La Nube, meaning ‘the cloud’ in Spanish, is an innovative STEAM discovery center located in downtown El Paso, Texas. It offers visitors of all ages the chance to explore, play, create, and challenge the limits of innovation. True to its name, La Nube is a place where imaginations can reach as high as the clouds. The building is a 2025 MCA Design Award winner.

The building’s distinctive geometries make it stand out in the city’s skyline: the rectilinear base, encased in glass, offers interior views that attract passersby to enter the public lobby. Above, a series of rippling barrel vaults rise gracefully, culminating in a crown that resembles clouds.

To bring this creative vision to life, the design team used metal wall systems to shape the building’s “cloud-like” form. They employed modular aluminum wall panels—finished in Ascot White, Bone White, and a custom white—in different widths and lengths to create a bold, patterned façade. Arranged vertically, these panels form a flowing, cloud-inspired appearance that changes with light and perspective, reinforcing the building’s symbolic link to endless imagination.

The steel roof panels incorporate recycled materials and are entirely recyclable after their long lifespan. Moreover, the Titanium 70% PVDF roof color has an SRI (Solar Reflectance Index) of 68.60, reflecting sunlight, which reduces heat transfer into the building and decreases the need for air conditioning in hot environments. This also contributes to lowering the building’s operational carbon emissions.

The façade design surpasses simple aesthetics. Floor-to-ceiling windows are embedded in patterned panels, illuminated by the vibrant glow of the interactive exhibits within. Between the wall panels, subtle lighting elements create the illusion of a floating cloud, with small points of light resembling stars at night. These creative details demonstrate how modular wall systems can function both as structural components and as artistic features.

“The broad choice of ATAS modular wall and roof systems provided the design team with the flexibility to turn their vision into reality,” said Steve Minunni, Director of Modular Wall Systems at ATAS. “The wide range of profiles, colors, and support from a single source allowed the project to balance creativity and practicality.”

Now celebrating its first anniversary, La Nube joyfully continues to embody innovation and inclusivity in El Paso. It serves as a wonderful example of how carefully designed wall systems can transform a simple idea into a meaningful architectural and cultural icon.