CFS Shapes Tech Center for West Point Cadets
Construction is progressing on the $200 million, 146,000 square-foot Cyber & Engineering Academic Center at West Point, New York. The 4-story facility, designed to equip U.S. Army cadets for future battlefields, will house cutting-edge engineering laboratories for civil, mechanical, electrical, computer science and systems engineering departments — all under one roof.
A standout feature is the project’s technical Gothic-style facade, which blends traditional and modern elements. The facade combines granite veneer, natural limestone and structural precast arches clad in limestone joined to create multiple buttresses and Tudor arches.
“This intricate facade system is supported by a robust structural steel frame, with concrete masonry unit (CMU) backup walls and an air/vapor barrier providing durability and resilience,” says Gary Snee of Dobco Inc., the general contractor.
The use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing plays a critical role in the construction, with both interior and exterior CFS framing nearing completion. The CMU walls provide support for interior partitions, while the CFS framing ensures a versatile and lightweight solution for interior installations.
The facility was designed by Jacobs as the exterior designer and EwingCole as the architecture-engineering designer-of-record and interior designer. The project is on schedule and within budget with completion expected by July 2025.
Steel Framing Enhances Efficiency and Longevity of Townhomes
Located in Langford, British Columbia, the Odessa development on Orono Avenue is setting a new standard for construction in the Capital Region. The project consists of 26 townhouses. It is the first in the area to use cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, an innovative building material that reduces construction time while enhancing the safety and longevity of the homes.
Metal framing was selected for this project due to its advantages over traditional wood construction. CFS provides added strength and is resistant to fire, pests and moisture, ensuring that the homes built in Odessa will have a longer lifespan with minimal maintenance.
The Odessa townhome development on Orono Avenue selected cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to reduce construction time while enhancing the safety and longevity of the structures.
“The material is also recyclable, requires less energy for production compared to traditional building materials like concrete or wood, helping CFS construction to align with sustainability goals,” says the article, “Langford development leads the way, using innovative steel to make townhouses safer,” by the Goldstream News Gazette, a British Columbia publication.
Additionally, steel framing arrives at the jobsite prefabricated, allowing for faster installation and reduced labor costs. This rapid construction process minimizes disruption to the neighborhood and helps keep the project on schedule.
“This housing climate is challenging for people to buy into,” says Nick Wise from the Garry Oak Group, a real estate investment group located in British Columbia. “Anything which reduces the construction timeline reduces expenses and helps decrease the end cost to home buyers.”
Steel Framing: Ideal for City of Ithaca Projects
The city of Ithaca, New York, known for its high-quality of life and steady population growth, has encountered rising demands for both housing and amenities. In response, BW Architecture & Engineering joined forces with the city of Ithaca to create Asteri Ithaca, a mixed-use project that features a three-story conference center with nine stories of affordable housing, offering a solution to the city’s growing demands.
The project’s design team conducted an extensive evaluation to determine the optimal structural system for the project. After careful analysis, they chose a hybrid system combining a four-story composite steel podium and eight stories of load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing above.
The Asteri Ithaca project addresses the city’s growing housing and amenity demands through an innovative design featuring a composite steel podium and eight stories of load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.
This steel solution was selected due to its ability to meet the diverse needs of the building. The composite steel podium provides the flexibility required for the conference center’s non-repetitive layout, while the CFS framing above supports the repetitive layout of the 181 affordable housing units. The composite steel system’s ability to clear-span large areas, such as the ballrooms below, further enhanced its suitability for this project.
Despite the challenges posed by economic constraints and the onset of the pandemic, the Asteri Ithaca project successfully addressed the city’s growing needs. The completed structure stands as a testament to the city’s growth, providing needed affordable housing and a conference center that will foster economic development for years to come.
Additional Resources
- Update #4: A Mixed-Use Project, Prefab Student Housing and a Hospital Picks Steel Over Wood
- Update #3: A Steel-Framed Mosque, Prefabricated Student Housing and a Net-Zero Public Building
- Update #2: A Steel-Framed Training Center, Prefabricated Student Housing and ‘Zero Energy Ready Home’
- Update #1: A Steel-Framed Fire Station, Sustainable Steel Homes and a $320M Steel Factory