Metalwërks Custom Ornamental Grilles Solve Design Challenge with Elegance at 1101 Ocean Avenue
Unique features echo nearby Atlantic Ocean at Asbury Park luxury high-rise
KENNETT SQUARE, PA… Designed by Handel Architects and Anda Andrei Design in NYC, 1101 Ocean Avenue combines luxury residences, a boutique hotel, and upscale amenities. Metalwërks conceived, designed, and assembled intricate and beautiful custom bar grilles at the ground floor level to highlight the entrance and lobby areas of the building.
“Our goal was to design a screen that visually homogenized the different aspects of the façade while accentuating the entrances to the lobbies,” says Rick Kearns, Principal, Handel Architects. “We were looking at wave-like patterns, crafted from metal, to catch the northern light in the morning, to reflect the afternoon light’s coloration, and then seem to glow from within at night. Metalwërks was able to work with us to find the right material to achieve our vision and develop the design via a strong design-build relationship.”
As part of its modern facade, the structure features a variety of metallic, coated architectural metal assemblies. Ultimately, it was decided that the grilles would be crafted from solid aluminum plates and extrusions with a metallic “Light Bronze” PVDF system intended to mimic natural bronze.
“Looking out from the lobby, the grilles facilitate privacy for residents moving throughout the space while achieving a beautiful glow at night,” says Kearns. “It adds a true character to the building and we, the owner, and management are extremely happy with it.”
Metalwërks performed design, structural evaluations, and produced the custom-extruded fins, jambs, and mullion fabrication and assembly. The grilles were designed as a series of 12” deep boxes mounted into a structural mullion that spanned vertically +/- 18’0” from the street to L3 floor level. The mullions, boxes, and randomly-spaced and oriented vertical blades create an attractive light shading pattern which is visible to pedestrians but also from inside the building’s North Lobby.
“Metalwërks was integral to easing the overall process from the design stages – they helped us to see the reality of our vision, were also able to source cost-effective and attractive materials, and install the system quickly and smoothly,” says Kearns.
1101 Ocean Avenue combines luxury residences, a boutique hotel, and upscale amenities. The 17-story building was designed with a curved shape to maximize ocean views in the apartments; as such, some residences offer 180 or 270-degree Atlantic panoramas.
Final installation of the grilles occurred in the summer of 2019.
To learn more about Metalwërks’ custom ornamental features and other capabilities, visit: https://metalwerksusa.com/custom-architectural-features/.
About Metalwërks:
Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Metalwërks is the leading U.S. manufacturer of precision high-performance metal plate exterior facade systems, integrated curtain wall components, and custom architectural features. The company works in close collaboration with top architects to achieve new levels of form and function in systems precision-manufactured from solid metal plate. Metalwërks is unparalleled in the quality, diversity, integrity and reputation of its systems, services, and employees. For more information, visit: www.metalwerksusa.com.
Headquartered in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, with production facilities in Elkton, Maryland, Metalwërks is the leading US manufacturer of precision high performance metal plate exterior facade systems, integrated curtain wall components, and custom architectural features.
Since 1968, Metalwërks has worked in close collaboration with top architects to achieve new levels of form and function in systems precision-manufactured from solid metal plate. Today, Metalwërks remains committed to innovating architectural plate systems that meet the ever-evolving aesthetic, functional, performance, and environmental requirements of architects and building owners.
Originally founded as a metal fabrication and contracting company, Metalwërks possesses a wealth of real-world experience and knowledge that informs every design and engineering decision that go into its systems and projects. This is a big reason why Metalwërks systems are more materially and structurally efficient, far more easily and affordably constructible, and why architects, owners, and contractors alike continue to prefer Metalwërks systems over alternatives.
As a family-owned company, Metalwërks takes ultimate pride in the high quality, integrity and good reputation of its systems, services, and employees. This unwavering commitment to quality is most evident in its craftsmanship, unparalleled in the industry.
Metalwërks stands behind all of its products to ensure absolute customer satisfaction.