Technical Specifications

Aluminium in Architecture

Aluminium in Architecture

Aluminium has become one of the most widely used materials in New Zealand architecture, offering strength, durability, flexibility and a clean modern finish for commercial and residential building projects.

The growth of aluminium in architecture across New Zealand has been significant. When McKechnie Aluminium first began extruding aluminium in 1958, domestic aluminium windows, patio doors and architectural aluminium components were still uncommon. Commercial window applications were only beginning to emerge, and aluminium was rarely used in the interiors of commercial buildings.

Today, aluminium is a standard material across many areas of architectural design and construction. Its popularity continues to grow because it supports modern building requirements, including strong yet lightweight framing, clean lines, flexible aluminium components and long-lasting finishes.

A modern material for architectural design

Aluminium remains a modern and versatile metal. It lends itself to the slender, open appearance seen in many contemporary buildings and gives architects greater freedom when designing windows, doors, shop fronts, internal partitions, panels and other aluminium components.

Commercial building design has changed over time. While curtain-wall construction was once a major focus, there is now greater emphasis on individual windows, building panels, façade elements and adaptable interior systems. Aluminium extrusions are well suited to these applications because they can be designed, formed and fabricated into precise profiles for specific architectural requirements.

Aluminium windows, doors and shop fronts

One of the major areas of aluminium use in architecture is in windows and doors, both domestic and commercial, as well as shop fronts and entrance systems. Aluminium gives architects and designers considerable flexibility when setting out window and door requirements, allowing them to specify profiles that suit performance, appearance and installation needs.

Extruded aluminium sections allow for effective weather stripping, clean detailing and durable construction. This helps create window and door systems that are resistant to air infiltration and suitable for long-term use in New Zealand conditions.

Aluminium window and door frames are available in a range of finishes and can be used alongside timber panelling, brick, stone and other decorative building materials. This makes aluminium a practical and attractive option for architectural projects where strength, appearance and compatibility with other materials are all important.

Flexible aluminium components for building interiors

Aluminium is also widely used inside commercial buildings. Demountable partitioning systems often use hollow aluminium framing members, including extrusions designed to accommodate electrical and service requirements. These systems can be moved or reconfigured as business needs change, helping make more efficient use of office and commercial spaces.

Because aluminium can be formed and fabricated in ways that are often more difficult or less economical with timber or steel, it has made many new forms of fenestration, partitioning and architectural detailing commercially practical.

Strength, durability and corrosion resistance

Aluminium is light in weight, approximately three times lighter than steel, while still offering excellent strength and durability. Properly installed aluminium components can provide years of dependable service, supported by aluminium’s natural resistance to atmospheric corrosion.

Unlike some other metals, aluminium does not typically cause unsightly weathering stains on adjacent materials. It also responds well to forming, cutting, welding and forging, giving architects, designers and fabricators flexibility across a wide range of architectural applications.

Aluminium can be joined using commonly used methods, including welding, adhesives and mechanical fasteners. It is also non-sparking and non-magnetic, which can be useful in specific design and construction environments.

Aluminium alloys for architectural applications

High-purity aluminium is soft and ductile, so strength and hardness are achieved through the addition of alloying elements such as magnesium, silicon, manganese and copper. Aluminium products are generally either wrought or cast, depending on how the final shape is produced.

Wrought aluminium alloys are used to produce extruded shapes, forgings and sheet products. Cast alloys are used for ornamental components and the mass production of standard aluminium parts.

The selection of an aluminium alloy should be based on the design requirements of the project, including mechanical performance, finishing characteristics and the intended use of the component. McKechnie Aluminium alloys 6060 and 6063 have proven highly successful for extruded sections used in windows, doors, architectural joinery and a range of aluminium components. Other alloys may be used for specific extrusion applications where required.

Thermal expansion in aluminium extrusions

Aluminium extrusions have a comparatively high coefficient of expansion: 0.000023mm per mm length of extrusion per degree Celsius. A 6 metre length of aluminium extrusion will expand by more than 4mm when the temperature rises by 30°C.

When designing with aluminium, especially in building applications, allowance should be made for expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes. Thermal expansion is particularly important when aluminium extrusions are used with other materials that have different expansion rates.

Welding and fabrication

Practically all aluminium alloys can be welded. For fusion welding, inert gas-shielded arc methods are now used almost exclusively. These methods offer the advantages of high welding speed and freedom from flux-related problems.

McKechnie^® aluminium extrusions support a wide range of architectural applications, from windows, doors and shop fronts through to partitions, panels and custom aluminium components designed for New Zealand building requirements.