La Nube STEAM Discovery Center in El Paso, Texas, is more than just an architectural landmark—it’s a testament to how innovative wall systems can bring bold design visions to life. The civic and cultural hub embraces both STEM and the arts, creating a space where families, children, and visitors can explore ideas with curiosity and joy.
To achieve this imaginative concept, the design team relied on ATAS wall systems to define the structure’s “cloud-like” form. ATAS’ Versa-Seam modular wall panels in aluminum—finished in Ascot White, Bone White, and a custom white—were applied in varying widths and lengths to generate a striking, patterned façade. This vertical arrangement created a flowing, cloud-inspired look that shifts depending on light and perspective, enhancing the building’s symbolic connection to limitless imagination.
The façade design goes beyond surface aesthetics. Floor-to-ceiling windows cut into the patterned panels, glowing with vivid colors from the interactive exhibits inside. Nestled between the wall panels, subtle lighting details add to the illusion of a floating cloud, with twinkling points that resemble stars at night. These inventive touches highlight the flexibility of modular wall systems to support both structural function and artistic storytelling.
“The wide selection of ATAS modular wall and roof systems gave the design team the flexibility to translate their renderings into reality,” said Steve Minunni, Director of Modular Wall Systems with ATAS. “The variety of profiles, colors, and single-source support enabled the project to maintain both creativity and constructability.”
La Nube’s wall system not only contributed to the building’s whimsical, cloudlike silhouette but also helped it achieve multiple accolades. The project earned “First Place in the Commercial Wall category” and “Third Place in the Commercial Roofs category” of ATAS’ 2024 Project of the Year Awards. It also won recognition in the “Metal Architecture 2025 Design Awards” for its imaginative use of metal.
Now celebrating its first anniversary, La Nube continues to symbolize innovation and inclusivity in El Paso, standing as a living example of how thoughtfully designed wall systems can transform a vision into an architectural and cultural beacon.
