Stainless Steel in Architecture

This page shows examples of successful molybdenum-containing stainless steel applications in demanding environments.

Bank Boston, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Type 316 Stainless Steel (Courtesy of NucleoInox)

Bank Boston’s new South American headquarters in Sao Paulo was completed in 2002. The 30-story Corporate Office Building was designed by the US architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill, LLP in conjunction with the Brazilian architecture firm Escritório Técnico Júlio Neves.

Three stainless steel finishes were used: No. 4 polish (2J) on window frames, railings, column covers, the entrance canopy, and other details, black electrochemically colored details, and coined cambric spandral panels.

Sao Paulo has high levels of urban pollution, including very high levels of air borne particulate, which creates an aggressive atmosphere for architectural metals.  To avoid corrosion staining a molybdenum containing stainless steel, Type 316, has been chosen.  To further improve corrosion resistance and to minimize dirt accumulation smooth surface finishes were selected.

Window washing tracks were included in the design to facilitate the planned quarterly cleaning of the windows and wall panels.

Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom

Type 316 stainless steel, coined cambric and fine No. 4 (2K) finishes on the exterior (Courtesy of Outokumpu)

The architectural firm, Cesar Pelli & Associates, USA, designed the signature initial tower, One Canada Square, that began the redevelopment of London's Canary Wharf Complex.  The forty-eight storey tower was completed in 1990 and became the UK's tallest building. Cesar Pelli, always specifies molybdenum containing Type 316 stainless steel for exterior applications. In London, where urban pollution and a coastal environment contribute to the corrosiveness of the environment, this stainless steel has remained beautiful. 

The selection of stainless steel cladding was central to the architectural expression of the building. "It's a glowing display," noted Pelli, "a display that changes from blue to white to orange to red during the course of the day."

The design takes advantage of natural rain washing and window washing tracks were included in the design to facilitate manual washing. Provision for cleaning and selection of smooth finishes help to ensure that the building's appearance will not change over time. A total of 34,000 square meters of 2.5 mm thick Type 316 were used for the facade.  The window washing tracks are also stainless steel.

Type 316 stainless steel has been used for exterior components on subsequent buildings Canary Wharf Complex buildings designed by the US architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill and for the new subway station.

Cheung Kong Center, Hong Kong, exterior detail

Type 316 stainless steel (Courtesy of Nickel Institute, Photographer: Tim Pelling)

Hong Kong's 63-story Cheung Kong Center was completed in 1999.  It was designed collaboratively by the US architecture firms Cesar Pelli, Leo A. Daly, and the Hong Kong based firm Hsin-Yieh. Coined HyClad Cambric and a fine No. 4 finish were used on the exterior.

Cheung Kong Center has retained its original attractive appearance despite its location in a corrosive environment only a few blocks from the bay. The molybdenum containing Type 316 stainless steel, the smooth surface finishes, regular manual washing, and the heavy seasonal rains that wash the stainless steel surfaces naturally ensure that this building remains stain-free.

Mapfre Tower, Barcelona, Spain

Type 316 stainless steel (Courtesy of Acerinox)

The Mapfre Office Tower was designed by the Spanish architecture firm, Ortiz-Leon Arquitectos, as an environmentally conscious building. This office tower was completed in 1992 as part of Barcelona’s Olympic village and is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea. 

The climate is warm and humid with infrequent rain.  Exterior metals are exposed to both sea salt and high levels of sometimes corrosive air borne particulate from loading and unloading ships in the nearby port. This constitutes a very aggressive atmosphere for architectural metals.  The stainless steel has remained pristine due to its smooth surface finish, selection of the right molybdenum containing stainless steel grade, and a rigorous cleaning schedule.

Queens West Pier, New York, USA

Type 316 stainless steel railings and street furniture

This pier which is jutting into the East River was built in 2002.  The water of the East River is brackish and contains high levels of (salt) chlorides. The railing and street furniture have only been cleaned by rain and most of the Type 316 stainless steel has remained clean and attractive with no corrosion staining.

However, there are some sections of railing that show corrosion staining because they are being splashed by brackish water. As waves hit the rocks at the river bank, the water is being splashed upward at the railings.  In the splash zone, where brackish water regularly wets the stainless steel, a higher molybdenum, more corrosion resistant stainless steel and a smoother surface finish may be necessary to avoid frequent manual cleaning.  

IMOA is conducting a testing program in the splash zone to compare the performance of different stainless steel grades and surface finishes.

Singapore Turf Club, Singapore

Type 316 roof with 2D finish (Courtesy of Ewing Cole, Photographer: Erhard Pfeiffer)

The Singapore Turf Club with its unique roof design was completed in August of 1999.  Singapore has a corrosive, tropical island environment.  Only a molybdenum containing stainless steel could provide the necessary corrosion resistance without regular maintenance cleaning.

Peter B. Lewis Building, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA

Type 316 stainless steel roof/wall shingle detail (Courtesy of A. Zahner Co.)

This Frank Gehry designed graduate business school building was completed in 2002 and features a gently curved stainless steel roof and wall structure with an interesting overlapping shingle pattern.

Cleveland is located in the US snow belt where snow fall levels are high and large amounts of deicing salts are used every year.  In fact, most of the deicing salt used in the US is mined in the Cleveland area and the city uses more deicing salt per capita than any other US location. Aerosols and splashing of salt laden melted snow can cause corrosion of Type 304 stainless steel over the course of just one winter season.  Type 316, molybdenum containing stainless steel, a smooth surface finish, and a design that takes advantage of natural rain cleaning usually provides good corrosion protection in these cases.