Parking Structure Façades Using GKD Metal Fabrics
Van Nuys Flyaway Parking Garage (Los Angeles, CA); GKD Lago
Parking structures present a set of unique design challenges, including security, safety, environmental protection, and airflow. GKD Metal Fabrics produces woven-metal mesh systems that provide ideal solutions to address each of these challenges, while also reducing cost and installation time.
Using their advanced, technical weaving mills, GKD produces the largest woven-mesh panels in the world. Panels can be produced up to 26 feet wide and over 100 feet long. Since GKD’s panels can cover such a vast amount of square footage, the hardware required is greatly reduced when compared to other systems such as perforated metal panels. As a result, woven-metal mesh systems require less time and equipment for installation.
Installation of extra tall GKD Metal Fabric panel
By taking advantage of GKD’s capabilities to produce such large panels, architects are empowered to develop impressive panel layouts that often include a single panel spanning column-to-column at 20 feet wide or more. Metal mesh panels can often span the entire height of the structure and are pulled into tension through hardware at the top and bottom of each panel.
Kansas City University Center for Medical Education (Kansas City, MO); GKD Omega 1520
Using metal mesh façades as sun protection also allows the building to shade a large area while still letting an appropriate amount of sunlight in. Panels can be placed in an orientation that reduces the amount of heat gain on the building, which allows for fewer (and smaller) air handling units. As a result, the metal mesh façade reduces the overall energy consumption associated with heating and cooling the interior spaces.
For the Kansas City University Center (above), the design team used GKD Omega 1520 metal fabric because of its ability to deliver shading, transparency, and beauty along with long-term durability. The metal mesh is anchored at 90 degrees perpendicular to the façade, similar to the functionality of vertical blinds.
Turkish Contractors Association HQ; GKD Omega 1510, 1520, 1530
Turkish Contractors Association HQ; GKD Omega 1510, 1520, 1530
Similarly, the new Turkish Contractors Association headquarters was constructed to LEED platinum levels, using solar cells and ground temperature heating and cooling systems. GKD's Omega 1510, 1520 and 1530 metal fabrics were used to accomplish the solar control and provide the aesthetic presentation.
GKD manufactures all woven-steel fabrics with 316L marine-grade stainless steel. Because 316L stainless includes both chrome and nickel content, the material can withstand even the harshest conditions, including high-wind, marine, and extreme temperature environments. GKD offers a wide range of woven patterns in stainless steel (and other alloys) to help achieve the desired aesthetics.
Rallye BMW (Roslyn, NY); GKD Omega 1510
Woven-metal mesh also serves as a canvas for stunning, large scale graphics for parking structures. A common approach to applying graphics on mesh panels is etching, which involves using an aluminum-oxide technique (similar to sandblasting) to create matte wire at specific locations.
Samsung Headquarters (San Jose, CA); Omega 1520
The parking garage at the Samsung Headquarters in San Jose, CA is a good example of a design concept coming to life alongside GKD’s engineering expertise. To mimic the look of a circuit board, green paint was digitally applied to GKD’s Omega 1520 metal mesh panels. The vertical panels were also produced in varying widths to meet design requirements.
Doral Park (Doral, FL); Omega Divergence
Another option for applying a pattern to metal mesh panels is to use Omega Divergence. This pattern varies the open-area percentage at specified areas throughout the length of the panel. This application is often used to emulate the look of multiple panels. Because the panels are produced at full height with tensioning hardware only at top and bottom of each panel, the total amount of hardware required is minimized compared with other systems such as perforated metal panels.
New World Symphony Parking Garage (Miami, FL); GKD Helix 12