Architectural Metal Matters - AMICO Architectural Metals

How to Generate Picture PERFect Imagery for Architectural Renderings (Video Tutorial Series)

AMICO Architectural Metal’s Picture PERFect perforated panels can be challenging to visualize in your renderings, and we wanted to create a 3-part tutorial to help you work through that process quickly and easily, using Paragraphic to generate assets you can use in your renderings and feel confident they will closely resemble what will be manufactured…
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How Architects Should Use Product Manufacturer Reps to Become Product Experts: A Case for Delegated Design

Architecture CEUs, lunch and learns, and conferences are beneficial, but when a project begins to specify key materials, architects should rely on their product representatives to become product experts. Many architects underestimate the value that gets lost between a specification and a submittal. A product representative knows the system best and is frequently not invited…
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How Architectural Metals Can Fit Into Sports Stadium and Entertainment Venue Design

AMICO Architectural Metals materials are bespoke fabricated surfaces and therefore versatile and configurable to meet an infinite variety of forms, building applications, and designs. In this post, we will explore the applications of expanded mesh, perforated metal, and laser-cut panels in the design of sports stadiums and entertainment venues. Design Memorable Forms and Surfaces These…
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How to Design an Expanded Mesh Architectural Facade

What are Some Use-Case for Architectural Expanded Mesh in Facade Design? How to Select an Architectural Expanded Mesh After defining the application, there are typically three factors that architects and interior designers use to select the style of expanded mesh: How to select a Finish for your Architectural Expanded Mesh Defining your warranty level is…
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Aluminum Belongs in Your Architectural Design Toolkit as a Sustainable Solution

During a recent facade conference, the AMICO team was discussing material selection with a few architects, and they said their team looks beyond aluminum due to sustainability concerns. Here, we will share data and facts on why Architects need to keep aluminum products in their design toolkits. High Levels of Recycled Content: AMICO manufactures Architectural…
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Improve Modular Data Center Design with Architectural Metals

By 2030, the modular data center (MDC) market is projected to exceed $75.8 billion annually, more than doubling in size. As with many new technologies, their integration into the architectural landscape has not entirely found maturity, and as more of these units find permanent placement, a critical question is left open: How do MDCs fit…
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Architectural Specialty Metals for Data Center Design

Are you looking for a way to enhance data center architectural design? This article outlines how AMICO’s specialty metals can add value to your data center design process by providing sunshades, screens, aesthetic enhancement, and creating value through brand-worthy design moments. Application #1: Rooftop & Yard Equipment Screens Expanded mesh and perforated corrugated metal are excellent…
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Public spaces: “If you provide more beautiful spaces, people are going to treat them better….”

Public restrooms can be a challenge to design, and AMICO’s Expanded Mesh had the privilege of being a modest part of the winning design of the To The Loo Challenge. Two DPAI architects applied AMICO’s Gracia expanded mesh to the mock-up facade structure, incorporating numerous other innovative architectural elements. Congratulations Alea Reid and Petra Matar!
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Nano-Banana and Architectural Visualization for Adaptive Reuse Projects

How do you quickly visualize architectural design for adaptive reuse projects? One challenge with expanded mesh and perforated metal is that the complex geometry is complicated to model easily in CAD, and, in the past, Mid-Journey and Dall-E struggled to render AMICO’s architectural metals accurately in any visualization prompt; fortunately, the technology is catching up.…
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Critical to Quality Features for Architectural Expanded Mesh

Expanded metal manufacturing has been a well-established process for many years; however, there are important details in the manufacturing process that ensure the expanded mesh meets the quality standards for architectural applications. Here are a few questions you need to ask your expanded metal partner to ensure a quality installation: Do you trim the outside…
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Architectural Sunshade Fin Testing – Break Forming Expanded Mesh to Add Rigidity

Expanded mesh can be more than a flat surface. Break forming (or bending) expanded mesh is a straightforward process and should be a design element that any architect feels free to explore. Pictured here in this mockup is Bellesa expanded mesh, which is break-formed to create a sophisticated sunshade form that gives the metal an…
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Expanded Mesh vs. Woven Wire Metal Fabrics: Why Architects are Specifying Expanded Mesh

Woven wire can be beautiful, but it presents challenges when it comes to practical installation. Here, we’ll compare the two materials. However, if you are looking to substitute Woven Wire Mesh for Expanded Mesh, consider AMICO’s Luxos. This style of expanded mesh has a very narrow strand and is often visually mistaken for woven wire products. above…
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2025 Architectural Color Trends & Forecasts

Color and finish can be one of the most important design decisions you can make when working with architectural metals. Design objectives, clients, and building location can all influence which colors are most suitable, making definitive trend guidance difficult, especially given the long life span of architecture. With the hundreds of conversations we have with…
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Understanding AAMA 2604 vs. AAMA 2605: Choosing the Right Powder Coat for Architectural Metals

Step one of specifying a finish for metals is defining your warranty; this will help guide the selection of a coating. Also, note that over-specifying a coating can drive unnecessary costs into your project. AMICO Architectural Metals works directly with coating manufacturers and applicators to help find that perfect balance of necessary performance and cost…
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Blending Architectural Signage with Expanded Mesh Facade Materials

Expanded Mesh Signage Integrating signage elements with materials commonly found in facades presents a valuable opportunity to develop impactful messaging and design elements, while avoiding the use of typical signage materials that may appear cheap. Layered Expanded Mesh Signage Architects typically specify expanded mesh for its texture, and this design element can play into your…
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