ZAHNER (kansas city)

who- ZAHNER

Zahner is an engineering design consultancy and fabrication shop known for realizing the visions of architects from Frank Gehry to Zaha Hadid. Since its establishment in 1897, the company's engineers and fabricators have been at the forefront of innovative design and fabrication for a variety of artistic disciplines. From the use of aerospace engineering of curving facades to developing and applying patented technologies, innovation is at the core of Zahner. The museum-level craft and engineering that Zahner consistently provides can be found in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

materials- GB-60, Ti-Coated Stainless Steel, Solanum Steel, Roano Zinc, Hunter Zinc, Angel Hair, Star Blue, Dirty Penny, Aluminum Mesh, Extruded Aluminum.

Technologies- Zahner's list of technologies is almost endless!

The Zira™ Visualizer process is an adaptive system developed for transferring your image across a metal surface. Translate a single image across the entire surface of a project as a 'pixelated' mosaic with the Zira™ Process.

The ZEPPS® Process simplifies the construction of curving forms and complex facades. This is the curving wall panel system used on projects by Frank Gehry, Randall Stout, Cesar Pelli, Moshe Safdie, Rojkind Arquitectos, Kieran Timberlake and many more.

Zahner offers several Building Envelope Systems for both walls and roofs. Zahner systems improve moisture and wind control, and provide aesthetic improvements upon industry.

The patented MetaSystems™ include several processes for bumping, perforating, and embossing the surface of the metal.

Tessellate™ Kinetic Facades provide a moving surface that is visually stunning and ecologically sound, providing energy savings with a unique aesthetic.

Matthias Pliessinig (Hallmark)

Matthias Pliessnig

Matthias Pliessnig’s fluid, skeletal furniture forms are made using traditional steam-bending techniques with oak. His interest specifically with bending wood first developed in 2006 after making a boat. As a sculptor and woodworker his training developed during his studies at Kansas City Art Institute, earning a BFA in sculpture, at Rhode Island School of Design earning a BFA in furniture design and at the University of Wisconsin Madison, completing his MFA in wood and art in 2009. Human interaction imposed by furniture intrigues Pliessnig in his one-of-a-kind designs for benches. This interaction provides an additional consideration in the design process, one that is drastically different from considerations in creating a sculpture.

Pliessnig has received national attention for his work and is considered one of the top artists/designers working with wood today. In 2008, he received a grant for his MFA project from the Joan Mitchell Foundation; in the same year he was given the Best of the Year Award for lounge seating by Interior Design Magazine. In 2009, his work was purchased by the Museum of Art and Design’s permanent collection and he received a grant from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. In 2010, he was awarded one of the most prestigious artist awards given today from United States Artists for $50,000. Most recently, the Smithsonian and Renwick Gallery chose eight pieces of his work to be included in the prestigious Renwick Craft Invitational. Pliessnig was one of four artists selected who represent the forefront of contemporary craft and design.

 He starts with a computer generated draft or render to decide and lay out a shape or frame.

Next a frame is created to move the parts along and support each element. All of the connections are purely created from wood essentially creating a solid piece when all is said and done. After the frame is created strips of wood are placed in a steam bath basically where the wood is softened and leaves a short period of time for manipulation.

Show & Tell / How its made

Martha Stewart Circle Cutter Cut perfect circles for your craft projects with this handy circle cutter from Martha Stewart Crafts. Guide marks printed on the transparent disc help with plotting different sizes of circles in 1/16" (1.6 mm) increments, from 1" (25 mm) to 5-7/8" (149 mm) in diameter. The double-sided blade allows cutting in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The Martha Stewart Circle Cutter comes with three blades and a blade attachment tool, all of which store neatly inside the handle.

Why- This circle cutter is one of my favorite tools. It is simple, the design is neat and to the chaise, and above all else it's super easy to make the perfect circle in seconds.

Materials- injection molded plastic, acrylic, and steel razor blades.

Star Signs

Who- Star Signs (lawrence ks)

What- signs, logos, wording, mainly Star Signs create signage of all sorts and sizes.

For who- business's, colleges, private, local. (star signs is everywhere around us)

Materials- alluminum, polly-carb, acrylic, etc. automotive grade paint

Technologies (forming, Cutting, Joining, finishing)
Star signs use many standard tools you would find in an ordinary metals shop such as finger breakers, slip rollers, jump sheers, as well as cnc machines.

Overall Impressions
Star signs is a very interesting and projective environment, its another one of those local business's that you never knew existed and had no idea that you see them everywhere you go. Star signs makes many and most of the signage in the lawrence, kansas city area. I was surprised of the size of the work shop and the volume of work that they had on their hands when we visited. The coolest thing I think was seeing just how far signage can be pushed and the possibilities that Star Signs brings to the table.

Reuter

Who? Reuter Organ Company

What? Reuter is one of the only remaining pipe organ manufactures in the U.S. that makes absolutely every part and component that goes into one of these amazing musical instruments. Reuter started in Illinois and moved to Lawrence Kansas in 1919 where since then have worked on over 22,000 builds and repairs. Reuter Organ Company has made the largest playing organ and it can still be seen and heard within the Macy's of downtown Philladelphia.

For who? Most of the organs made are for churches but some are made for schools, colleges, and even some private residents.

Materials- Copper, Zinc, poplar wood, bone, plastic, sheep skin, goat skin and even kangaroo skin.

Technologies (forming, Cutting, Joining, finishing)
weld, cnc routing, casting, slip roll, finger breaking. polish, automotive paint, torched flame copper, swirl, clear, laccar.

Overall Impressions
To me Reuter is a very impressive company and group of builders. I find it a bit crazy that Reuter is one of four other companies in the U.S. and the only one that does everything all while being located in Lawrence Kansas of all places. Overall it is cool how something so overlooked or maybe not very impressive to some can become so interesting once you see behind the scenes at all of the variations that have been created within the shop.

Light "light" skin