Blog

In late 2025, a striking new art installation and shade structure called Skyriver took shape in Boise, Idaho, bringing together thoughtful design, material precision, and a deep connection to place. Designed and constructed by Hua Studio, Skyriver is inspired by the “waterways that feed the Boise Valley,” translating the region’s natural systems into a sculptural form that celebrates movement, migration, and flow.

The installation’s sweeping curves and layered geometry evoke the constant motion of water as it travels across landscapes. More than a static object, Skyriver invites viewers to experience motion through form, light, and shadow. As the sun moves across the sky, the structure becomes an active participant in its environment, casting shifting patterns that echo the rhythms of the waterways that inspired it.

Constructed entirely from steel and aluminum, Skyriver is both visually light and structurally robust. Albina was proud to contribute to the fabrication of this piece, bending 16 pieces of 4-inch pipe and 16 pieces of 3.625-inch round tube to achieve the fluid, organic curves essential to the design. Precision bending was critical—each element needed to align seamlessly to maintain the sense of continuous movement while meeting the structural demands of a public installation and shade structure.

The collaboration between Hua Studio and Albina highlights the intersection of art and advanced metal fabrication, where technical expertise enables ambitious creative visions to become reality. Projects like Skyriver demonstrate how industrial processes can be leveraged to support expressive, site-specific design that enhances public space.

Photographs and videos of Skyriver were captured by Hua Studio and Wytske Van Keulen, documenting the installation from multiple perspectives and showcasing how it interacts with its surroundings throughout the day.

To learn more about Skyriver and explore additional work by the designers, be sure to visit the Hua Studio website:
https://www.huastudios.com/

Happy 12 Days of Steel-mas from Albina Co!

Be sure to check out our social media sites for the video version.

Instagram: @albina_co_inc

Youtube: @AlbinacoSteelBending

LinkedIn: Albina Co., Inc.

Facebook: @albinapipe

X (Twitter): @albinapipe

TikTok: @albina.co..inc 

A Partridge in a Steel Tree: This beautiful steel tree was the centerpiece at the 2024 MET Gala in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2 Steel Doves: “Migrations”, an awe-inspiring installation by artist Olivia Guethling, embodies creative qualities with breathtaking elegance. The curved steel art piece first debuted at Burning Man in Nevada and then was displayed again at OMSI in Portland, Oregon.

3 French Hens: “Bird of Paradise”, a curved steel sculpture by Curtis Pitman located at Carrollwood Village Park in Tampa, Florida.

4 Calling Birds: Albina has been involved in many beautiful art projects over the years. These four nature-inspired works celebrate the landscapes and living elements that shape our community.

5 Golden Rings: At Albina not only do we have standard angle rings but we can also roll custom ring shaped items made from nearly any structural steel profile. Coils and spirals are also a core part of our craftsmanship.

6 Geese A-Laying: One thing Albina excels at is producing identical parts. We regularly handle orders involving hundreds of identical pieces with precision, consistency, and efficiency. Whether they are tiny or large, we’ve got you covered.

7 Swans A-Swimming: Albina’s expertise extends to water parks, water slides, and community pools where our curved steel components help create dynamic, visually striking water features. Whether it’s a 65 foot tall spiral slide or a daisy shaped water feature for kiddos, Albina can help.

8 Maids A-Milking: Curved steel goes beyond visual appeal; it plays a vital role in the strength and performance of farming and industrial equipment. See examples above of curved steel Albina has done for tractors, trailers, harvesting equipment, cranes and greenhouses.

9 Stringers Dancing: Nothing mirrors the flow of a twirling dress while dancing quite like a beautifully curved spiral stair. Some staircases of note include the Phil and Penny Knight Center for Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon and the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C.

10 Lords A-Leaping: Not only do we bend where Lords literally leap like at skate parks, but we also bend bike racks, and do work for all sorts of off-axis projects! Sometimes the steel even looks like it’s leaping.

11 Pipe-rs Piping: Pipe, back to our roots! Albina started as a pipe bender, and we still bend lots of pipe in addition to all other types of structural steel! These are just a few examples of pipe bending including the San Diego Zoo, and the 2023 Met Gala centerpiece!

