Featured image: Valley Park Fire Station 2, Valley Park, Missouri, features cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. Photo courtesy of Karl Klostermann, Negwer Materials.
In the bustling heart of Delray Beach, Florida, stands the Atlantic Crossing Building III, a testament to modern engineering and a beacon of architectural innovation.
Here, the use of Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) framing isn’t just a structural necessity. It’s an artistic statement. As urban landscapes evolve, the role of materials like CFS in construction is not just about support and durability. It’s about reimagining the possibilities of design and efficiency and installing those materials efficiently.
That brings up a question: What key design and construction installation issues make for cold-formed steel (CFS) framing success?
This article draws from several project reports and details insights, highlighting the unique challenges and solutions encountered in each case. Here are 5 lessons to achieving successful metal framing design and installation:
1. Integrate CFS with Other Materials
CFS, or mental framing, can be effectively combined with other materials to overcome design challenges and achieve aesthetic goals.
ADTEK Engineers’ project, the Atlantic Crossing Building III, made efficient use of CFS framing. The project features unique design elements like curved openings and wing walls, and faced challenges with post-tensioned podium slabs and cantilevers.
Roof opening and shear wall cold-formed steel (CFS) framing designs for the UVA Health Orthopedic Center Ivy Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. Image courtesy of ADTEK Engineers.
The design efficiently integrated CFS framing with wood solutions, overcoming construction challenges and achieving aesthetic and structural objectives. For more details, you can read the full article here.
2. Focus on Material Efficiency
Two projects — Valley Park Fire Station 2 in Valley Park, Missouri, and the multi-family structure at 1122 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago — illustrate how metal framing can reduce material needs while meeting structural requirements.
The Negwer Materials’ project, Valley Park Fire Station 2, involved converting from a bar-joist system to cold-formed steel (CFS) trusses, significantly reducing the amount of framing material needed.
The switch to CFS trusses not only kept the construction on schedule but also addressed challenges like designing trusses to meet specific load and deflection criteria. The station featured trusses with spans up to 74 feet, demonstrating the capabilities of CFS in large-scale projects. For more detailed information, you can read the full article here.
R.A. Smith’s project, 1122 W. Chicago Avenue, exemplified efficient use of cold-formed steel (CFS) in a mid-rise building, particularly in its roof joist system. The innovative design facilitated proper load transfer and attractive rooftop spaces. It also showcased the structural integrity and architectural potential of CFS, especially in the staggered window placement.
The project’s success was attributed to careful planning and panelization, ensuring a smooth construction process. For more details, please refer to the full article here.
3. Show Versatility in Structural Design
Time and again, projects demonstrate the adaptability of CFS in various structural applications, supporting large openings and accommodating different types of veneers.
The UVA Health Orthopedic Center project by ADTEK Engineers, notable for its complex cold-formed steel (CFS) design. Key features included CFS box beams and a variety of CFS products to address design challenges. The project demonstrated effective use of CFS in various applications, including supporting large curtain wall openings and accommodating multiple veneer types, showcasing the versatility and complexity of CFS in large-scale constructions. For more details, you can read the full article here.
4. Make Sustainability a Priority
CFS definitely plays a key role in sustainable construction practices, especially in retrofitting historic structures.
The University of Hawaii Atherton Hall project features cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, cut to specific lengths and custom-packaged for the installer. Courtesy of CEMCO.
CEMCO’s project at the University of Hawaii’s Atherton Hall entailed maintaining the original building’s historic façade while adding six new levels and an extension using cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.
This project demonstrated the versatility and efficiency of CFS in complex architectural designs, as well as its ability to meet specific load-bearing requirements. The project’s success also highlighted the environmental sustainability of CFS framing. For more information, please refer to the full article here.
5. Search for Cost-Effective Designs
Various projects featuring CFS framing systems emphasize the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of CFS, particularly in replacing traditional construction materials.
ClarkDietrich’s project at Grand Junction High School highlighted the benefits of cold-formed steel (CFS) in creating efficient and sustainable designs, particularly in curtain walls and façade metal paneling. Innovative framing solutions were used, such as unique CFS member sizes, to meet the project’s load demands.
The project showcased the advantages of CFS in terms of design flexibility and cost-effectiveness, especially in comparison to more traditional materials like CMU block and brick. For more details, you can read the full article here.
Another ClarkDietrich project, the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio, involved constructing a 1,000 linear foot demising wall with free span heights up to 80 feet using cold-formed steel (CFS).
The I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio, features a cold-formed steel (CFS) interior demising wall. Here, wall trusses are set using special equipment. Courtesy of Jay Polenske, Competitive Interiors, Inc.
The I-X project demonstrated the strength and versatility of CFS in creating large, free-standing structures within budget constraints. The construction involved unique challenges, such as designing and assembling large CFS trusses to meet specific design requirements. For more information, please visit the full article here.
Thus, cold-formed steel (CFS) can bring the following benefits to bear on most projects:
- Material Integration: CFS is flexible in complex architectural designs
- Efficient Material Usage: CFS can reduce material needs while maintaining structural integrity
- Versatility: CFS is adaptable in various applications
- Sustainability: CFS can play a role in sustainable construction and in retrofitting historic buildings
- Cost-Effectiveness: CFS can be cost-effectiveness, particularly in replacing traditional materials like CMU blocks and bricks
Clearly, CFS can support diverse applications in modern construction, emphasizing innovation, efficiency and sustainability.
Additional Resources
- Sorting Apples from Oranges — Comparing Evaluation Services with Third-Party Certification
- SFIA Releases Guide to the Performance-Based Nonstructural Partition Selection of Metal Framing
- 3 Ways Architects Can Update Their Steel Specifications