For the design of a new prominent corporate office headquarters located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects utilized Banker Wire’s SZ-4 wire mesh pattern—in a stainless steel and brass mixed alloy—to create a striking ceiling installation. Bridging two separate, glass-clad office spaces linked by a five-story, atrium-like structure, the wire mesh-fabricated ceiling visually anchors the interior as a key focal point. Similarly, SZ-4’s placement within the organic ceiling shapes nod to the mountainous exterior landscape while adhering to the building’s safety requirements.
“Selected for both its aesthetic and technical qualities, the high-quality nature of Banker Wire’s SZ-4 wire mesh pattern aligned with the brand standard of this high-profile company, while simultaneously facilitating complex fire codes,” says Patty Opitz, Architect, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects.
The ceiling required a material that would allow for the sophisticated smoke control system to properly function; once ceiling beam detectors recognize the smoke, the make-up air system is activated, and six exhaust fans on the roof work to minimize the fire. To ensure this process happens within 15 seconds—per building standards—while upholding the contemporary design scheme, the team relied on Banker Wire’s versatile but sturdy material.
“SZ-4’s 40-percent open area allows for the exhaust to flow through the ceiling plenum while hiding the fan elements—enabling our team to create a contemporary, unexpected design scheme in place of the mechanical grills typically found in this area of a building,” explains Opitz.
Created using mixed alloys—stainless steel and brass—SZ-4 has a unique weave that changes with the perspective of the viewer. A round, brass wire is melded with a flat, stainless steel wire, creating a strong, multi-purpose fabric. This stainless steel and brass finish also adds visual warmth, complementing the building’s gold and silver accents while contrasting the organic ivory shapes that weave between the wire mesh.
“The natural light filtering through the doors, along with the warm down lighting of the ceiling, glints off the stainless steel and brass wire mesh, creating a warm and inviting working environment,” adds Opitz. “Overall, the progressive architecture and design of this corporate office headquarters—including the use of unexpected materials, such as architectural wire mesh—exemplifies the prominent company’s rapid national expansion and their design-forward approach.”
