Tampa’s ‘Jewel Box’ Sports Aluminum Skin

Recent art museum designs seem almost to have had as their objective to compete, if not eclipse, the majesty of the works that they hold within—those in Milwaukee, Denver, and Akron come immediately to mind.

For Stanley Saitowitz, architect of the new Tampa Art Museum, architecture is distinct from art and, in the case of art museums, should not detract from the items that they are designed to display.

Hence his use of the term/concept of the Tampa Art Museum as a “jewel box” within which its treasures are stored and presented.

Jewel by the River
A 66,000-square-foot rectangular prism, the museum’s exterior allure comes from its two layers of perforated aluminum curtainwall—overlaid to create a moiré pattern by day and illuminated by LEDs at night to create a glowing multi-colored jewel effect.

The façade, which at a distance appears as a solid, sparkling aluminum sheathing, reveals itself up close as .125-inch aluminum plate punched with holes—almost one million in all—covering the building’s 96,000 square feet of surface. The two offset layers work to create varying light effects within the museum’s interior while, at the same time, diffusing the ultraviolet sunrays that could otherwise damage artwork.

The aluminum skin extends within the museum’s walls to its interior and ceilings, creating a motif throughout the building.

Aluminum Sourced Locally
Tampa-based McNichols Company was the source of the unique aluminum “skin” of the museum. The 3,798 perforated panels that wrap the upper levels and atrium of the museum are from McNichols' Designer Metals line, a series of products developed specifically for the architectural industry.

The one-eighth-inch thick, clear anodized aluminum panels used have three-inch-diameter holes spaced in straight rows one inch apart. All panels are precisely positioned for exact alignment from piece to piece, end to end, and top to bottom.

The perforated panels are designed to optimize natural lighting, enhance energy management, and support the facility’s contemporary look. According to McNichols, the panels also offer sustainable and recyclable properties, giving the museum an environmentally-friendly design element.

Aluminum Skin Fast Facts
- Approximately 900,000 perforations.
- One-eighth-inch-thick, clear anodized aluminum panels.
- Panels feature three-inch-diameter perforations placed one inch apart in straight lines.
- Nearly 300 varying sized panels were utilized.
- 18,000 mounting brackets secure the perforated panels to the building.
- Panels cover the exterior walls, cantilevered soffits, entryway and interior atrium.
- McNichols' perforated aluminum contains an average 10%-35% post-consumer and 50%-90% post-industrial recycled content, which supports green design and can contribute to LEED credits.