Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute C

Exterior Envelope Sub-contractor

Kovach Building Enclosures
Chandler, Arizona

Wrapped in a screen of thousands of perforated, untreated copper panels, Biodesign Institute C is a striking 188,447-square-foot addition to the Arizona State University campus that bestows homage to copper’s crucial role in the state’s economy. The institute echoes the creative, collaborative research taking place within its many laboratories.

Balancing performance, aesthetics and budget, the copper screen features eight different levels of perforation that help create a high-performance dual façade, contributing significantly to the building’s energy efficiency and sustainability goals by reducing solar hear gain and optimizing daylighting. Functioning as a shading device, the screen reduces the surface temperature of the inner façade by roughly 65 percent on hot summer days.

The copper exterior also adds to the building’s biophilic design elements as the untreated copper façade will patina gradually, emulating the irregular, ever-evolving colors and textures unique to the surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape.