Photo of Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale, courtesy of MiTek® Steel Framing.
Cold-formed steel (CFS) roof trusses are among the most efficient systems in mid-rise and multi-family construction. Throughout the lifecycle of a project, they provide architects, developers and contractors with many advantages over other framing systems.
Compared to conventional framing systems, CFS roof trusses offer significant advantages, including faster shell completion time, improved flexibility in spatial layout, and increased durability. CFS trusses come pre-assembled on trucks ready to lift into place and provide a non-combustible structural roof solution that is lightweight and easy to install. This allows construction schedules to be accelerated and reduce the overall time spent on-site.
SFIA member MiTek® Steel Framing is a leading provider of prefabricated CFS truss and wall panel systems. The company recently completed two large projects which highlight the benefits of CFS roof trusses.
Great Wolf Lodge, Scottsdale, Arizona
The Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale features cold-formed steel (CFS) roof trusses, installed in record time.
The Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale is the first indoor waterpark constructed in the state of Arizona. Built by M.A. Mortenson Construction and designed by Gensler, the 350-room family boutique resort sits on an 18-acre site adjacent to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, located within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Talking Stick Entertainment District.
The waterpark encompasses 398,000 square feet of space and cost just under $100 million to build. The project, designed to reflect an outdoor appeal, incorporates several roof slopes using MiTek’s CFS Ultra-Span roof trusses.
MKB Construction, Inc., a local Phoenix contractor, installed the roof trusses in record time, while obtaining a perfect safety record.
Read more about this project on the MiTek LinkedIn page.
The University of Alabama Tutwiler Residence Hall
The MiTek team engineered one of its largest projects – the new the 365,000 square foot Tutwiler Residence Hall at The University of Alabama.
MiTek’s Ultra-Span product line is constantly pushing the boundaries of what traditional trusses can accomplish. Recently, the MiTek team engineered one of its largest projects – the new Tutwiler Residence Hall at The University of Alabama.
Designed by Birmingham, AL architectural firm TURNERBATSON, in partnership with Mackey Mitchell Architects, the 365,000 square foot $150 million project encompasses buildings that are interconnected through enclosed bridges, allowing students to easily navigate the hall. It accommodates over 1,200 freshmen female students with two-person rooms, with private bathrooms in each room, lounges and community/traditional-style residence hall spaces.
This new facility, which opened in 2022, is only the third residence hall built on the University’s campus over a 100 year time span. The hall honors Julia Tutwiler, a champion for education in Alabama.
With a roof area of roughly 77,500 square feet, Tutwiler Residence Hall has 40 unique connection details, including truss-to-truss, truss-to-bearing, fall-protection and shear transfer details.
For this project, MiTek provided what the company refers to as “The Works.” This included truss engineering, bracing layout, connection detailing and scheduling. With a roof area of roughly 77,500 square feet, Tutwiler Residence Hall has 40 unique connection details, including truss-to-truss, truss-to-bearing, fall-protection and shear transfer details.
Read more about this project on the MiTek LinkedIn page.
Additional Resources
- eBook: Cold-Formed Steel Trusses: Design, Performance, and Advantages
- Credit Union’s Switch from Wood to CFS Trusses Saves Six Weeks and $40,000
- SFIA Certification Program for Truss Fabricators