The Finnish stainless steel manufacturer Outokumpu will deliver the façade material for the prestigious World Trade Center’s third tower in New York City, USA. Once complete, the tower, known as 3 World Trade Center (3WTC), will be a unique addition to the New York skyline with its distinctive and appealing Linen look.
Italian façade constructor Permasteelisa S.p.A. came to Outokumpu in search of a very specific structurally textured surface – stainless steel with a Linen look. Explains Michele Arcadipane, Key Account Manager Architecture & Building at Outokumpu: “The challenge is to manufacture the new stainless steel façade surfaces in exactly the same color and texture as the existing elements from 2012 to create perfect harmony between the surfaces. We are very proud to be the supplier for the façade panels for the World Trade Center complex, which marks a further chapter in our success story in the architecture sector.”
Outokumpu earlier delivered around 150 metric tons of stainless steel for the construction of the 3 WTC podium in 2012. Construction work on the site of Ground Zero is still in full swing – the completion of the skyscraper is planned for 2016. By the time the full project has been completed, Outokumpu will have delivered a further 400 metric tons of decorative stainless steel.
Outokumpu’s Linen surface finish was not selected by the architects for aesthetic reasons alone. The surface characteristics of the building material have outstanding weather resistance and durability, making it ideal for large exterior expanses. The Linen texture generates particularly soft light reflections, extremely homogenous color gradients and an attractive sheen in sunlight.
Outokumpu’s stainless steel plant in Dillenburg, Germany has been contracted to produce the 3WTC material. When it comes to awarding projects for building façades, key considerations include material properties and production experience in order to ensure a flawless surface finish. The Dillenburg plant has made a name for itself as a reliable supplier with fast response times, flexible supply capacities and consistent quality even under tight time constraints.
As a sustainable, durable, low-maintenance material, stainless steel is enjoying increasing popularity for cladding the outside of buildings. Arcadipane adds: “Stainless steel is often pigeon-holed as a commodity. Its wide range of grades and look and feel of different surface finishes are not yet known to all architects and project planners. With 3WTC, we want to further demonstrate the creative potential of stainless steel and emphasize its vast artistic capabilities. Stainless steel is already popular among architects and interior designers as an interior styling feature in ‘brushed’ and ‘polished finishes. But in recent years, textured stainless steel surfaces are gaining a reputation also as a superior exterior finish. With our wide range of patterned surfaces, we want to make Outokumpu stainless steel finishes the preferred choice for exterior surfaces, too.”
Outokumpu Group
Outokumpu is a global leader in stainless steel. We create advanced materials that are efficient, long lasting and recyclable – thus building a world that lasts forever. Stainless steel, invented a century ago, is an ideal material to create lasting solutions in demanding applications from cutlery to bridges, energy and medical equipment: it is 100% recyclable, corrosion-resistant, maintenance-free, durable and hygienic. Outokumpu employs more than 12 000 professionals in more than 30 countries, with headquarters in Espoo, Finland and shares listed in Nasdaq Helsinki. www.outokumpu.com