A view of the reception area showing the screen continuing up into the stairway. Visible are four
of the 12 perforated stainless steel panels
suspended in the Zero system.

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Going up the stairs, one can interact with the
screen and the tactile surface of the perforated
metal panels. At this point, the two story height
of the screen begins to be unveiled.

1st Place - $1000 prize

Submitted by:
Donald T. Reed/Lauree A. Reed
EPB Design Center, Ltd./Reed Design Group
Palatine, Illinois

Perforated Walls

Two Story Screen with Sign Utilizing Perforated Metal Panels

A close up of one of the six square, perforated metal panels held in place by eight turnbuckles. The brushed finish of the stainless steel panels works well with the finishes of the other materials.

The Focal Communications Corporation project, located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, encompassed the renovation of a two story building into the company’s Flagship facility. Part of the scope incorporated a reception area, office spaces, a Switch/Transport Room, a Co-Location Room and a DC Power Room.

The reception area included an existing open, u-shaped stairway to the second floor. Since moving or reworking this unsightly stairway was not an option, the designers had to come up with a simple and cost effective way of shielding the stairway from the balance of the space. Their solution was to create a contemporary screen that spanned from the floor of the reception area to the ceiling of the two story stairway. The screen had to have the necessary structural integrity, be safe for day to day activities and it had to fit within the six inches of space between the two runs of the stair.

The designers research led them to an Italian product, Zero, typically used for retail display. The Zero system was used for the structural components of the screen: the vertical and horizontal beams, the connections and the bases. Between the twelve framed openings created by the Zero structure, two different custom sizes of perforated stainless steel panels were installed. Six large rectangular panels were 2’-3” wide x 9’-0” high and six panels were 2’-3” wide x 2’-3” high. The panels were fabricated of 12 gauge stainless steel, 304 type, No. 3 finish in a staggered round hole pattern and had finished edges. Each perforated panel is suspended in place by eight turnbuckles, four at the top and four at the bottom. Each of the 96 turnbuckles was required to have one of its two hooks modified so that it could fit around the diameter of the leg of the Zero beam. Besides the qualities of strength, durability and shimmer of the perforated metal panels, the semi-transparent character was an added benefit to the structure.

In addition to the screen, the existing stair railings were removed and new balusters and handrails were installed to make the stair more visually appealing. Five rows of aircraft cable were used between the balusters. The screen also provided the ideal location for the client’s logo, in the form of a three dimensional sign which appears to pass through the screen.

The designers and the client were very pleased with the aesthetic and functional solution. The stainless steel panels proved to be the right product to use in this unique installation.

Contact Info: Donald T. Reed: DTReedRDG@aol.com

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