Banker Wire Mesh Adorns Expansive Ceiling Installation Anchoring Five-Story Atrium

MUKWONAGO, Wis., March 19, 2021—For the design of a new prominent corporate office headquarters located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects utilized Banker Wire’s SZ-4 wire mesh pattern—in a stainless steel and brass mixed alloy—to create a striking ceiling installation. Bridging two separate, glass-clad office spaces linked by a five-story, atrium-like structure, the wire mesh-fabricated ceiling visually anchors the interior as a key focal point. Similarly, SZ-4’s placement within the organic ceiling shapes nod to the mountainous exterior landscape while adhering to the building’s safety requirements.

“Selected for both its aesthetic and technical qualities, the high-quality nature of Banker Wire’s SZ-4 wire mesh pattern aligned with the brand standard of this high-profile company, while simultaneously facilitating complex fire codes,” says Patty Opitz, Architect, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects.

The ceiling required a material that would allow for the sophisticated smoke control system to properly function; once ceiling beam detectors recognize the smoke, the make-up air system is activated, and six exhaust fans on the roof work to minimize the fire. To ensure this process happens within 15 seconds—per building standards—while upholding the contemporary design scheme, the team relied on Banker Wire’s versatile but sturdy material.

“SZ-4’s 40-percent open area allows for the exhaust to flow through the ceiling plenum while hiding the fan elements—enabling our team to create a contemporary, unexpected design scheme in place of the mechanical grills typically found in this area of a building,” explains Opitz.

Created using mixed alloys—stainless steel and brass—SZ-4 has a unique weave that changes with the perspective of the viewer. A round, brass wire is melded with a flat, stainless steel wire, creating a strong, multi-purpose fabric. This stainless steel and brass finish also adds visual warmth, complementing the building’s gold and silver accents while contrasting the organic ivory shapes that weave between the wire mesh.

“The natural light filtering through the doors, along with the warm down lighting of the ceiling, glints off the stainless steel and brass wire mesh, creating a warm and inviting working environment,” adds Opitz. “Overall, the progressive architecture and design of this corporate office headquarters—including the use of unexpected materials, such as architectural wire mesh—exemplifies the prominent company’s rapid national expansion and their design-forward approach.”

To view the complete project profile and imagery, please visit the Banker Wire website.

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About Banker Wire

Banker Wire is the world’s leading manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh for architectural and industrial applications. From intricate design highlights in architectural environments to large-scale industrial applications, the company’s scalable operations ensure every mesh job is precisely manufactured according to the specifications of each order. Durable, sustainable, and available in thousands of patterns, wire mesh is the ideal medium to satisfy any project regardless of its function or aesthetic. Founded in 1896, Banker Wire’s state-of-the-art facility in Mukwonago, Wisconsin employs proprietary equipment and processes that have been refined for more than a century, bringing unmatched customization, variety, quality, and service to customers globally. For more information visit www.bankerwire.com.

About Architectural Woven Wire Mesh

Pre-crimped woven wire mesh is constructed of individual wires that are crimped prior to being woven together on a loom. Pre-crimping the wires provides a much higher degree of control during the weaving process. This allows for far more intricate and interesting patterns, as well as unique customization, to meet the vision of the designer. Banker Wire has refined and innovated its crimping process more than any other manufacturer, delivering more than 8,000 different spacing, diameter, and crimp combinations, plus endless customization options. As a result, Banker can make any woven wire mesh pattern imaginable—manufactured to specify for any project type.

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