Steel buildings have come a long way since their humble beginnings as industrial structures. Nowadays, they are a popular choice for a wide range of applications, from residential buildings to commercial spaces and even community centers. With their sleek and modern design, steel buildings are a perfect example of form meeting function. But don’t just take our word for it – here are 12 dazzling examples of steel buildings that showcase the jaw-dropping brilliance of this versatile material. Get ready to be inspired.
© The Blowup, Unsplash
The Brilliance of Steel Buildings
Steel has been a mainstay in architectural structure for quite some time, but the outcome can be pretty breathtaking when its inherent beauty is valued alongside its fundamental strength. Famous architects like Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Moshe Safdie have rethought the traditional role of steel in a building by designing dynamic and startling structures that put the material in the spotlight.
Furthermore, many contemporary architects are exploring the artistic possibilities of steel by intentionally encouraging the growth of rust to create an old patina, refining it to a mirror-like gloss, or glowing it for a deeper appearance. Here, we’ve gathered 12 structures that showcase the elegance of steel and show how well it blends with various materials such as glass, stone, and those usually found on façades.
© Sean Valentine
1) NASCAR Hall of Fame l Pei Cobb Freed & Partners (Charlotte, U.S)
The vast collection of racing and NASCAR memorabilia housed within this building has contributed to its widespread notoriety. Pei, Cobb, and Freed were the architects in charge of the design. A twisted steel ribbon encircles its outer edge. Its exterior is made of satin-finished stainless steel. Its glare is not too intense, even when directly exposed to sunlight.
© Lake Norman
2) Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health l Frank Gehry (Las Vegas, U.S)
The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas conducts studies to find a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Gehry’s concept aimed to make an impression on the facility’s aspirations while providing a unique environment for academics and sufferers. Wrapped in a steel trellis, two unique structures stand out. Furthermore, this adaptable, standalone building offers a magnificent cathedral-like gathering area, evoking the Las Vegas architectural type.
© Kirvin Doak Communications
3) MOCA Cleveland l FOA (Cleveland, Ohio, U.S)
London-based Farshid Moussavi Architecture was responsible for designing the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland. Black stainless steel with an opaque finish covers its outside, reflecting the surrounding urban landscape. The museum boasts that the structure is technically sophisticated, aesthetically pleasing, and exceptionally functional. The 34,000-square-foot building is 44% bigger than the museum’s former home. It is meant to spur development in a Cleveland area with a high concentration of museums, libraries, and other artistic venues.
© MOCA
4) The Gateway Arch l Eero Saarinen (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S)
The Gateway Arch is one of the most impressive steel buildings ever. It celebrates the city’s part in the westward growth of the United States in the 19th century. It represents the positive outlook of the rising American country and its status as the tallest arch in the world.
© Gateway Arch Park Foundation
5) Barclays Center l SHoP Architects (Brooklyn, New York, U.S)
The Brooklyn Nets play their home games at the 675,000-square-foot Barclays Center. The design-build project includes an ice floor for hockey and other activities, 18,103 seats, and a retractable roof over the entryway that is 85 feet tall.
The arena’s signature design element is the Cor-ten steel lattice that encircles the whole facility and gradually ages with the elements. Steel panels line the building’s façade, and a cantilevered entrance canopy extends over the plaza by 85 feet. The crew had to figure out how to incorporate the evolving façade design without falling behind schedule. Nearly a thousand tons of steel were installed to strengthen the façade, and this steelwork itself became an important aesthetic element.
© Scott Norsworthy, Flickr
6) Valby Machinery Halls: Montagehallen l C.F. Møller (Copenhagen, Denmark)
The utilization of steel for both structural and cladding purposes in this project is a significant triumph. A former factory, Valby Machinery Hall is now a mixed-use development with apartments and retail shops. The building’s red-lead steel lattice structure is the main attraction. As a result, C.F.Møller Architects carried over the distinctive industrial theme into the renovated sections of the structure.
The exterior decks of the new apartment buildings follow the same harmonic tempo as the exterior cladding. This unconventional application of steel demonstrates novel strategies for reducing material wastage and increasing resource efficiency by highlighting the material’s hidden dual characteristics.
© Mark Syke
7) Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts l Safdie Architects (Kansas City, U.S)
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, designed by Moshe Safdie, features ribs that have been bead-blasted and covered in stainless steel. In contrast to the glass that makes up the back of the structure, the outer edges of each rib are made of concrete.
© Tim Hursley
8) Twilight Epiphany l James Turrell ( Houston, Texas, U.S)
The Twilight Epiphany, James Turrell Skyspace, is an outdoor permanent art installation providing visitors with an immersive and transformative experience. The artist and design team behind Skyspace were able to exceed beyond the boundaries of cantilevered span and sleekness by using structural steel. At the same time, they could withhold the structure to create the illusion of a roof that appeared floating in the air thanks to this illusion.
Combined with the enormous cantilevers and sight lines that conceal the structural complexity, the thin appearance of the columns creates a visual impact that is so striking that visitors frequently get confused about how the roof remains standing. Steel was the only material that could have allowed the artist to accomplish his concept for the roof’s framework.
© Sean Fleming
9) Beijing National Stadium l Herzog & de Meuron (Beijing, China)
Another one of Steel buildings’ masterpieces is the Beijing National Stadium, which was built for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Given the moniker “Bird’s Nest” due to its interlacing steel architecture, the construction was anchored by concrete and metal and utilized a staggering 42,000 tonnes of steel. The impressive stadium can accommodate 91,000 spectators, has a floor space greater than 250,000 square meters, and is built to survive almost 100 years.
Also Read: 10 Iconic Stadiums Designed to Host Major Sports Events.
© Iwan Baan
10) The Investcorp Building l Zaha Hadid Architects (Oxford, United Kingdom)
The Investcorp Building, located on the St. Anthony’s College campus and designed by Zaha Hadid, houses a lecture hall, a research center, and a library. Its single stainless steel spiral occupies 1200 square meters of floor space. Although construction began in 2006, the public opening wasn’t until May 2015. Since its opening, it has been the subject of admiration from all around the world.
© Luke Hayes
11) 18.36.54 House l Studio Libeskind (Connecticut, U.S)
The outside of Studio Libeskind’s 18.36.54 House in western Connecticut is a welcoming expanse of mirror-finished bronzed stainless steel. The house takes its name from the 18 flat surfaces, 36 vertices, and 54 axes that make up its origami-like design.
© Nikolas Koenig
12) Thames Barrier l Rendel, Palmer and Tritton (London, United Kingdom)
The engineering firm of Rendel, Palmer, and Tritton was responsible for designing the Thames Barrier, an infrastructure consisting of ten steel gates designed to minimize flooding in London. Aside from the apparent advantages of the gates, the fact that they are shaped like fins and have reflected qualities gives the impression that they have always been a part of the river.
© Thames River Sightseeing
Steel Buildings: Final Thoughts
Steel buildings have been a game-changer for society. They are incredibly sturdy buildings that stand out in any setting. Perfect steel buildings have existed for a long time and constantly amaze us. These are the twelve most impressive steel buildings we could find. But when discussing well-known structures, no list is ever static. As methods of building and erecting structures progress, older structures fall into disuse while more modern ones take up their spot.