Overview
Stainless steels are frequently used as construction materials like structural parts for their good corrosion resistance and high strength. The versatile role they play in architecture skin for ornamentation is equally impressive, especially with the advanced finishing technology. This week let us explore the world of stainless steel through the case of the Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall is located on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, USA. Since its completion on October 23, 2003, the Concert Hall has been renowned worldwide for its extraordinary acoustics and stunning architecture design. It is regarded as an icon of the deconstructivist architecture.
Inside, the Walt Disney Concert Hall can accommodate 2,265 people and yet the sound remains the same no matter how full or how empty the space is. This masterpiece as hailed, was a teamwork by the American architect Frank Gehry and the Japanese acoustician Dr. Yasuhisa Toyota.
The Background Information of Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall project was conceived in 1987 upon receiving a donation of $50 million from Lillian Disney, to build an additional performance space as a gift to the city of Los Angeles and in honor of her late husband Walt Disney and his dedication to the arts.
Frank Gehry was selected from among several candidates during a design competition held in 1988. He won his Pritzker Prize in 1989 for his design. In 1991 he delivered the completed designs. The project kicked off from the underground parking garage in 1992, which alone cost $110 million and was paid by Los Angeles County.
The construction of the Concert Hall itself was delayed and even stalled during 1994 to 1996 for lack of fundraising. After securing the additional funds from private donations, the project was eventually completed in 2003 at a cost of staggering $274 million.
The Design of Walt Disney Concert Hall
An interesting story of the world-famous architect Frank Gehry, who at that time didn’t expect to participate into this famous project. His appointment was even met with protest by many members of the Disney Hall Committee and for himself it was a surprise.
At that time his best work was associated with a small house in Santa Monica while Disney had global reputation. However, it proved a successful decision. At its grand opening, the Walt Disney Concert Hall was commented by New York Times as the "most gallant building you are ever likely to see".
Gehry gave his architecture talent into full play with CATIA, a computer software allowing the designer to draw curving forms that would be articulated and cost-effective for the builder. Through ACTIA, Gehry was able to design large billowing metal sheets that were used for the construction of the building exterior. The Concert Hall was designed to get tilted forward at seventeen degrees on the north side, expressing his design concept of musical movement and the motion of Los Angeles.
Gehry’s design was unconventional as he designed the Concert Hall "inside out". Specifically, he concentrated on the music hall firstly and then moved outwards to the now-famous skin of the stainless steel exterior, which looks like petals or sails.
Plus, the non-hierarchal vineyard-style seating arrangement, floral patterns on the seats of the auditorium and a flower garden that meets Mrs. Disney’s taste altogether creates an intimate and special musical atmosphere that optimizes users’ audio and visual experience.
It is no wonder that the Concert Hall wins wide acclaims from nearly all of its listeners, including the performers and becomes the filming scenes for many movies as below listed,
- • Collateral in 2004
- • Fracture in 2007
- • Iron Man in 2008
- • Get Smart in 2008
- • The Soloist in 2009
Stainless Steel Applied into Walt Disney Concert Hall
The exterior of the Walt Disney Concert Hall was initially designed to be clad in stones as Gehry wanted the building to have a soft glow at night. However, under the request of the committee, he had to switch his design into stainless steel exterior for two reasons: 1) stainless steel shell is more economical than stone façade for cost saving; 2) the successful case of the completed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the concert hall's titanium-clad cousin.
There were more than 6,000 stainless steel panels used for creating the curving stainless steel skin of the Concert Hall’s exterior. Some parts of the stainless steel exterior were highly polished, such as mirror polished panels on the Founders Room walls. The reflective quality and the glares reflected from sunlight caused many issues, such as skyrocketed air-conditioning costs to the nearby residents and increased risk of traffic accidents. Only a year after the construction these highly polished stainless steel panels had to be re-surfaced into dulled finish.
Stainless Steel At CIVMATS
Stainless steel materials have infinite potential for construction projects thanks to affordability and huge consumption. Through proper design, stainless steel surface can also be stylish, modern and creates a sense of future. If you are in demand for stainless steel materials from China, come to CIVMATS. We aim to be your best stainless steel choice in China.
