Nicole Kinsman highlights how hydroformed stainless steel enhances energy efficiency at Harvard’s SEC and explores its role in sustainability, green architecture, and advanced applications globally. IMOA initiatives emphasize molybdenum’s benefits in creating durable, recyclable, and eco-friendly materials.

Spokesperson: Nicole Kinsman, Technical Director, International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) 

How does the hydroformed stainless steel screen at Harvard’s SEC enhance energy efficiency?

The screen acts as a fixed shading device, which helps regulate sunlight penetration into the building. All panels of the screen are precisely positioned to shield against solar heat gain during warmer months, while admitting beneficial sunlight in winter, significantly reducing both cooling and heating loads throughout the year. The panels are shaped to bounce natural light deeper inside the building while still allowing for panoramic views to the outside, which reduces the need for artificial lighting and enhances occupant comfort.  

The screen is composed of over 12,000 individual panels, arranged in interlocking square patterns that resemble a wide mesh when viewed from a distance. The panels come in 14 distinct shapes, each carefully developed to optimize shading and daylighting based on its specific location on the building façade. The result is not only highly functional but also visually striking – a defining feature of the SEC’s architectural identity and a key contributor to its multiple prestigious sustainability certifications.

Why was Type 316L stainless steel chosen for the SEC’s shading screen?

Type 316L stainless steel was selected for its excellent corrosion resistance, necessary for the location’s proximity to the ocean and the use of deicing salt in winter. Austenitic stainless steel also has good formability, making it well suited for the hydroforming process used to create the screen’s intricate shape. Its sleek, reflective surface enhances the building’s aesthetic appeal while its durability minimizes the need for maintenance and replacements over time. The use of stainless steel supports both visual and performance goals, contributing to the building’s long-term sustainability.

What role does molybdenum play in improving the performance of stainless steel in the SEC project?

Type 316 stainless steel contains approximately 2% molybdenum, which is essential to its corrosion resistance.  Molybdenum enhances the alloy’s ability to resist pitting and crevice corrosion, allowing the stainless steel panels to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture, salts and urban pollution without compromising their structural integrity or visual appearance.

What were the main challenges in hydroforming the SEC’s stainless steel panels?

A major challenge in the SEC project was developing stainless steel panels with the precise shape and strength needed for the building’s distinctive shading screen. Traditional forming techniques couldn’t produce the complex curves and consistent quality required at this scale, so the team turned to hydroforming—a process that uses high-pressure hydraulic fluid, usually water, to shape metal into intricate forms.

The engineering team tested panels of different thicknesses to find the right balance between formability and structural stability. Thinner panels didn’t hold their shape well, while thicker ones were difficult to form precisely.  The necessary durability and accuracy was finally realized by 1.5 mm panels with built-in stiffening folds and a post-forming heat treatment. Consistent quality across all panels was essential, as they are mounted on a spring-tensioned support system that spans the building’s 50,000 m² façade. The success of this approach was made possible through close collaboration between the design and engineering teams.

How does stainless steel contribute to global sustainability efforts?

The sustainability benefits of stainless steel come from its exceptional durability, corrosion resistance, and full recyclability. By withstanding harsh environmental conditions, it significantly reduces the need for maintenance, repair, and replacement – saving both energy and materials over a structure’s life span. This makes it especially valuable in applications like buildings, bridges, water infrastructure, and energy systems, where long term performance is essential.

Stainless steel is also 100% recyclable and can be reused indefinitely without any loss of quality. Most stainless steel already contains a high proportion of recycled content, supporting circular economy goals and reducing demand for virgin raw materials. As sustainability standards become more rigorous worldwide, stainless steel offers a proven solution for lowering embodied carbon and extending service life – key goals in sustainable construction and manufacturing.

What innovations are driving stainless steel’s use in green architecture?

Advances in manufacturing processes, such as hydroforming and additive manufacturing, are enabling new, often thinner and lighter forms. Reducing weight saves material and energy not just in transportation, but also in support structures and foundations. This lightness makes airy, fabric-like designs such as the SEC screen, possible, combining structural performance with architectural elegance. 

Sometimes, what’s old is new again.  Hanging vegetation has been used for thousands of years to cool buildings, but when combined with modern materials like Type 316 stainless steel woven mesh and corrosion-resistant planters that withstand the weight of growing plants and their corrosive soil, it becomes a durable and expressive green façade system. Unlike designs of the past, plants are contrasted by the sleek silver of stainless steel, creating a striking and contemporary aesthetic.

Another growing trend is the use of stainless steel in structural applications such as bridges, traditionally dominated by painted carbon steel. While carbon steel requires coatings and ongoing maintenance to resist corrosion, stainless steel can offer equivalent structural performance with far lower lifecycle costs and environmental impact.  As durability and long service life become central to sustainable design, stainless steel is gaining recognition as a smart material choice.

Stainless steel’s naturally reflective surface can help reduce solar heat absorption, making it a valuable material in efforts to mitigate the urban heat island effect – especially when used on roofs, façades, and other exterior surfaces. Its high durability and precision fabrication also make it ideal for prefabricated and modular construction, which reduces onsite waste, shortens build times, and lowers environmental disruption during installation. Stainless steel’s long service life and corrosion resistance support design for disassembly and reuse – key principles in circular construction – allowing components to be repurposed or recycled at the end of a building’s life without loss of performance.

How does IMOA promote molybdenum’s applications in stainless steel globally?

IMOA focuses on technical market development – bridging the gap between materials science and real-world applications. We create practical resources to help engineers, architects, and fabricators specify and use molybdenum-alloyed stainless steels effectively. That includes design guidelines, fabrication brochures, case studies, and educational webinars.

We also share knowledge on how molybdenum enhances corrosion resistance, strength, and overall performance in stainless steel by contributing to the development of standards and codes, sponsoring independent research, and presenting at conferences. Our goal is to support durable, efficient, and sustainable design choices in industries ranging from architecture and construction to water systems, energy infrastructure, and transportation.

What are IMOA’s current initiatives to advance sustainable uses of molybdenum?

IMOA’s current initiatives focus on promoting the use of molybdenum to improve the sustainability and performance of materials in key sectors. In stainless steels, molybdenum enhances corrosion resistance and extends service life, reducing maintenance needs and supporting circular economy goals through durability and full recyclability. We highlight these benefits across a range of applications, including drinking water systems, flue gas cleaning, carbon capture, and both architectural and structural elements in construction.

We are also working to raise awareness of molybdenum’s role in high-strength steels, particularly in automotive, yellow goods, power generation, infrastructure, and construction. These steels combine strength and light weight, enabling more fuel-efficient vehicles and more resource-efficient building solutions.

Through the development of educational resources, participation in technical committees, and engagement with sustainability focused stakeholders, IMOA helps ensure that our materials’ benefits are reflected in evolving standards, life cycle assessments, and environmental strategies.