The idea of function over form tends to rule the day when it comes to the design of observatories. The Gemma Observatory, however, decided to forgo the typical domed structure and opted instead for a more angular approach.
To help achieve this aesthetic, Anmahian Winton Architects decided to clad the project’s exterior in VMZ Flat lock zinc panels. The weathered-gray QUARTZ-ZINC panels easily conformed to the geometry of the project and helped the building achieve a look that resembled the granite bedrock outcroppings of the surrounding landscape. The observatory’s pattern of lock-seamed zinc cladding alternates between the irregular site topography and the building’s geometry.
The aesthetics provided by the zinc panels were important, but the most important quality they provide returns to the idea of function over form. The panels have the ability to dissipate the heat of the day after sunset, which eliminates nighttime air distortion that would otherwise compromise the entire purpose of the building.
Related Stories
| Feb 11, 2011
Four Products That Stand Up to Hurricanes
What do a panelized wall system, a newly developed roof hatch, spray polyurethane foam, and a custom-made curtain wall have in common? They’ve been extensively researched and tested for their ability to take abuse from the likes of Hurricane Katrina.
| Feb 9, 2011
Kingspan Insulated Panels Announces Path to NetZero Mobile App
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, a global manufacturer of insulated metal panels, announces the availability of its new Path to NetZero mobile app. Introduced at Greenbuild 2010, this unique tool for the building industry simulates the process of achieving high-performance and net-zero buildings.
| Jan 4, 2011
Product of the Week: Zinc cladding helps border crossing blend in with surroundings
Zinc panels provide natural-looking, durable cladding for an administrative building and toll canopies at the newly expanded Queenstown Plaza U.S.-Canada border crossing at the Niagara Gorge. Toronto’s Moriyama & Teshima Architects chose the zinc alloy panels for their ability to blend with the structures’ scenic surroundings, as well as for their low maintenance and sustainable qualities. The structures incorporate 14,000 sf of Rheinzink’s branded Angled Standing Seam and Reveal Panels in graphite gray.
| Dec 17, 2010
Gemstone-inspired design earns India’s first LEED Gold for a hotel
The Park Hotel Hyderabad in Hyderabad, India, was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to combine inspirations from the region’s jewelry-making traditions with sustainable elements.
| Dec 17, 2010
Cladding Do’s and Don’ts
A veteran structural engineer offers expert advice on how to avoid problems with stone cladding and glass/aluminum cladding systems.
| Dec 7, 2010
Product of the Week: Petersen Aluminum’s column covers used in IBM’S new offices
IBM’s new offices at Dulles Station West in Herndon, Va., utilized Petersen’s PAC-1000 F Flush Series column covers. The columns are within the office’s Mobility Area, which is designed for a mobile workforce looking for quick in-and-out work space. The majority of workspaces in the office are unassigned and intended to be used on a temporary basis.
| Nov 2, 2010
Cypress Siding Helps Nature Center Look its Part
The Trinity River Audubon Center, which sits within a 6,000-acre forest just outside Dallas, utilizes sustainable materials that help the $12.5 million nature center fit its wooded setting and put it on a path to earning LEED Gold.
