Zahner
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architectural metal and glass fabrication |
| Predecessor | Eagle Cornice Works |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Founder | Andrew Zahner |
| Fate | Acquired by Armstrong World Industries in 2024 |
| Successor | Armstrong World Industries |
| Headquarters | Kansas City , United States |
Area served | United States, Europe (via joint venture) |
Key people | L. William Zahner III (President and CEO) |
| Products | Architectural metals, facade systems, patented surface finishes and patinas |
| Owner | Armstrong World Industries (since 2024) |
| Parent | Armstrong World Industries |
| Website | www |
Zahner, also known as A. Zahner Company, is a firm specializing in architectural metal and glass fabrication, with its main office located in Kansas City, Missouri.
History and company information
Established in 1897 by Andrew Zahner under the name Eagle Cornice Works, the business originally focused on crafting decorative cornices. In 1913, it was rebranded as A. Zahner Sheet Metal Company and transitioned from a local sheet-metal fabricator to a nationally recognized leader in architectural metals and facade systems. This transformation accelerated under the guidance of great-grandson and current President L. William Zahner III, who has led the company since 1989. Zahner broadened its scope by partnering with artists and architects, significantly enhancing its presence in the industry.
Throughout the last thirty years, Zahner has played key roles in high-profile projects including the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Experience Music Project in Seattle, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. The company has also pioneered advanced architectural metal solutions, developing patented surface finishes and patinas that have fortified its market position.
With five patents related to architectural metals to its name, Zahner demonstrates an ongoing dedication to innovation. CEO L. William Zahner holds the position of Industry Liaison for SMACNA's National Architectural Committee and was honored with the Copper Medal by Associazione Italiana di Metallurgia (AIM) in 2006, highlighting his leadership and industry influence.
In 2011, Zahner entered into a joint venture with KME called Zahner-KME, aiming to offer engineering and construction services tailored to the European market—a major milestone in expanding its international footprint.
On December 3, 2024, Armstrong World Industries announced its acquisition of A. Zahner Company, a move that broadens Armstrong’s exterior metal expertise and supports Zahner’s growth by integrating it into a larger corporate framework.
Notable architectural projects
- American Heritage Center, Laramie, Wyoming, designed by Antoine Predock, 1993
- Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota, by Frank Gehry, 1993
- Independence Temple, Missouri, created by Gyo Obata, 1994
- Museum of Science & Industry (Tampa), Florida, designed by Antoine Predock, 1995
- Maggie's Centres, Dundee, Scotland, by Frank Gehry, 1995
- Experience Music Project, Seattle, Washington, designed by Frank Gehry, 2000
- Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, by Arthur Erickson, 2002
- Flagship Apple Store in Soho, New York City, designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, 2002
- Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library, Pueblo, Colorado, by Antoine Predock, 2003
- Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, Washington, designed by Antoine Predock, 2003
- Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago's Millennium Park, Illinois, created by Frank Gehry, 2004
- DFW Airport Terminal D in Irving, Texas, designed by Corgan Associates, 2005
- Turbulence House in New Mexico by Steven Holl, 2005
- De Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park by Herzog & de Meuron, 2005
- Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, designed by Randall Stout, 2005
- 40 Bond, a residential development in New York City by Herzog & de Meuron, 2006
- Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon by Morphosis, 2006
- Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens district designed by Daniel Libeskind, 2008
- Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, Texas by Antoine Predock, 2008
- BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma designed by Cesar Pelli, 2008
- Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia by Randall Stout, 2008
- 41 Cooper Square, The New Academic Building at Cooper Union in New York City designed by Morphosis, 2009
- Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas by Foster and Partners, 2009
- Wyly Theater in Dallas, Texas designed by OMA/REX
- Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta designed by Randall Stout, 2010
- NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina by Pei Cobb Freed, 2010
- Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas designed by RMJM Hillier, 2011
- Zahner North Dock Expansion project in Kansas City, Missouri executed with Crawford Architects, 2011
- Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri designed by Moshe Safdie, 2011
- Dream Downtown hotel located in New York City designed by Handel Architects, 2011
- Miami Intermodal Center in Miami, Florida developed by Perez & Perez Architects, 2011
- Spaceport America located at Truth or Consequences, New Mexico designed by Foster & Partners, 2011
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City created by Snøhetta, 2011
- Liverpool Interlomas shopping center situated in Mexico City designed by Rojkind Arquitectos., 2011
- McCoy Federal Building in Jackson Mississippi developed with Schwartz and Silver Architects., 2012
- Sidra Medical Center located in Doha Qatar designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects ,2012
- Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland Ohio created with Fashid Moussavi FMA ,2012
- Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at East Lansing Michigan developed with Zaha Hadid Architects ,2012
- Basra Sports City sports complex built for the Arab games held in Iraq during ,2013
- Cornell NYC Tech on Roosevelt Island NYC designed by Morphosis Architects ,2013
- Emerson College campus expansion in Los Angeles California developed with Morphosis Architects ,2014
Distinguished art and design endeavors
- Sky Stations, created by R. M. Fisher; held by the City of Kansas City, Missouri; 1993.
- 1 3 5 7 9 11, designed by Sol LeWitt; part of the Nelson-Atkins Museum collection in Kansas City, Missouri; 1995.
- Issey Miyake, a collaboration between Gordon Kipping and Frank Gehry, located in Tribeca, New York City; 2001.
- One Sun, 34 Moons, crafted by Walter de Maria; housed at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City; 2002.
- Glass Ceiling, an installation by Dale Chihuly; exhibited at the Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington; 2002.
- Interior artwork of the National Museum of the American Indian by Ramona Sakiestewa, Washington, D.C.; 2004.
- Oculus, produced by Reilly Hoffman; included in the Permanent Collection of Topper Johns; 2006.
- Microcosm, by Leo Villareal; part of the Permanent Collection at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, Kansas; 2007.
- Winds of Aphrodite, created by Suikang Zhao; owned by the City of Kansas City, Missouri; 2008.
- LAPD Memorial to Fallen Officers, designed by Gensler; commissioned by the Los Angeles Police Foundation, California; 2009.
- Art Wall at Doha, a project by Jan Hendrix alongside architects from Legorreta & Legorreta, situated in Doha, Qatar; 2010.
Additional literature
- LeCuyer, Annette W., Steel and Beyond, Birkhäuser Architecture, 1999.
- AIArchitect, "Seven Outstanding Professionals Tapped for Honorary AIA," 2007.
- Hall, Peter, "Sheet Metal Magicians," Metropolis, 2005.
- Kalay, Yehuda E., and William J. Mitchell, Architecture's New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design, MIT Press, 2004.
- Kjeldsen, Kjeld, Frank O. Gehry: Arkitekturens Vaerksteder / The Architect, MIT Press, 2004.