12 Steel Drummers Drumming: What better way to represent what looks like a “steel drum” than rolled plate! Albina’s largest plate roll can bend up to 10-foot-wide material x 2½" thick A36 grade material. As the plate becomes smaller in width, we can bend thicker material.

Gratitude Beyond Measure: Celebrating the Skilled Hands and Hearts of Albina

As the leaves change and the season of gratitude settles in, we’re reminded that true strength doesn’t come from machines or materials, it comes from people. At Albina Co., our greatest asset has always been our team; the talented, skilled individuals who bring precision, passion, and pride to every project we take on.

A Legacy of Craftsmanship

For generations, Albina has been built by hands that know their craft inside and out. The knowledge our team carries isn’t something you can find in a textbook, it’s earned through experience, mentorship, and a deep respect for the work.
Many of our team members represent multiple generations of the same family, continuing a legacy of craftsmanship that stretches back decades. They’ve grown up around the sound of machines humming, the scent of steel, and the spirit of teamwork that defines our company.

Skill, Dedication, and Heart

In an industry that demands precision, our people deliver excellence day after day. Whether it’s a complex bend, a detailed fabrication, or an innovative solution to a tough problem, our crew’s skill and dedication are unmatched. But beyond their technical ability, what sets them apart is their heart - their pride in doing the job right, their loyalty to one another, and their commitment to safety and quality.

Thankful for Our Albina Family

This November, we pause to give thanks to every person who makes Albina what it is - our staff, our customers, our vendors and everyone else. Each of you carries forward a legacy of quality, integrity, and teamwork that defines our success.

We are proud to stand beside you, to learn from you, and to celebrate all that you bring to our Albina family.

Here’s to the people who bend more than steel - you bend time, tradition, and talent into something extraordinary.

Thank you for making Albina strong, today and for generations to come.

Robson Square Ice Rink: An Olympic Legacy Brought to Life by Precision Bending

If you’ve ever laced up your skates at Robson Square’s iconic ice rink in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, you’ve experienced more than just a winter pastime - you’ve stepped into a piece of Olympic history. Nestled beneath its instantly recognizable curved steel domes, the rink is a structural landmark that blends architectural artistry with community spirit.

It’s hard to believe this urban skating hub has had such a storied past. Originally opening in the early 1980s, Robson Square’s rink later closed in the 1990s before being revived, reimagined, and expanded in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Today, it stands as one of Vancouver’s coolest (literally) and most beloved winter gathering places.

Behind the Curves: Albina’s Contribution

Those striking cruved steel overhead domes didn’t come to life by accident. Albina had the pleasure of bending and rolling the steel that brought this structure its smooth, sweeping geometry.

For this project, Albina processed the following materials:

12¾" OD x .500" wall polished stainless steel

8 pieces rolled to 37' 11 11/16" and 18' 9 3/8" radii

4 pieces rolled to 37' 11 11/16" radius

14" OD x .500" A53B ERW

1 piece

The result? Strong, graceful curves that define the atmosphere of the rink and continue to withstand the test of time, weather, and thousands of visitors every winter.

A Structure That Skates Through History

Robson Square’s rink isn’t just a place to chill with friends or enjoy a twirl on the ice - it’s a testament to community revitalization, Olympic legacy, and the engineering precision that made its signature silhouette possible. Albina is proud to have played a part in shaping one of Vancouver’s most cherished winter attractions.

Public libraries have always been more than buildings - they’re hubs of creativity, learning, connection, and community identity. The Granite Library in South Salt Lake is a perfect example of this spirit. As part of Utah’s largest public library system, it stands as a modern gathering place where technology, education, and imagination blend seamlessly.

Albina had the privilege of contributing to this project by bending structural steel components that support both the function and the architectural vision of the space.

For this project, Albina bent two key materials:

TS 10" X 6" X .375" Wall A500 GR B

1 pc bent the Hard Way to a 14'-11" radius

TS 16" X 8" X .375" Wall A500 GR B

2 pcs bent the Hard Way to a 19' radius

Albina is proud to be a part of projects like the Granite Library that strengthen neighborhoods and create places where people can learn, gather, and grow. No matter the project, Albina is committed to producing dependable curved steel that brings bold designs to life.

