Award Winning Metal Roofs: Residential and Commercial

With the 2023 Design Award Winners recently announced by the Metal Construction Association, #MagnificentMetalMonday takes a closer look into the buildings that were selected in the roofing categories. Noting sustainability, product longevity, and the special use of geometry to achieve design results were some of the reasons why these roofing projects were selected.

Residential Roof Winner: 4/Way House, Topanga, Calif.

Photo Credit: RHEINZINK

The project’s name “4/Way House” was inspired by four “rotations” integrated into the home’s design. Sustainable zinc is used throughout the home, including the roofing, which offers a lifespan of 100 years or more and is 100% recyclable. Additionally, the metal roofing is inherently and effectively fire and corrosion resistant.  

According to MCA Member Company RHEINZINK, “Supporting the project’s distinctive appearance and climate-specific performance requirements, the architectural team specified RHEINZINK-prePATINA® graphite-grey architectural-grade zinc on its roofand exterior wall cladding. The natural metal responds to its environment with a dynamic patina that evolves through the decades.” For the roof and wall cladding systems, approximately 3,000 square feet of RHEINZINK-prePATINA graphite-grey material was supplied by Old Country Millwork and installed by Atlas Sheet Metal as a panelized standing-seam system. 

This project was also featured among Architect’s Top Projects of 2022, describing the 4/Way House as “a disaster-proofed, single-family project… that explores the ethics and methods of building on wildfire-prone land.” Taking the area’s fire history into account, Deegan-Day Design & Architecture’s design principal, Joe Day, AIA, explained, “During design development, we assessed first what would be left to rebuild if 4/Way did burn, and how the site might shield other homes and safely serve firefighters. The 2,250-square-foot retreat mediates between competing topography and sightlines, and between the allure and danger of life in Topanga.”

MCA Member Company: RHEINZINK
Architect: Deegan-Day Design & Architecture Incorporated
Contractor: Kent Snyder Construction 
Metal Installer: Atlas Sheet Metal

Commercial Roof, First Place Winner: UnCommons Market Hall, Las Vegas, Nev.

Photo Credit: Ryerson Construction

The use of metal achieves a sense of luxury and sophistication for this Las Vegas “gastro-hub.” Three American Buildings pre-engineered metal buildings were used in this design to create wide open spaces with strong foundations. The materials used allowed the construction team to create unique angles in the roof fulfilling the expectation of the design. Building these facilities out of metal empowered the construction teams to build large overhead doors for easy access into the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Gensler, the architect, selected a high roof pitch along with the interior open space provided by a metal building arch to meet the design needs of the project. Massive open ceilings provide customers and other tenants breathtaking views of the sunny Las Vegas skies. People enter a space filled with welcoming opulence.

MCA Member Company: Nucor Buildings Group and McElroy Metals
Architect: Gensler
Contractor: Burke Construction 
Metal Installer: Battle Born Steel

Commercial Roof, Second Place Winner: Phoenix Sky Harbor Sky Train, Phoenix, Ariz.

Photo Credit: Bill Zimmerman

Judges were impressed by the simple and unique design, noting “the complexity of the geometry is outstanding.” Upgrading and modernizing the airport’s Sky Train with metal reinforces the aviation aesthetic while the low-maintenance advantages include self-cleaning attributes that ensure the roofs never give a dirty appearance. Aluminum gave the stations the durability to outlast most buildings’ life expectancy. With the modularity of the roof and fascia panels, panel replacement due to incidental impact is a straightforward and quick process. The Sky Train has helped to significantly reduce energy consumption to the car rental area.

According to the design team at Gannet Fleming, “A two-mile extension of the trailblazing PHX Sky Train® connects 14 million travelers a year to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s consolidated Rental Car Center and new Ground Transportation Center. The Stage 2 extension, which opened in December 2022, connects the terminals to the Rental Car Center and Ground Transportation Center at 24th Street and is a powerful catalyst for long-term airport growth and adjacent private development. It also supports the airport’s sustainability goals, helping reduce the daily vehicle count by 20,000. The PHX Sky Train is expected to serve 58 million travelers in 2024, up from 44 million in 2017.”

MCA Member Company: Dura Coat Products 
Architect: SmithGroup/Gannet Fleming
Contractor: Hensel Phelps 
Metal Installer: Kovach

Projects considered for these awards were submitted to MCA Design Awards Program and / or Metal Architecture magazine’s annual Design Awards Program. The recipients were chosen by a panel of professional architects.

Share:

More Posts from the METALCON blog:

METALCON 2025 Top Product Awards

Applications due August 8, 2025 METALCON, the premier global event for the metal construction and design industry, announces its Fifth Annual Top Product Awards, honoring the most innovative products, technologies and solutions shaping the future of the industry. METALCON exhibitors are invited to submit nominations across 15 product categories, showcasing their most innovative offerings. Eligible products must have been introduced to the market on or after Jan. 1, 2024, and its manufacturer must be a participating exhibitor at METALCON 2025.

Read More »

Why Attend METALCON as a Contractor

Unique hands-on training at METALCON 2025 is just one of many reasons why attending is a smart investment for contractors. Discover how METALCON can help drive the future success of your business in today’s blog post.

Read More »

Medal of Honor Recipient & Retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant to Headline as Keynote Speaker at METALCON

METALCON is honored to welcome Clinton “Clint” Romesha, retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and Medal of Honor Recipient as the featured keynote speaker for its 2025 event. Romesha will take the stage on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 9:00 am at the Las Vegas Convention Center to deliver a compelling presentation entitled,“Always Forward – Lessons in Leadership and Resilience.” Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013 by President Barack Obama for his extraordinary heroism during the 14-hour Battle of

Read More »

3D Printing in Metal Construction: Key Uses and Future Impacts

From faster build times to design freedom, 3D printing is revolutionizing how we think about metal construction. Explore how this game-changing technology is being used in metal construction today—and what it means for the future. Plus, discover how METALCON is bringing it all to life with expert-led education and cutting-edge sessions.

Read More »

METALCON Announces Show Highlights & Programming for Las Vegas

METALCON announces show highlights for this year’s anticipated annual conference and tradeshow, taking place Tuesday, Oct. 21 through Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration is now open! From intensive pre-show workshops and certification programs beginning on Monday, Oct. 20 to 35+ free educational sessions conveniently located inside the exhibit hall to inspiring keynotes, top industry experts will share their knowledge with attendees who are eligible to earn a year’s worth of continuing education credits (CEUs), including

Read More »

Top Advantages of Metal Buildings in Real Estate

As the real estate industry experiences shifts driven by economic factors, developers and investors see metal buildings as a smart, cost-effective solution. Dive into the top advantages of buildings in today’s real estate market and discover more evolving trends and advantages of metal construction with METALCON.

Read More »

Discover the Natural Beauty Beyond the Strip, Support Local Veterans & Kick Off METALCON 2025 with Purpose

METALCON attendees are invited to start their Las Vegas experience a day early by connecting with nature and giving back. On Monday, Oct. 20, join a memorable half-day adventure exploring the awe-inspiring Valley of Fire, led by Corporal Adam Bautz, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), founder and lead guide of Outdoor Travel Tours. Just 50 miles from Las Vegas in the heart of the Mojave Desert, the Valley of Fire spans more than 40,000 acres of vibrant Aztec red sandstone, offering

Read More »