Central Park Tower with stainless steel façade scoops major award

THE AWARD WINNER

The world’s tallest residential building – with a façade featuring Outokumpu’s stainless steel as an aesthetic  component – has received a significant design award in Chicago.

The Central Park Tower building was announced the winner of the Architecture XL (Extra Large) 1,000,000+ SF category in the 2022 Design Excellence Awards at AIA Chicago’s DESIGNIGHT event on September 2022. AIA Chicago is the local chapter of The American Institute of Architects.

Rising 472 meters into the sky, the supertall skyscraper – designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture – was completed in 2020 on New York City’s famed Billionaire’s Row in Manhattan. The tall, narrow structure’s façade combines elements of glass, pattern-rolled stainless steel, and vertical and horizontal details. 

The light-catching, vertical stainless steel fins provide a sense of depth and richness to the façade. The surface of the stainless steel is embossed with a very fine almost unnoticeable pattern to create a reduced and diffuse reflectance. The fins also serve a practical purpose. As the wind passes the building, it creates vortices that alternate, causing the building to sway. To prevent this, the stainless steel fins redirect airflow to eliminate the formation of wind vortices.

Jörn Teipel, Outokumpu’s Lead Technical Manager – Architecture, said:

“Consistent quality is essential to provide the surface finish required for the façades of prestigious buildings like Central Park Tower. We are proud that Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture specified us as a supplier to this landmark project.”

Partners in sustainability

With its combination of strength and corrosion resistance, stainless steel allows architects to create long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing façades for the world’s most prestigious buildings. Also, because stainless steel is completely recyclable, it provides superior sustainability credentials. 

For example, Outokumpu’s material includes at least 90% scrap, the highest proportion on the market. This helps to reduce CO2 emissions since recycling existing materials uses significantly less energy than producing new material from virgin iron ore. 

It is an essential aspect for business practices like Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, whose architectural philosophy has sustainability at its core. Calling their philosophy “global environmental contextualism,” the firm is dedicating itself to designing energy-efficient, sustainable buildings, a principle Outokumpu shares and supports.