Precision in Form. Presence in Every Detail.

The Pterodactyl – Culver City, California

Modern angular gray building under construction with an entrance stairway and blue sky背景

Architect: Eric Owen Moss Architects

Owner: National & Hayden LLLP

General Contractor: Samitaur Constructs

Fabricator: CSI Architectural Metal Inc.

Product: 25 metric tons of Rheinzink Pre-Patina Blue-Gray – Titanium Zinc

Panel Type: CSI-LG Flat Lock Panels

The Pterodactyl

Office building / Culver City, CA

Modern angular glass-and-metal building at sunset with landscaped grasses in front

CSI’s Involvement

CSI Architectural Metal was personally referred and contacted by Rheinzink to collaborate directly with Eric Owen Moss Architects — as the only company in the Americas capable of fabricating and realizing this complex zinc-clad design.


Our team began the design and detailing phase in 2010, working closely with the architect to develop the technical solutions necessary to execute the building’s multi-angled envelope.


In 2012, CSI initiated the contractor coordination and bid process, reaching out to qualified Los Angeles–based sheet metal firms to perform field installation under CSI’s engineering and fabrication guidance.


Through close collaboration with the architect and material partners, CSI transformed complex design intent into a buildable reality, demonstrating the company's commitment to innovation, precision, and architectural craftsmanship.

Project Overview

Perched above an existing concrete parking podium in Culver City’s Hayden Tract, The Pterodactyl is one of architect Eric Owen Moss’s most iconic structures — a sculptural intersection of rectangular volumes that appear to hover in space. The dramatic geometry, metallic skin, and expressive cantilevers demanded exceptional craftsmanship, advanced engineering, and innovative fabrication methods beyond the limits of conventional façade construction. The result is a landmark architectural statement that demonstrates both technical strength and design excellence.

Modern angular metal building under a clear blue sky, with reflective silver panels

Technical Highlights

  • Material: Rheinzink Pre-Patina Blue-Gray Titanium Zinc
  • System: Custom Flat Lock Panel Assemblies engineered for compound geometry
  • Scope: Full façade and roof cladding system detailing, fabrication, and installation coordination
  • Quantity: 25 metric tons of zinc panels and accessories
  • Completion: Integration of architectural, structural, and environmental performance requirements
Metal rooftop installation with gray panels, scaffolding, and a central walkway under construction

Design Intent

The zinc façade reinforces Moss's vision of The Pterodactyl as a "hovering organism"—an abstract metallic creature in flight. The subtle blue-gray patina of Rheinzink captures and diffuses light throughout the day, creating shifting tonalities that accentuate the dynamic folded geometry of the structure. The project exemplifies how material innovation and precision craftsmanship can bring ambitious architectural concepts to life.

Modern angular building with geometric gray panels and a central courtyard under a clear sky

CSI Contribution

CSI Architectural Metal translated Eric Owen Moss’s experimental design into a fully engineered, constructible system — from digital modeling and shop drawings to custom brake-formed zinc panels fitted precisely to the non-orthogonal steel frame.



The collaboration stands as a milestone in contemporary architectural metals, uniting European material innovation with American precision fabrication.