When it comes to landmark building architecture, landmarks must be designed to keep their appearance and withstand the test of time. Stainless steel provides both durability and inspiring versatility for façade design.
Stainless steel is a popular façade material in modern buildings. As a façade material, stainless steel has many impressive qualities, such as durability and corrosion resistance when the proper grade is selected for the location in question. In terms of design, stainless steel is extremely versatile and reflects light magnificently. What is more, it is a sustainable component that is largely made from recycled material, lasts decades and can finally be recycled completely, down to the last piece of metal.
One World Trade Center (New York City, USA) – a play of geometry and perceptions
Located in Lower Manhattan, New York City, the design of One World Trade Center (1WTC) mimics the distinctive corners of the original tower of the World Trade Center.
The design of the building plays with geometry, perceptions, and light. Wrapped with cladding that consists of angled glass fins protruding from stainless steel panels, the façade presents a carefully designed and textured surface in all directions. The bright appearance from all viewing angles and in all lighting conditions was achieved with Deco Laser surface finish.
As one of the safest buildings in the world, 1WTC was built to last. The skyscraper’s complex and durable façade consists of 175 tonnes of corrosion-resistant Supra 316L stainless steel that was produced at Outokumpu’s Dillenburg plant in Germany.
Stainless steel façade details:
• Design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (USA)
• Surface finish: Deco Laser
• Grade: Supra 316L/4404
• Fabrication process: Press braking
• Material thickness: Face panel 2 mm, corrugated back pan 1 mm
• Weight: 175 tonnes
• Panel manufacturer: Christian Pohl, Cologne, Germany
• Material supplier: Outokumpu
• Year of completion: 2014
5 Broadgate, new UBS Headquarters (London, UK) – timeless monolith
5 Broadgate, the headquarters for financial services, lies in the heart of London. The design of the monolithic groundscraper follows the form of a perfectly cast metal object with details accentuating light and shadow.
With stainless steel as the dominant façade material, the building has a unified and perfectly flat surface patterned with a timeless and classic Deco Linen surface finish.
With 500 tonnes of Supra 316L stainless steel, 5 Broadgate is one of the largest stainless-steel-clad buildings in the world. What is more, the large amount of stainless steel is not only a sustainable material choice but also energy efficient as the large stainless-steel surfaces reflect unwanted heat away from the exterior.
Stainless steel façade details:
• Design: Make Architects (UK)
• Surface finish: Deco LinenGrade: Supra 316L/4404
• Fabrication process: Press braking
• Material thickness: 1.5 mm
• Weight: 500 tonnes
• Panel manufacturer: Seele, Gersthofen, Germany
• Material supplier: Outokumpu
• Date of completion: 2015
Ping An Finance Center (Shenzhen, China) – corrosion-resistant performance
As the Shenzhen skyline is dominated by glass exteriors, the mega-tall skyscraper of Ping An Finance Center stands out with its stainless steel façade. Designed to endure in local high temperatures and remain unchanged for decades, the stainless-steel cladding was chosen for its aesthetical statement and durability.
The powerful metallic look of the building’s surface is made of 1,700 tonnes of Supra 316L stainless steel. The reflecting Deco Linen surface finish plays beautifully with light and shadow.
Environmental responsibility was one of the key drivers for the design of the building. For example, over 90 % of the façade material is recycled stainless steel with a considerably low life-cycle cost.
Stainless steel façade details:
• Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox (USA)
• Surface finish: Deco Linen
• Grade: Supra 316L/4404
• Fabrication process: Press braking
• Material thickness: 2 mm
• Weight: 1,700 tonnes
• Panel manufacturer: Mai Nuo
• Material supplier: Outokumpu
• Date of completion: 2016
China Resources Headquarters (Shenzhen, China) – sculptural look
China Resources Headquarters, also known as the Spring Bamboo, was inspired by the shape of a spring bamboo shoot. As stainless steel is a very ductile material, the stainless-steel cladding easily bends to follow the curved lines of the sculptural skyscraper. The radial symmetry of the building’s façade distinguishes it from the city skyline that is dominated by basic rectangular shapes.
The impressive façade of China Resources Headquarters contains 1,000 metric tonnes of Outokumpu’s Supra 316L/4404 stainless steel. The classic and timeless Deco Linen surface finish accents the sculptural look of the building.
Stainless steel façade details:
• Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox (USA)
• Surface finish: Deco Linen
• Grade: Supra 316L/4404
• Fabrication process: Press braking
• Material thickness: 2 mm
• Weight: 1,000 tonnes
• Panel manufacturer: JiangHo
• Material supplier: Outokumpu
• Date of completion: 2018
The Address Residence Sky View Towers (Dubai, UAE) – minimising carbon footprint
The Address Sky View Towers stands 230 metres tall in downtown Dubai. The twin-tower complex is connected by a sky bridge and features a Skywalk observation deck that offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the city. The Deco Linen surface finish brings harmony to the otherwise glazing surface.
Since minimizing the carbon footprint played a key role in the design of the landmark, Outokumpu’s Supra 316L/4404 stainless steel was chosen for the façade. It is made of recycled material and has a carbon footprint three times smaller compared to the global stainless steel average. The 1,460 tonnes of stainless steel that was used in this façade is 100% recyclable and can be reused once it reaches the end of its lifecycle as a façade.
Stainless steel façade details:
• Design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (USA)
• Surface finish: Deco Linen
• Grade: Supra 316L/4404
• Fabrication process: Press braking
• Material thickness: 2 mm
• Weight: 1,460 tonnes
• Panel manufacturers: Folcra Beach and Al Ghurair
• Material supplier: Outokumpu
• Date of completion: 2019