The Sherwood Pedestrian Bridge spans over highway 99 from the YMCA to Sherwood High School. The bridge is a wonderful way to connect the community and provide convenient access to the high school campus. Albina bent various materials for this project including large pipe, channel and some angle totaling 145,000 lbs of curved steel.
 
14” OD X .500” WALL A500 GR C
10 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 128’-5” radius.
12 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 140’-1” radius.
 
14” OD X .375” WALL A500 GR C
4 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 124’-3” radius.
10 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 91’-9” radius.
4 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 100’-5” radius.
 
10” OD X .3125” WALL A500 GR C
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 172’-11” radius.
3 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 164’-0” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 160’-11” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 160’-8” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 142’-6” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 135’-0” radius.
6 pcs rolled to various arc lengths at a 110’-1” radius.
 
C15 X 33.9# A36
8 pcs rolled to radii ranging from 1’-7” to 4’-1”.
 
MC18 X 42.7# A36
2 pcs rolled to a 10’-0” radius.
 
4” X 3” X 3/8” ANGLE A36
5 pcs rolled to a 10’-0” radius.
 
2½” SCH40 T316 S/S
2 pcs bent to a 4’-1” radius.
2 pcs bent to a 2’-2” radius.
2 pcs bent to a 1’-9” radius.
2 pcs bent to a 1’-7” radius.

Oregon State University Student Experience Center Canopy in Corvallis, Oregon! A welcoming, functional, and inspiring outdoor space where students can gather, collaborate, and celebrate campus life.

For this impressive canopy structure, Albina bent 8 pieces of TS 20” x 12” x .500” Wall A500 Grade B and 69 pieces of TS 6” x 3” x .313” Wall A500 Grade B, totaling 125,000 lbs!

The OSU Student Experience Center serves as a vibrant hub for the university community housing student organizations, leadership programs, and event spaces that bring energy and creativity to campus life. The canopy itself provides both shelter and style, blending modern design with functional outdoor space to enhance the daily experience of students and visitors! 

The new Hanover Riverwalk Building located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida offers luxury living with 380 apartments spanning over 36 stories! The building offers entertaining spaces, a pool deck, office space, and a fitness center! Albina rolled 55 pieces of tube steel for this project to many different radii.

TS 9” X 5” X .375” WALL A500 GR B
25 pcs rolled the hard way to radii ranging from 10’-4” – 48’-2”

TS 6” X 6” X .250” WALL A500 GR B
25 pcs rolled to radii ranging from 13’-3” – 48’-2”

TS 8” X 6” X .250” WALL A500 GR B
5 pcs rolled the easy way

Information found at:
News Article
and Website 

The Bruneau Dunes State Park Observatory in Bruneau, Idaho. Bruneau Dunes Observatory is home to the largest telescope available for public viewing in Idaho. The observatory also offers astronomy presentations, tours, telescope, and solar viewing throughout the year. There are also countless of outdoor activities offered at the park including hiking the dunes, horseback riding, fishing, camping, biking, and more. They even have “the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America”!
For the observatory, Albina bent:

TS 12” X 6” X .375” WALL A500 GR B
2 pcs rolled the Easy Way to HSS standards at a 9’-7” inside radius

3” X 3” X 3/16” ANGLE A36
2 pcs rolled Leg Out to a 10’-1” inside radius
2 pcs rolled Leg Out to a 42’-10” inside radius

Information found at:
https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/state-park/bruneau-dunes-state-park/

Did you know that Albina played a key role in bringing the Denver Broncos' massive new scoreboard to life?

As part of a $100 million renovation at Empower Field, Albina provided 20 pieces of Tube Steel measuring 16” x 12” x .375” WALL A500 GR C, rolled the easy way to a 978-foot radius. These precision-rolled components helped form the structural support for the stadium’s brand-new scoreboard.

Standing 225 feet wide and 72 feet high, the scoreboard is now the tallest in North America and 70% larger than the previous screen. In fact, it's ranked as the fifth-largest scoreboard in the NFL, offering fans an even more immersive game-day experience.

Photo credit: Adam Poticha.