Teaming Up to Make Your Vision a Reality

Rigidized® Metals proudly supports several local community organizations, as well as educational programs and artists, both locally and nationally. By collaborating with universities and artists, the possibilities of our products, with their ever-evolving ideas, is endless.

Rigidized® Metals' fabrication team of skilled craftsmen, with decades of experience, work directly with students, artists and visionaries to create unique products, from concept to completion. These projects have been used as architectural educational opportunities, entered into national competitions, and used for area beautification initiatives.

If you are interested in teaming up with Rigidized® Metals Corporation on any upcoming educational or artistic projects, please feel free to contact us.

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UBSchool of Architecture
2XmT
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UBSchool of Architecture
3xLP
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UBSchool of Architecture
Elevator B
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UBSchool of Architecture
Burchfield Penney
1CS
ShastiO'Leary-Soudant
Weeping Wall
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ShastiO'Leary-Soudant
Dandelion Seeds
1CS
plusFARM
Kissing Sparrows
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plusFARM
Silver Screen Flirtations
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UBSchool of Architecture
Grow House
1CS
UrbanMatter
Golden Afternoon
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UBSchool of Architecture
Father Conway Benches
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plusFARM
SoftCore HardForm
1CS
ShastiO'Leary-Soudant
Gut Flora

University at Buffalo School of Architecture - Project 2XmT

Rigidized® Metals collaborated with University at Buffalo's Department of Architecture professors Christopher Romano and Nicholas Bruscia to fabricate a self-structuring and lightweight architectural screen built entirely from thin-gauge (16, 18 and 20 gauge) sheet metal. Located outside of Rigidized® Metals' facility in Buffalo, NY, this structure has been able to withstand the harsh Buffalo winters, as well as over 60mph wind gusts at times.

In addition, this project was the 2014 Architectural Newsletter's first annual "Best of Design Awards" Best Fabrication Winner.

The Architectural Newsletter's Best of Design Awards article can be found here.

University at Buffalo School of Architecture - Project 3xLP

Rigidized® Metals collaborated with the University at Buffalo's Department of Architecture professors Christopher Romano and Nicholas Bruscia, and students Daniel Vrana and Philip Gusmano, to create a prototype as a continuation of project 2XmT, which looked primarily at the relationship between structure and appearance through a performative analysis of textured stainless steel. Where 2XmT was about structure and specular reflection, project 3xLP builds in more visual porosity and preliminary details toward incorporating glazing and enclosure.

Comprised of Rigidized® Metals patterns 4LB and 1RL, this structure won TEX-FAB’s 2013 international digital fabrication “SKIN” competition.

Mic Patterson the vice president of Strategic Development at the Advanced Technology Studio of Enlos in Los Angeles has written an article featuring the 3xLP project. Find it here.

A video of the project can be seen here.

University at Buffalo School of Architecture - Elevator B

Rigidized® Metals worked with, and sponsored, a design competition among the University at Buffalo's Ecological Practices Research Group. Elevator B was created to house a bees nest that needed to be relocated. Rigidized® Metals Corporation worked with students on digital fabrication techniques to create custom perforated deep textured panels in six different designs, allowing for a unique and complex design while simplifying workflow. Hexagonal panels went from relatively open designs to completely opaque, allowing panels to create a beautiful interplay of solid and void. The panels were fabricated using Rigidized® Metals' pattern 5WL® in stainless steel with the texture further enhancing the play of light on the structure.

The official project site can be found here.

University at Buffalo School of Architecture - Burchfield Penney Art Center

Rigidized® Metals collaborated with a student team led by Brad Wales and Isabella Brito, from the UB School of Architecture and Planning, to create the three light and projector totems beside the Burchfield Penney Art Center on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY. Perforated stainless steel rolled with our 5WL® pattern depicts scenes from several Charles Burchfield paintings.

A video of the project can be seen here.

Art Installation - Weeping Wall

Rigidized® Metals worked with local artist, Shasti O'Leary Soudant, to fabricate a 25 foot "Weeping Wall", an eye-popping art installation located on Seneca Street in Buffalo, NY.

More information on this project can be found here.

Art Installation - Dandelion Seeds

Rigidized® Metals worked with local artist, Shasti O'Leary Soudant, to help create the Wishfield, comprised of individually fabricated "Dandelion Seeds", located at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

More information on this project can be found here.

plus FARM - Kissing Sparrows

The +FARM 2014 Summer Studio with Rigidized® Metals Corporation at Silo City in Buffalo, New York celebrates student design and exploration of Rigidized® Metals' innovative textured stainless steel. The ten day studio challenged students (from universities across the United States and Canada) to design, fabricate, and construct a project that investigates how the sum of parts creates a whole.

Learn more about this project, here.

plus FARM - Silver Screen Flirtations

Rigidized® Metals partnered with +Farm, an architectural studio that brings students and young professionals together with craftsmen, fabricators, architects, digital specialists and educators, to design and build a self structuring panel system that is able to withstand the temporary and volatile climate.

The Silver Screen Flirtations eleven-student project team, from universities all over North America, worked directly with team leaders to realize the project from design to construction in seven days.

Learn more about this project, here.

University at Buffalo School of Architecture - GRoW House

Rigidized® Metals teamed up with the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Design, led by professor Nick Rajkovich, to create components for an ultra-efficient home powered by solar, wind and thermal forces. The team placed second in the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathalon competition.

In the house, Rigidized® Metals fabricated planters in pattern 6WL®, as well as the top of a refrigerator/glass holder in pattern 5WL®.

Check out more about this unique project and the competition, here.

Urban Matter - Golden Afternoon

Rigidized® Metals fabricated flowers in Rigidized® Metals' pattern 1SLG for the "Golden Afternoon" installation for the Art in Public Places Collection in Austin, TX.

Inspired by the wildflowers of Texas, sculptural forms create a fantastic garden descending from the plaza into the parking structure. Reminiscent of a trip down the rabbit hole from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', the artwork experience is heightened by lighting which responds to people as they move on the stairs. The title, "Golden Afternoon", is inspired by a song Alice sings with the flowers of Wonderland. See more about this project, here.

University at Buffalo School of Architecture - Father Conway Benches

Rigidized® Metals collaborated with the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Design's professor Brad Wales and student Cassandra Kern to fabricate a stainless steel bench in Rigidized® Metals' pattern 6WL®. Two more benches have since been created and will soon be installed at Father Conway Park in Buffalo, NY.

plus FARM - SoftCore HardForm

The goal for this project was to build a seven-person sweat lodge with a hard exterior form to protect a soft interior core. The lodge tests the performance of a custom stainless steel shell (20 gauge sheet) against harsh environmental conditions to investigate the potential for the production of a pre-fabricated modular house. Rigidized® Metals partnered with a team of students and a professional craftsman to realize the project from design to construction from the ground up on a 300-acre farm in three-and-a-half days.

Learn more about this project, here.

Art Installation - Gut Flora

Rigidized® Metals Corporation worked with local artist, Shasti O'Leary-Soudant, to create a sculpture of seven unique technicolor tentacles, textured in Rigidized® Metals' pattern 1HM, and powder coated in 25 different colors. Resembling DNA strands, this 242-piece structure is fittingly located in the Allen-Medical Campus subway station that serves the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in Buffalo, NY.

Check out the article in the Buffalo News, here.