It’s easy to dismiss metal as a stoic, rigid building material, but at Oakland, Calif.-based Móz Designs, we see things a little differently. For the past 30 years, we’ve made it our business to showcase that metal not only has character and movement but the ability to warm and personalize even the largest public spaces. From endless color variations to custom sheet designs, we believe metal is a blank canvas for creativity.
Courtyard by Marriott Redwood City. Photo: Velarde Photography.
What is Perforated Metal?
Perforated metal is a metal sheet punched by machine to create a mesmerizing pattern of holes. The holes can be a variety of shapes and sizes with spacing between to allow for a wide range of open area for interior and exterior applications. We offer five standard hole patterns in multiple colors with custom options on solid-core 0.063-inch aluminum in 4-foot by 10-foot sheet sizes, and up to 1/4-inch thickness. The material can be finished single, double sided, or backlit for a dramatic effect. Perforated metal also can contribute to reducing wasted energy, diffusing light, air and sound, all while having a high strength-to-weight ratio. This versatile metal combines functionality with durability and provides interesting visual effects.
Perforated Possibilities
Balancing transparency and privacy, perforated metal adds gorgeous texture to interior and exterior spaces. Made from LEED-certified, solid-core 0.063-inch aluminum or stainless steel, the material can be fabricated into partitions, columns, exterior walls and facades, interior wall panels, and dividers. Our perforated metals are available in five standard hole sizes with a five-sheet minimum, and can be colored with our extensive color collections: Classic, Blendz, Gradients, Graphix, Powder Coats and Digital Imagery.
Merging digital imagery, logos or custom patterns and colors with perforated metal is a clever and eye-catching way to bolster your brands’ reputation and sense of pride. Our Printed Perforated option allows you to apply any image of your choosing directly onto perforated metal sheets. We also offer a Digital Perforated option, which allows you to create your own image using a custom hole pattern.
Nearly all of our metal options are easy-to-assemble (ETA) products, making it simple to install in educational, hospitality, health care, corporate and retail spaces. Optional add-ons include trims and framing for seams, corners and edges in a color to match; custom sizes and thicknesses (up to 0.125-inch); exterior finishes; and pre-cut and sized with solid margins.
Our panels also include stand-offs with painted fasteners for a complete wall/ceiling solution, ready for installation. For room divider kits, we offer posts with brackets and grippers for easy installation. Lastly, designers have the option to complete each panel with Aluminum Edge Frame Trims or a solid margin for a clean, finished look.
Perforated at Work
Móz also offers customizable hole sizes, shapes, and colors to bring your creative vision to life. Below are some creative applications that illustrate the possibilities of perforated metal: Award-winning Seattle architecture firm NBBJ applied custom Móz partitions to Amazon’s Rufus 2.0 elevator lobbies in one of the company’s downtown Seattle buildings. Designed with a subtle gradient pattern from light blue to burgundy, the partitions create privacy between booths and seating clusters while seamlessly integrating with the space’s dark red interiors.
In Mountain View, Calif., HBA Santa Monica rendered one of our custom perforated metal solutions into a sprawling art installation at the Hyatt Centric hotel. WPI Builds, Wilsonville, Ore., installed our copper-colored perforated metal sheets in a floor-to-ceiling wall application. The panel has a custom hole pattern adapted from a photograph of Hetch Hetchy, a water-reservoir within Yosemite National Park, and is also fully backlit with LED lightings. Surrounded by minimalist furnishings and geometric wallpaper, the perforated installation anchors the lobby with eye-catching, rugged contrast. The Hyatt Centric hotel was also built to LEED Silver standards, which echoes Móz’s dedication to sustainability: Our 30,000-square-foot Oakland, Calif., factory is 100% solar-powered and our metals are sourced domestically and manufactured in-house.
Our perforated metal solutions are not only designed to look beautiful; they’re made to withstand even the toughest messes. At Mark White Elementary School in Houston, English & Associates Architects applied our perforated metal stair railings because they hold up against constant use and repeated cleanings. Móz metal sheets are easily disinfected with mild soap and water, oil-based mineral spirits, or naphtha for adhesive cleanup. Lacquer Thinner for adhesive cleanup ammonia-based cleaning agents, abrasive cleaning agents, #6 or #9 type finishing polish or wax can also be applied. For scuffed panels, we offer touch-up pens in our classic color selections.
Unique Materials Made to Last
Our exterior metal treatments are designed to make the first impression, so we make sure they stay looking good as new. Available in 12 standard powder coated shades, our perforated metal sheets are prepared for interior and exterior wear, and guaranteed with a five-year warranty. When specified for exterior use, our Ultra Durable Exterior finishes offer a 10-to-15-year warranty with more limited color options. Whether you’re creating safe boundaries, jaw-dropping installations, or partitions built to last, Móz metals are a clean slate, providing endless opportunities of creative exploration and expression.
Claire Butwinick is a marketing consultant for Móz Designs, Oakland, Calif. For more information, visit www.mozdesigns.com.