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Photo Courtesy of MCA Member: Kingspan Insulated Panels
Designed by Baldassarra Architects
At the new 30-story McMaster Graduate Residence Tower in Hamilton, Ontario, Diamond Schmitt architects crafted 550 single-skin metal wall panels to create a dynamic aesthetic and revitalize the downtown core.
Inspired by the chevron floor plate façade design on the neighboring Hamilton City Hall, the angular, dimensional cladding begins at the podium level and extends vertically across all façades.
Winning a MCA 2025 Design Award in the Single-Skin Metal Wall Panel category, Judge Kevin Wagner, AIA, associate principal at Substance Architecture in Des Moines, remarked, “The folds of the metal, it’s really captivating—just thinking about what it took to fabricate because every piece is custom. It’s this totally unique, sculptural piece of art.”
“The closer you get, the more refined it gets,” observed Judge Rick Schneider, FAIA LEED, founder, ISTUDIO Architects, Washington, D.C. “There’s one gesture repeated at different scales in different materials.”
“Some of the paneling is perforated, so it’s even more intricate,” added Judge Dan Rodriguez, principal founder at Rodriguez Romero Design and Architecture in Los Angeles. “You almost couldn’t use any other cladding because of how intricate it was.”
To achieve the architect’s vision for the metal façade, PPG Duranar Sunstorm Aluminum Plate panels were selected. For fabricator Sobotec, the aluminum panels were an ideal material to create the varying geometric shapes comprising the modern, finned design. The fabricated panels can also be individually removed and repaired on a panel-by-panel basis, allowing any scrapes or dings to easily be fixed in the long term.
Duranar Sunstorm is a mica-effect, two-coat system which adds pearlescent mica flake to the color layer to create a metalescent look. The long-lasting, weather-resistant, aesthetic finish is achieved without aluminum flake or a third clear coat layer.
The angled panels, perforated metal and curtain wall — combined with an expansive public plaza — engage the surrounding community. A rooftop terrace with panoramic urban views, an integrated cycling path system and convenient access to public transit further enhance the student experience. Building amenities include a fitness center, outdoor rooftop running track, movie room, study spaces, music room, games room and a rooftop BBQ area.
The building is tracking LEED Gold and features a high-performance building envelope and operable windows for individualized comfort. The extensive green roof offset stormwater, reduces the heat island effect and supports biodiversity.
The high-rise houses 600 graduate students and their families and contributes to a vibrant, inclusive campus culture that enriches community life.
In sum, Wagner concluded, “The McMaster University tower is above and beyond. It deserves all the recognition.”
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.
From grounded earth tones to bold, vibrant hues, today’s top design trends embrace the full spectrum of color. With metal, you’re not limited—choose any shade, any finish, and bring your vision to life.
Read the article from ArchDaily >
Photo Courtesy of MCA Members: ATAS International, Inc., 3A Composites USA Kingspan Insulated Panels Designs by MANICA Architecture, Edward Tucker Architects, Inc. ODA, OW3 Architects, ADD Inc Inc, Stantec KPB Architects
Helping to bring architect Snøhetta and artist Jose Parlá’s vision to life for the expanded 18,000 square-foot Far Rockaway Library, prismatic metal composite panels in the shape of trapezoids decorate the library’s interior and exterior in Queens.
Prismatic Series ALPOLIC MCM panels wrap around the building’s corners and compliment a large A-shaped mural crafted by Parlá. The artist’s mural was digitized and encased in colored glass, presenting a “Style Writing” half architecture, half canvas facade. Parlá selected hues of yellow and orange to best represent the colors of sunrise off the Long Island coast.
Snøhetta specified the MCM panels in MRT Prismatic Red and SAW White finishes. The mica flakes in the prismatic panels present shifting colors depending on the time of day and the angle of viewing. The panels gel with the artwork on the mural, adding depth and texture to the exterior and mirror the mural’s dynamic nature. MCM was also installed on the baffle ceiling over the atrium.
The orange metal fins over the concrete staircase energize the space with a strong pop of color and blends with the yellow orange glazing and dichroic glass on the second floor perimeter which shifts the filtering sunlight into a cascade of colors. This second floor location also features an art installation titled “Feynman diagrams” written in a code based on the work of Far Rockaway-born physicist Richard Feynman.
Inverted pyramidal columns create an intriguing interior and help enhance daylighting bounced into the space.
In all, more than 10,000 square feet of 6mm fire-resistant Prismatic MCM were applied on the exterior and interior, and 2,500 square feet of the high gloss 6mm SAW White was designed for the interior walls, a portion of which is found behind the information desk.
The installation of glass and MCM required careful planning and execution to ensure that the panels fit perfectly, particularly at the building’s diagonally oriented corners.
“The diagonal, that was a bit of a challenge itself. To get everything perfect from the form to frame that so those corners worked – everything had to be perfectly plumb,” related Fred Slade, senior project manager, EDA Contractors, Bensalem, Penn.
To meet the unique requirements of the project, the design team had to select lightweight, workable materials to craft the various geometric spaces of the design. These requirements directed the team toward MCM as the optimal material for successfully bringing their design to life.
