Released in June 2009

Custom Aluminum Foundry Ltd. (CAF), Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, recently completed an order to cast 180 specialty aluminum screen pieces required as part of a $54 million dollar building project in Canada’s capital.

The 180 panels comprise a screen in the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, a building designed to formally and symbolically represent the Aga Khan Development Network, a philanthropic group that supports social, economic and cultural projects in developing countries. The screen today encloses a 55-ft. atrium located just beneath the building’s dome. It partially obscures the glass walls beneath it with a double layer of repeating hexagons.

According to a press release issued by CAF, the company was selected among a wide pool of global applicants. To satisfy the customer, CAF sent multiple samples for testing during construction and made modifications based on the results. Upon completion, each of the 180 screens weighed 165 lbs., measured 79 x 59 in. and was fitted with custom hardware to ensure a successful, lasting installation.

“We loved this historical project. So wildly different than anything else we’d ever done, the process pushed us into new, fresh ways of thinking and into the kinds of dimensions and designs that today showcase our creativity,” said CAF President Joe Butler. “Our work has always been about constant learning, but the role we played in this extraordinary architectural marvel was an education for everyone here.”