Banker Wire Helps Architect Achieve High Tech Look on UA-Huntsville’s Parking Deck

MUKWONAGO, WI—MARCH 6, 2012—Chapman Sisson Architects of Huntsville collaborated with Banker Wire, the worldwide leader in the manufacture of wire mesh for architectural and industrial applications, to design attractive, out-of-this-world wire mesh panels for the front of the parking structure at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The material selected for the panels was Banker Wire’s M13Z-145 architectural woven wire mesh - a heavy, large scale, and rigid cable weave design.

“Our goal was to take a simple parking deck and add a very distinctive element that would give it a high-tech look,” said Bart Rye, AIA, and architect with Chapman Sisson Architects. “Adding wire mesh to the masonry exterior was the right choice to achieve this goal. Not only does it provide an effective visual screen to the vehicles inside, but the metal finish reflects both sunshine and architectural lighting, giving the building multiple personalities throughout the day and night.”

Increases in student enrollment at the University of Alabama in Huntsville necessitated construction of the multilevel parking structure on its landlocked campus. Measuring 300 feet long by 200 feet wide, the facility consists of ground level parking plus two elevated slabs housing approximately 500 cars each.

“We chose to work with Banker Wire on this project because their vast portfolio of work gave us confidence in their product,” Rye said. “Also, their experience made them a creative partner in the design process.”

“We recommended our M13Z-145 wire mesh for this project because of its perfect balance between high-percent open area and wire diameter for strength,” said Harrison Horan, vice president at Banker Wire. “The M13Z family of weaves features consistently spaced straight wires intersected by three flowing crosswires stacked side by side. The extra width created by the three wires woven next to one other emphasizes that direction in the screen giving it more visual ‘weight’.”

Rye said that Chapman Sisson has received a number of positive comments on the appearance of the parking deck, both from the client and the students at the university.

“Woven wire mesh seems to have unlimited uses,” Rye added. “It’s durable and has great attachment options. After integrating wire mesh effectively into this project, it is now another great material we can include in our array of material choices to meet the needs of our clients.”

Banker Wire was established in 1896 by Charles Banker as C.I. Banker Wire & Iron Works. Located in Milwaukee’s 5th Ward, the company originally built wrought iron and wire products used for fire escapes and bank-teller cages. Today, Banker Wire employs nearly 100 people and is the world’s leading manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh for industrial and architectural applications.

###

About Banker Wire
Banker Wire is the world’s leading manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh for architectural and industrial applications. With the most modern and productive mill in the U.S., Banker Wire provides custom-weaved material for any aesthetic on any scale – from intricate design highlights to expansive building facades. Founded in 1896, Banker Wire’s manufacturing expertise has been refined for more than a century, bringing unmatched customization, quality, and service to customers. State-of-the-art grid welding equipment provide a wide variety of wire alloy, spacing and diameter configurations, trimmed or untrimmed. For more information visit https://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.

Project Downloads