Pinal County Attorney's Office

Did you know that the vertical fins on a saguaro cactus protect the plant from sunburn and overheating by ensuring that no part of the cactus gets more than 15 to 20 minutes of direct sun at a time?

That inspired the team behind the Pinal County Attorney's Office in Florence, Ariz. The building's self-shading fins not only provide a modern, attractive aesthetic but also reduce the building's long-term energy consumption!

Learn all about how cantilevered steel framing helps these fins work their magic in this month's issue of Modern Steel Construction: aisc.org/pinalcounty.