GKD Metal Fabrics | It’s in the Genes & Here Comes the Sun

It’s in the Genes

The flexible mesh enabled the architects to actualize the complex curves of their design.

The Amgen Helix Pedestrian Bridge celebrates complexity, which is apt, since it serves as the gateway to The Amgen Research and Development Center, the noted bio-tech company’s new Seattle headquarters.

The bridge’s pair of canted arches emulates the twists and turns of a double helix DNA form and are in sharp contrast to the parallel lines of the Burlington Northern railway tracks below.

The arches are in-filled with GKD’s stainless steel Lago and Tigris, mesh and tensioned fabrics that are flexible in one direction. The flexible mesh enabled the architects to actualize the complex curves of their design.

Above: The Amgen Helix Pedestrian Bridge

Here Comes the Sun

While we all love the sun, air-conditioning a building, especially in these days of rapidly rising fuel costs, can be a very expensive affair. Sun screening is essential for saving energy and cutting fuel costs. GKD’s woven metal fabrics are a great solution for providing excellent sun-screening.

The degree to which our products screen the sun is determined by the openness of the weave. All of our products carry openness specifications and our Spec Book ranks product according to openness. Solar shading data is available upon request for each specific fabric. Unlike traditional sun-screening materials, GKD’s products can be used indoors as well as outdoors. And because they’re stainless steel they’ll last indefinitely with minimal care.

Above: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department