper Street Bridge

January 10, 2025/in Exterior Architecture Education Arlington--Texas BRW Architects Silver M 2024 /by Alexandra Contreras

At the University of Texas at Arlington, the Cooper Street Bridges were revitalized to reflect the vibrancy of the campus and surrounding community. BRW Architects, in partnership with SpawGlass, designed and executed the transformation, featuring Zahner’s precision-engineered ImageWall® perforated metal panels.

These panels depict a dynamic stampede of Mavericks, celebrating UTA’s spirit and identity. Zahner fabricated the custom panels, ensuring their durability and artistic quality, contributing to the project’s clean, modern aesthetic. This Imagewall application includes panels fabricated from 14-gauge 304 alloy stainless steel with Zahner’s Angel Hair® finish and features Zahner’s Cross-Seam Perf™ technology. The Drop & Lock™ system was the best hardware solution, with the mullions spanning the distance between horizontal steel, allowing the panels to be easily installed by the University’s preferred installer.

Enhanced by new lighting, UTA logos, and updated finishes, the bridges now serve as iconic campus landmarks, welcoming students, staff, and visitors to this thriving university community.

UT Arlington Cooper Street Bridge featuring ImageWall perforated metal panels.

PHOTO ©️ Parrish Ruiz de Velasco (parrch.com)

UT Arlington Cooper Street Bridge

PHOTO ©️ Parrish Ruiz de Velasco (parrch.com)

UT Arlington Cooper Street Bridge

PHOTO ©️ Parrish Ruiz de Velasco (parrch.com)

The perforated panels are made from Zahner's Angel Hair, a diffuse finish on stainless steel.

PHOTO ©️ Parrish Ruiz de Velasco (parrch.com)

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.

50 Hudson Yards Terrace

October 31, 2023/in Exterior Architecture Corporate New York City Kevin Daly Architects, Kohn Pedersen Fox Silver S 2022 /by Winifred Wright

Located on the 51st floor of 50 Hudson Yards, this canopy was designed by Kevin Daly Architects and built for Meta New York.

Because of unique geometry requirements Zahner was brought on to solve the dilemma of how to weld and curve 11-gauge mirror stainless steel without affecting the delicate finish.

The canopy utilizes over 400 of Zahner’s Drop & Lock™ panels as well as custom perforations with Louvered ZIRA™ patterned tabs. Each panel is uniquely welded, formed, and bent to create a sense of movement across the mirror surface in addition to reflecting back the landscaping below.

To avoid reflectivity issues on the top side of the canopy Zahner’s proprietary Angel Hair® Stainless Steel finish was used as a light-diffusing option.

The bottom side of the canopy features perforated mirror polish stainless steel.

The top of the 50 Hudson Yards terrace canopy features Zahner's Angel Hair stainless steel to mitigate reflectivity.

The 50 Hudson Yards Terrace canopy's underside panel perforations were created with Zahner's Louvered ZIRA™ technology.

Aerial view of the 50 Hudson Yards terrace canopy.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

DTE Dearborn Central Energy Plant

October 19, 2023/in Exterior Architecture Automotive, Industrial Dearborn--Michigan OPN Architects Silver L 2020 /by Winifred Wright

DTE Dearborn Central Energy Plant is a new energy plant on Ford Motor Company’s campus in Dearborn, Michigan. The new facility is part of a modernization of the campus.

OPN approached Zahner as a design assist partner to help “beautify” the new Central Energy Plant by adding a series of twisted fins developed to clad the precast building with large windows. Zahner responded by providing design iterations for the twisted fins, engineering input, and multiple mockups. The fins provide an aesthetic signifying visual movement desired by the design team as well as shading the window areas and providing thermal comfort for occupants.

The DTE Dearborn Central Energy Plant, featuring a fin facade system by Zahner.

