Perforated Anodized Aluminum is Ideal Solution

by Marcy Marro | November 1, 2018 12:00 am

Central Design Element

Early, architects on the project knew they wanted a unique exterior for the building, and knew that they wanted to use aluminum for its low weight and high recycled content, since the building is on track for LEED Platinum certification. In particular, the architects wanted corrugated, perforated aluminum with a deeper, more 3-D look than paint could offer to be part of the screened porch section of the building exterior.

The search for such a material led them to Lorin Industries. Lorin’s unique aluminum anodizing process not only provides the kind of textured, 3-D appearance that the architects were searching for, but also protects the metal from corrosion, ensuring durability and a long life span.

The architects corresponded with Lorin experts to produce and compare samples of different colored aluminum panels alongside the local limestone that would form the other portion of the building exterior.

With these samples and a larger mockup, the teams worked together to finalize the color and finally to produce the panels, framing and closures for the corrugated perforated aluminum exterior. The panels feature different levels of perforation based on where in the project they are, with different patterns or percentages of the metal open to provide more shade or greater visibility. Panels of the Lorin anodized aluminum fold off the façade and become the entry canopies over the three main entries of the building, providing shade and a unified exterior appearance.

Perforated Anodized Aluminum Benefits

The perforated anodized aluminum provided the Austin Central Library project with the exact mixture of unique aesthetics and functionality that the architects sought in designing the building. The lightweight attribute of the panels was important in the structural design of the building, as its simpler connections helped to save costs for the public building. Additionally, the durability of Lorin anodized aluminum will preserve both the aesthetic and practical functions of the metal panels throughout the life of the building.

Typically, perforated anodized aluminum is created by punching or stamping a specific hole pattern onto the metal, either in a continuous coil form or by sheet. The coil or sheet is fed through a computer-controlled punch press, which is designed to efficiently and quickly perforate a variety of patterns onto the metal. After the metal is perforated, it is anodized to provide the unique electrochemical protection, even inside the holes, available only with aluminum processed in this way.

Once the design is complete and the perforated panels have been produced, the installation process starts with installing the framing. Once the framing is complete, the installer can then install the panels according to the details and guidelines on the perforator’s supplied architectural shop drawings. Perforated panels are usually one of the last elements to be installed on a building. With perforated anodized aluminum in particular, most panels are light enough to install without a crane, which is one of the reasons why aluminum is so highly favored for perforated metals building projects like the Austin library, especially when saving on installation costs is important.

With its durability, lightweight, protection from wind and sun, contributions to green building efforts, and finely tuned finish, Lorin perforated anodized aluminum was uniquely and ideally suited to the Austin Central Library project.

---

Phil Pearce is the vice president of sales and marketing at Lorin Industries Inc., Muskegon, Mich. For more information, visit www.lorin.com[1].

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/perforated-anodized-aluminum-is-ideal-solution/

---