Making of Deco Laser for One World Trade Center

Leslie McManus

What makes the perfect surface? For a skater, it is smooth ice. For a tailor, it may be invisible seams. For the architects of a landmark skyscraper in New York City, it is stainless steel with a singular finish.

In designing One World Trade Center (1WTC) in Lower Manhattan, architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill echoed the distinctive corners of the original tower at that site. But design alone was not enough to achieve the effect they hoped for.

To accentuate those corners, says Jörn Teipel, Outokumpu’s Product Manager for surface finishes and architectural applications of stainless steel, the designers sought a surface that would appear extremely bright from every angle.

 

 

First of its kind

The process of bringing a concept to life is a highly collaborative one. For the 1WTC project, the designers explored possibilities with a team consisting of members of application technology, production, product service and a roll texturer.

The architects envisioned a surface finish with a pattern brighter than Outokumpu’s Deco Linen pattern. The result is Deco Laser: the first stainless steel surface with a genuinely random structure. With virtually no pattern repeat, the Laser finish imparts a nearly total homogenous surface under all viewing angles and light conditions.

 

Marked by innovation

Named for the roller’s surface structure, which is embedded with laser technology, Deco Laser is produced through a sophisticated embossing process. Using an innovative rolling and heat-treatment process, more than 200 tonnes of Deco Laser was produced at the Dillenburg mill in Germany.

Each façade element measuring 1 by 4 meters were produced from the corrosion-resistant steel alloy Supra 316L. Partner company Christian Pohl GmbH, Cologne, fabricated this high-quality material into the project’s unusually complex façade elements. All elements work together to deliver the perfect surface – one with flawless shine from every angle, and in all lighting conditions.

 

Two hundred tons of Laser-finished cladding made by Outokumpu was delivered to the construction site.

Laser surface was created to make the corners of the building appear more prominent.

Recommended products and insights

Deco

There is a wide variety of surface finishes available for our stainless steel products. Decorative cladding that perfectly matches the architect’s vision. Functional and decorative surfaces for elevators and other indoor spaces. 

Supra

The Supra range contains stainless steel products designed for highly corrosive environments. Outokumpu Supra range stainless steels have a good resistance to uniform corrosion in many organic and inorganic chemicals. The addition of molybdenum enhances the alloy’s corrosion resistance in many acidic environments.

Façade

Building façade material selection is critically important. The material must be visually appealing, low maintenance and impervious to weather and pollution.

Sustainability

Stainless steel is a superb material for sustainable solutions as it is 100% recyclable, efficient and long-lasting. Our vision is to become the customers’ first choice in sustainable stainless steel.

Dillenburg, Germany

Today’s leading architecture is dazzling – made even more stunning when clad in stainless steel. Famous buildings around the world showcase the polish and performance of Outokumpu Dillenburg stainless steel.

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