Metal Edge International
Established in Philadelphia during the late 19th century, Metal Edge International is a niche business currently located in North Wales, PA. Metal Edge is the world-wide leader, industrial designer, manufacturer & distributor of the different metal edges used for cutting and reinforcing boxes in the food, medical and book industries; the cutting strips in the well-known brands of Saran Wrap, Reynolds Wrap & Reynolds Aluminum Foil are produced by Metal Edge. As long-standing customers of PALLADIO & owners of Metal Edge, the Frank family asked Jay to look at their corporate headquarters in North Wales for re-design suggestions. Jay’s initial critique and preliminary set of suggestions led to his being hired to oversee the full-blown interior demolition and rebuilding of Metal Edge’s corporate interior.
With a focus in the identity of the Metal Edge product line, its factory setting and its international client base, Jay worked with the Franks and Zaveta Custom Builders to reimagine the space. The space, formerly closed in with drop ceilings & limited windows, small, confined offices and dozens of filing cabinets, was reborn. Brick walls were exposed, high ceilings were uncovered, giant square windows were cut into exterior and interior walls and, as was the new HR montre of the company’s owners, the physical space instantly tied together the production and administrative sides of Metal Edge. Building on this theme, interior offices and meeting spaces were created using a clever combination of repurposed barn wood and industrial casement windows; Jay also designed the board room table – a magnificent piece of repurposed wood that rest on two of the giant wheels of the Metal Edge metal that is shipped internationally.
Since the true stars of Metal Edge are the jagged metal coils, photographer Ian Campbell was inspired to create stunning photography for the project, finding absolute visual architecture in the shapes, shadows and reflections of the metal and the machinery that makes it. Jay was given complete artistic license and design control for this exciting project and the results were very well received.
