13 Finalists Announced for the 6th Zahner Biennial Competition

47 entries were submitted by students and alumni to the 6th Zahner Biennial Competition for the Kansas City Art Institute fabrication contest. 827 voters collectively selected the top 12 artist/teams whose works are featured below.

This was the first year that all of the entries were shown on public display, and the public vote determined the finalists. This meant that artists could promote their own works and increase their chances of being selected for the competition. The openess also provides visibility to the works which didn’t get selected, so that they can be fabricated by Zahner from a different funding source. Many of those who voted are collectors, gallery owners, philanthropists and other people involved in the art world. It is our hope that the works that weren’t selected can be given a second opportunity for fabrication in the near future.

The finalist’s entries are pictured below. 12 entries were selected by popular vote, and one finalist had two entries make it into the running, so there are a total of 13 entries in the running. The finalists will be reviewed Janurary 13th, and the top three entries will be announced the following week.

Zahner has developed a number of featured metal systems used on high-rise and mid-rise buildings in the United States and around the world. From custom mullion and column slab cladding such as used on 200 Eleventh in New York City, or the crown molding used on the neighboring 400 Fifth Avenue, to the ‘S’ shape in stainless steel which runs the Harim Tower, there exist a wide range of possibilities for this typology.

While the highrise typology is most commonly associated with standard glass and curtainwall facade construction, there is a growing movement to develop energy efficient buildings. Building such as the unbuilt Morphosis-designed Singapore tower exemplify how such buildings can be made using metal facades. See below a selection of highrise properties for which Zahner has provided engineering and crafted fabrication.

“Artists influence our company in so many ways. Each year a selection process narrows it down to just a small handful of entries. What if we could help fabricate all of them? Let’s find ways to build more of these amazing concepts.”