Featured image: The University of Hawaii Atherton Hall expansion and renovation project features cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. All photos courtesy of CEMCO.
The University of Hawaii Atherton Hall project in Honolulu, Hawaii, submitted by CEMCO, LLC, involved maintaining the historical facade of an original university building while adding six levels of load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and CFS framing for an extension to the structure.
The new building, called RISE or Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs, is open to students from any discipline interested in innovation and entrepreneurship, a UH website says. Besides providing housing for 374 students, RISE has meeting, co-working and maker spaces, which are run by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship at the UH Shidler College of Business.
The SFIA Awards, Sustainable Project, 2023 Winner: CEMCO for the University of Hawaii Atherton Hall expansion and renovation.
CEMCO, a member of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), is the SFIA 2023 Industry Project Awards winner, in the “Sustainable Project” category, for the University of Hawaii Atherton Hall expansion and renovation. The project team included three SFIA members — CEMCO, Foundation Building Materials (FBM®), Simpson Strong-Tie Co, Inc.
CEMCO was announced the winner at the 2023 SFIA Awards ceremony held recently online. The SFIA 2023 Industry Project Awards focus on CFS manufacturing and construction. Architects, engineers, manufacturers, distributors and contractors entered their projects in the competition. The SFIA Awards entry was submitted by Akira Usami of CEMCO.
Design Quality
Did this project make efficient use of metal framing?
Yes. The University of Hawaii Atherton Hall expansion and renovation project, the RISE student housing building, features a load-bearing CFS framing system.
The University of Hawaii’s new RISE student housing building features load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.
Installation Complexity
What difficulties existed on the project?
The project team was tasked with maintaining the historical facade of the original Atherton Hall building, while adding up to six levels of new construction and an extension on the existing structure. The retention of the existing structure, as well as coordinating new construction, made the project extremely complex.
The University of Hawaii project involved maintaining the historical facade of the original Atherton Hall building while adding six levels of new construction.
Manufacturing Complexity
Were special materials involved?
Like all load-bearing projects, the installer mandated specific exacting length tolerances.
- Top and bottom tracks were designed specifically to minimize framing gaps
- Studs were cut to specific lengths and packaging was customized to allow the installer to place packages in areas as needed
- Extra wide flange and heavy gauge framing materials were also required due to the load bearing nature of the project
Metal studs were cut to specific lengths and packaging was customized for the installer.
Conversion to Steel
How was conversion to metal framing achieved?
Due to the scope of the project, a wood-framed renovation and expansion of the existing structure would not have been possible. The project showcases the load-bearing capabilities of metal framing.
Steel framing was used because wood framing could not accommodate the renovation and expansion of Atherton Hall.
Environmental Product Declaration
Was the SFIA EPD submitted for this project?
Yes, the SFIA EPD was submitted for the University of Hawaii Atherton Hall project.
The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Framing — SCS-EPD-07103 (version Apr. 11, 2025) — is good through May 27, 2026.
Overall Job Quality
How did the completed system turn out?
The project team completed the renovation and expansion of Atherton Hall at the University of Hawaii on schedule, the CEMCO awards submission says.
Learn more about SFIA member CEMCO, LLC.
RISE at Atherton Hall
University of Hawaii
1820 University Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96822
Details:
2 six-story buildings, 99,000 sq. ft., 265 tons of cold-formed steel (CFS) framingPEOPLE
Owner:
University of HawaiiArchitect:
Design PartnersEngineer:
Fernando Frontera, Baldridge and AssociatesGeneral Contractor:
Robert Tomas, Moss ConstructionDrywall Contractor:
Roy Balantac, Group BuildersSupplier:
Nathan Kabei, Foundation Building Materials (FBM)® Honolulu
SFIA Industry Project Awards
The SFIA 2023 Industry Project Awards focus on cold-formed steel (CFS) manufacturing and construction. The awards program is a complement to the Design Excellence and Creative Detail Awards governed by CFSEI, the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute. Architects, engineers, manufacturers, distributors and contractors entered their projects in the 2023 competition.
Judging Criteria
A panel of industry representatives judged all 2023 SFIA Awards entries based on the following criteria:
- Design Quality, such as the efficient and sustainable use of cold-formed steel (CFS) products
- Installation Complexity, focusing on conflict resolution, timeframe challenges, etc.
- Manufacturing Complexity, including custom orders, panelization, special material sourcing and more
- Overall Job Quality, including the quality of alignments, finishes and other attention to detail
- Conversion from Alternative Framing Material, reflecting how steel framing lowered a structure’s weight, or added stories, or helped lower the project’s builders’ risk insurance, etc.
Steel Framing Industry Association
The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) provides its members with exclusive access to technical cold-formed steel (CFS) framing services, including the SFIA Steel Framing Learning Portal. SFIA member services include access to market data, market analysis, technical design guides, architectural services, environmental product declarations, CFS certification and more.
Additional Resources
- SFIA Reveals 7 Winners of the 2023 Industry Project Awards in Online Ceremony
- Sorting Apples from Oranges — Comparing Evaluation Services with Third-Party Certification
- SFIA Releases Guide to the Performance-Based Nonstructural Partition Selection of Metal Framing