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

Detail of the Fin Facade on the DTE Central Energy Plant

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

DTE Central Energy Plant

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

Fin Facade on the DTE Central Energy Plant

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

Angel Hair Stainless Steel complements industrial elements at the DTE Central Energy Plant

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

DTE Central Energy Plant at night

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

DTE Central Energy Plant entrance

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

DTE Central Energy Plant fin facade

Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO

The Bellslip Greenpoint Landing

June 30, 2023/in Interior Architecture Residential Brooklyn--New York Leong Leong Silver S 2022 /by Winifred Wright

Located on the historic Greenpoint Landing, The Bellslip, situated along the East River, showcases Zahner’s ability to produce a unique interior finish for this 30-story luxury apartment tower overlooking Brooklyn and Manhattan. The design is on the ground floor and acts as both a lobby and a public gathering space.

Leong Leong brought in Zahner to help develop a unique profile for an aluminum extrusion that would follow the curvature of the interior walls of this luxury apartment Tower in Brooklyn, NY. Zahner provided expertise and guidance to develop the extrusion profile, connection details, and finish. Zahner provided lengths of the extrusion to the onsite installer, which cut the extrusions on site for existing field conditions. Zahner also fabricated and delivered trim with a matching finish for the doors and end conditions.

The Leong Leong-designed lobby features curving, extruded aluminum metal walls.

PHOTO © NAHO KUBOTA

Original design rendering of the extruded aluminum wall paneling.

Curved anodized aluminum metal paneling covers the curved walls of the lobby interior.

PHOTO © NAHO KUBOTA

University of Houston-Clear Lake Central Plant Expansion

May 3, 2023/in Exterior Architecture Education Houston--Texas CannonDesign Silver S 2018 /by dsegard

FKP Architects, now a part of CannonDesign, engaged Zahner to create a perforated façade that provides required ventilation on the University of Houston-Clear Lake central power plant extension.

The ImageWall landscape image depicting branches from a large oak tree, which is the predominate tree on the University of Houston-Clear Lake campus, is on the east elevation of the central plant expansion.

This Imagewall application includes panels fabricated from Champagne Anodized Aluminum and features Zahner’s Cross-Seam Perf™ technology. The Drop & Lock™ system was the best hardware solution, with the mullions spanning the height of the openings and panels were easily installed by the University’s preferred installer.

ImageWall installation on the Clear Lake Central Plant building.

Photo by Tejas Doshi | ARKO

The tree canopy pattern on the ImageWall panels echoes the finish on the building facade and the landscaping nearby.

Photo by Tejas Doshi | ARKO

Cross-Seam Perf™ eliminates unperforated borders around each panel, which can obscure imagery on a large panel grid.

Photo by Tejas Doshi | ARKO

Zahner's Drop & Lock™ panel hardware was used for mounting the perforated ImageWall panels.

Photo by Tejas Doshi | ARKO

The prepared photo, looking up through tree branches, that was used to create the ImageWall perforation layout.

The prepared photo that was used to create the ImageWall perforation layout.

Completed ImageWall installation.

Photo by Tejas Doshi | ARKO

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.

The Mexican Museum

January 26, 2023/in Exterior Architecture Museum San Francisco Bay Handel Architects Jan Hendrix Silver L 2022 /by Jeneane Dunlap

The Mexican Museum is a distinctive space located in the SoMa District of downtown San Francisco. The museum’s vision is to reflect the evolving scope of the Mexican, Chicano, Hispanic, Mexican-American, and Latino experience.

Zahner’s scope includes an exquisite and stunning façade, designed by Jan Hendrix, and is comprised of sprawling stainless-steel panels. The use of Zahner’s Angel Hair® and mirror polish stainless steel provides contrasting views from both inside the museum and out.

Topography from the Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico was used by Hendrix’s studio to create the façade imagery. This, coupled with the unique three-dimensional panel innovations, creates a one-of-a-kind viewing experience.

Zahner’s collaboration with the artist, Jan Hendrix; the architect, Handel; the contractor, Webcor; and The Mexican Museum led to a flawless execution through engineering, production, and delivery. Zahner is proud to be a part of this project and the rich history of the museum content.