Folded Metal Panels Present a Striking, Intricate Façade for Ontario Student Tower

At the new 30-story McMaster Graduate Residence Tower in Hamilton, Ontario, Diamond Schmitt architects crafted 550 single-skin metal wall panels to create a dynamic aesthetic and revitalize the downtown core.

Inspired by the chevron floor plate façade design on the neighboring Hamilton City Hall, the angular, dimensional cladding begins at the podium level and extends vertically across all façades.

Winning a MCA 2025 Design Award in the Single-Skin Metal Wall Panel category, Judge Kevin Wagner, AIA, associate principal at Substance Architecture in Des Moines, remarked, “The folds of the metal, it’s really captivating—just thinking about what it took to fabricate because every piece is custom. It’s this totally unique, sculptural piece of art.”