Tesla showroom façade
The façade of the new Tesla showroom in Santa Monica, Los Angeles reflects the vibrant energy of the main thoroughfare at the corner of Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade.
With its open design, the façade is an abstraction of Nikola Tesla’s famous kinetic energy wave, which is generated by electron decay when energy is released. To create this unique electrical-inspired design, the team at Michael W. Folonis Architects joined forces with the designers at Arktura. The highly functional exterior façade system also serves as a sunshade.
With arms that protrude through the low-iron glass, the façade appears to float freely, gracefully detached from the building’s structure. It consists of a total of 80 curved panels, all coated with the highly weather-resistant powder coating IGP-HWFsuperior 5703A93122F10 in Arktura White. In total, about 220 kilograms of powder were required.
IGP’s Series 57 powder coating was chosen for all system components – to protect the façade from the harsh environmental conditions for years to come, including exposure to the sun in the north and west as well as coastal salt corrosion. The IGP-HWFsuperior coating is characterized by its excellent color stability and increased gloss retention. This powder coating is perfect for objects and buildings in extreme climates or whenever a long warranty period is required.
The new Tesla showroom is a beautiful outdoor display that makes a dynamic and positive contribution to Santa Monica – both as a showroom for innovative automobiles and thanks to its inspired architecture.
