The Footprint Center Kinetic Façade is one of downtown Phoenix’s most iconic architectural features. Designed in collaboration with artist Ned Kahn, this exterior enclosure spans 45,000 square feet and features 130,000 individually mounted 6" x 6" aluminum flaps that respond to wind and sunlight—creating a mesmerizing ripple effect that evokes water in motion or flames dancing across the surface.
As part of the arena’s $245 million transformation, Kovach engineered, fabricated, and installed the entire system in-house at our Chandler facility. The façade, which wraps the south and west elevations of the Footprint Center—home to the Phoenix Suns and Mercury—serves as both a functional rainscreen and a permanent, large-scale piece of public art.
Kovach’s scope included design-assist services, structural and kinetic engineering, custom fabrication of the aluminum flaps and support systems, and full installation with field coordination. Delivered in partnership with Okland Construction, the project showcases Kovach’s expertise in executing complex metal systems and kinetic façades while collaborating with internationally recognized artists and architects.
“We are proud we can fabricate, design, and engineer all out of our home for the arena,” said James Hatch, VP of Preconstruction at Kovach. “We are lifelong Phoenix Suns fans.”
