Butterfly Wonderland

About the Project

Butterfly Wonderland is the largest butterfly atrium in America. The interior houses a lush rainforest environment and thousands of colourful butterflies flying freely. This and the fact that Butterfly Wonderland is within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community were both considerations when designing the exterior. It needed to reflect the beauty of the exhibit and the culture of the area.

The Challenge

The original plan included a 4,000 square foot mesh screen on two elevations of the main facade. Mock-ups were developed and promptly rejected by the owner and the Indian Architectural Committee for its lack of grandeur. The facade wall was to provide a balance of depth, shadows and pattern as well as match the rust colour chosen for the project.

The Solution

Familiar with CS custom work, the general contractor and owner requested assistance. They decided to use CS Marquis Grille. CS fabricated a mock-up to ensure all were pleased with their selection. It was quickly approved and CS secured the order. The CS Grille was custom fabricated to in-fill the curved perimeter steel framing. CS was chosen for this project because of the large library of products that are customizable specific to a job and our ability to handle unique fabrication requirements. Now Butterfly Wonderland is a treasure in the desert filled with jewel coloured butterflies and an exterior that complements the spirit and culture of the community.