The dynamic pulse of Wanderwall transforms an exterior parking deck in the Uptown core of Charlotte. Evocative of swirling activity—ecological, social, and economic—the ultra-thin pleated metal facade describes elements of flows and networks with a labyrinthine porosity that allows light through to the garage interior.

Composed of 5,768 individual parts, this 15,000 square-foot architectural skin wraps the Southwest and Southeast elevations of Stonewall Station parking garage. Eight stories of swirling gradients of cobalt blue to spring green announce the structure as a beacon on the Uptown skyline, contrasting with the dominance of surrounding glass and steel. Wanderwall makes an impact at the urban scale as it catches high-speed glances from motorists on the adjacent freeway. From the sidewalk, it is a tectonic experience, as the pleated contours and patterning come into closer focus. Viewed from the garage’s interior, the porosity of the patterns cut into each individual part produce a tracery of dynamic light.

A novel approach to façade systems, Wanderwall is suspended as one continuous piece, without the use of a secondary support structure. Unlike a typical panelized system, the skin is assembled onsite as a unified, ultra-thin surface, and the gentle pleating provides structural depth for the one-eighth inch material to continuously span both elevations.

The 16-inch deep directional folds across the structural skin borrows from the concept of nappe—a geological term relating to both the movement and form that creates the earth’s peaks and valleys over their tectonic history. A dynamic cultural asset for the City of Charlotte, Wanderwall celebrates the spirit of growth and discovery.