Stunning Simplicity: Kaynemaile Architectural Mesh By Luke Carothers
From its earliest conceptions, right up through the modern age, chain- mail has always afforded humans some level of protection. From pro- tecting knights on the battlefield to divers swimming with sharks, the basic pattern of interwoven metal links provides a strength unmatched in many other materials. However, as Civil+Structural Engineer Mag- azine covered late last year, chainmail has a new modern usage, one that doesn’t involve protecting the user from puncturing wounds. New Zealand-based company Kaynemaile has developed a material made from lightweight polycarbonate that is being used to protect buildings rather than bodies. Although Kaynemaile has numerous applications, its highest potential application is in architecture. Kaynemaile presents several advantages over traditional materials when it’s used as an architectural material. A great example of these advantages is Kaynemaile’s recent project in Santa Clara, California where the Sobrato Organization’s Lawson Lane campus has been recently completed. As a part of this major Silicon Valley office development, Kaynemaile Architectural Mesh was used to create the facade for the parking garage. Working with architects Arc Tec and installers B.T. Mancini, the team at Kaynemaile utilized their new range of three-dimensional, kinetic screens. This new system was a natural progression of the Kaynemaile mate- rial. Aaron Te One, General Manager of Kaynemaile’s Architectural Division, cites their previous kinetic work with the world renowned artist Ned Kahn as the starting point for this evolution. These projects were designed to capture the kinetic aspects of the materials waving in the breeze, unrestrained at the bottom. However, recognizing that some projects require the materials to be restrained at both ends, Te One and his team began developing a system that could still utilize those kinetic aspects while providing an additional use in the market. Through development, Te One’s team understood that cables would be applicable for their purposes. They found that cables would still allow for kinetic fluid movement while also providing a much more restrained application. This new system is paradigm-shifting from the perspective of both installation and usage. One of the key benefits of this new system is the speed at which it can be installed. For the Santa Clara project, these Kaynemaile Architectural Mesh panels span the height of the building with the only connections at the top and bottom. In addition, when compared to other materials that require rigid frames and connection systems, Kaynemaile’s system is more efficient with each screen hav - ing a self-supporting lightweight internal frame connected to vertical stainless steel cables. Te One notes the simplicity of installing this new system. The process starts with installing a “skeleton frame” before
Lawson Lane Campus, Santa Clara, CA, USA. Photo: Lucas Fladzinski Photography
fixing the upper portion of the mesh to the building. Once the mesh is installed, it rolls down and through the skeleton frame, making for
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October 2022 csengineermag.com
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