Zahner opens the public beta today for CloudWall™ — the first application for Zahner’s ShopFloor™ platform. CloudWall provides an interface for users to design and fabricate curving facades in metal. The tool allows users to upload their own images and designs or start from scratch. CloudWall is one of several tools being developed for ShopFloor, a web-based platform that allows designers to have their creations built on Zahner’s factory floor.
CloudWall is based on Zahner’s facade in Kansas City. The north facade of their headquarters features a billowing curtain wall designed by Crawford Architects in collaboration with Zahner engineers. Zahner’s new CloudWall software provides a less expensive alternative to build custom architecture using metal. The cost of building the Zahner Headquarters in Kansas City was upwards of several hundred thousand dollars. Similar designs created with the CloudWall software can be fabricated and shipped for a fraction of that price. The CloudWall application allows for a variety of color options for the fins, and the back panel can be specified in any material offered by Zahner, including patinas on zinc and copper. As the user makes these changes, they can watch the price update in real time, allowing users to effectively control the price. “We’ve built a tool that uses our factory floor like a massive rapid prototype machine,” says Mr. Zahner, “You see the price, you manipulate your design, and then we build it. This model has never been applied to architecture.” Designers can see the price change as they change materials, tweak the design and adjust parameters. After making the purchase, Zahner produces the parts, crates the assemblies, and ships them to the job site. The tool currently limits designs to 25’ high by just less than 80’ wide on rectangular buildings. If a user wants to customize the design beyond the parameters of the web-interface, they can contact Zahner and work with an engineer. “Designers can still work with us the traditional way. We’ll still build the iconic designs that you bring us,” say Mr. Zahner, “But we’re offering a new way to build custom architecture.” The CloudWall tool is one of several being released over the next few months under ShopFloor. Purchases made with ShopFloor include the price of engineering, fabricating, and shipping the assemblies, and does not currently include an option for installation of the parts.