For example, the fabrication of the metal ceiling baffles was created in three large segments inside EDA’s shop and involved folding the MCM like origami.
“I remember thinking they look like a lunar module, and marveling at how these were going to be hung in the air,” recalls Slade.
Making this portion of the project even more complicated, the team worked hard to marry the drawings for the glass skylight, concrete ceiling and MCM baffles to create smooth transitions and a tight enclosure. This included pulling in actual field dimensions for the exact location of the metal panels.
The noteworthy LEED Gold project picked up a few awards including the Municipal Art Society of New York’s 2024 MASterworks Awards as Best New Building, an American Institute of Architects (AIA) NY Design Award Citation in Architecture, an Urban Land Institute Finalist citation for Excellence in Institutional Development and an Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Award for Libraries.
The striking 3D metal façade at the Stamford Train Station showcases the perfect blend of modern architectural innovation and the versatility of metal. This dynamic cladding enhances both aesthetics and functionality, offering a bold, contemporary look while ensuring durability and efficiency. The sleek metal panels not only create a visually captivating design but also contribute to a streamlined construction process and long-lasting resilience.
Learn more about this project from Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings > https://blog.metalconstruction.org/2025/02/07/curved-metal-perforated-cladding-illuminates-stamford-stations-parking-garage-and-pedestrian-bridge/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A%20sculpted%2C%20wavy%203D%20metal%20fa%C3%A7ade%20adorns%20the%20new%20parking%20garage&utm_campaign=%5BFINAL%5D%20Newsletter%20-%20February%202025
#metalconstruction
The Specialty Care Center at Dayton Children’s Hospital spans five stories and covers an impressive 152,000 square feet. Designed by Champlin Architecture, it showcases a striking custom metal façade that dynamically changes in appearance from blue to green based on the sun’s position. The custom metal panels beautifully coordinate with the brick and curtain walls, providing a finished and modern look that ensures durability, longevity, and sustainability—truly a win-win.
Read the Case Study from MCA Member 3A Composites USA > https://blog.metalconstruction.org/2025/01/02/faceted-blue-metal-panels-clad-childrens-specialty-care-center-in-dayton/ #metalconstruction
The versatility of using preformed metal panels both horizontally and vertically allows for unique designs and aesthetics. Combined with a wide range of colors, textures, and profiles, metal wall panels are becoming increasingly popular.
Learn More > https://metalconstruction.org/Single_Skin_Panels
Photo Courtesy of: MetalSales #metalconstruction
Design by: The Miller Hull Partnership
MCA Metal University has you covered! Get your AIA LU/HSW and AIA LU/Elective credits before the end of the year.
Photo Courtesy of MCA Member Alcotex, Inc.
As part of the new UnCommons mixed-use development just beyond the Strip in southwest Las Vegas, Nucor Buildings delivered three pre-engineered metal American Buildings to house the Sundry Food Hall, Urth Caffe & Bar and a third food establishment.
The close to 23,000 sq. ft. of Gensler-designed buildings earned a 2023 Design Award from the Metal Construction Association and a Metal Architecture first place design award in the Commercial Roof category.
The Urth Caffe restaurant is WELL and Green Globes certified, designed in a farm-to-table spirit with organic, sustainable and local ingredients. The building features large windows connecting the indoor seating with the outdoor patio area.
Meanwhile, the bigger Sundry Market Hall features a curated collection of regional and international cuisine.
The team selected metal for its ability to design open spaces with strong foundations in a cost effective manner. In addition, the metal enabled the architects to design unique roof angles and large open ceilings providing views of the Las Vegas skies and enjoy the fresh air.
Pre-fabricated metal buildings are “a much more cost-effective way to put a structure up,” stated Darrel Fullbright, a principal and design director with Gensler’s San Diego in an Urban Land article. The structure is cladded with more architecturally significant detail, “so they feel much more rich. We use things like rusted metal and expose the structure.”
The metal structure supports the addition of large overhead doors for easy access to indoor and outdoor spaces.
Each of the three buildings contain partition walls with tube steel supports for storefront glass. This enabled the architects to create outside covered dining.
For enhanced aesthetics, the metal building’s columns and rafters appear as solid pieces without bolt splices.
Structurally, the design increases the sideways drift deflections due to its closeness to surrounding buildings. Collateral loads were adjusted to accommodate full wood tongue and groove wood panels and wall spandrel beams are connected to the stud wall and panels.
To achieve the desired insulating R-Values, 12-in. purlins were placed 2 feet off center to accommodate the wood panels underneath.
The roof panels are comprised of 24-gauge Corten from McElroy.
For the Market Hall building, Gensler designed a 10-ft. cantilevered mezzanine to create a 10 ft. by 60 ft. outside balcony. There is also a mechanical mezzanine to house all the mechanical units.
The metal building design includes a watertight expansion joint between the building and next door concrete tilt-up parking structure.
The larger UnCommons development comprises 500,000 square feet of office space, 91,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an entertainment venue, the Assembly conference center and a parking structure on a walkable 40-acre site. The development combines the modern workplace with amenities, open space and connectivity.
Photos courtesy of Ryerson Construction
