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Update #7: Cold-Formed Steel Framing for Historic Pump Station, Fire Station and Landmark Building

BuildSteel is dedicated to tracking the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing in projects across the globe. This post’s projects highlight the sustainability, durability and aesthetic versatility achievable with CFS framing.

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Copy of Update #6: Cold-Formed Steel Framing for Student Housing, Luxury Condos and K-12 Schools

Steel Framing Key to Transformation of Historic Pump Station

Local studio 5468796 Architecture revitalized a historic pumping station in Winnipeg, Canada, converting it into expansive office and restaurant space. Central to the renovation was the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, which accelerated the construction schedule and improved the building’s sustainability by reducing the project’s overall embodied carbon.

Built in 1901, the station closed in 1986 and was slated for demolition. Instead, 5468796 Architecture chose to preserve the structure. A key feature of the renovation was the use of steel studs.

 

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“The walls are defined by steel studs and stiffening bars that cut the required glazing thickness in half and eliminated the need for skilled installers, which in turn sped up the construction, made it more affordable, and reduced the building’s embodied carbon by half,” says 5468796 Architecture.

Two residential buildings were added, both featuring steel columns that mirror the pumphouse’s original gantry structure to ensure visual consistency. The use of steel framing in the new residences supported efficient “skip-stop” configurations that enhanced functionality and energy efficiency.

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CFS Supports Federally Funded Fire Station

Harrisonburg, Virginia’s fifth fire station showcases modern infrastructure using cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for strength and durability. Currently under construction and set to open in June 2025, the 14,000-square-foot facility meets growing urban needs and improves emergency response time.

CFS framing allows for rapid assembly and durable construction, essential for high-use facilities. This metal stud framework supports innovative features like drive-through bays, enhancing safety by eliminating backing maneuvers—a practice increasingly adopted across the country to reduce accidents.

Fire Station Construction Harrisonburg Virginia cold-formed steel framing

Harrisonburg, Virginia’s fifth fire station showcases modern infrastructure using cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for strength and durability.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan, the estimated $8 million project highlights the critical role of federal funding in local projects. ARP has enabled communities nationwide to undertake essential projects like this fire station, ensuring improved emergency services and resilient public facilities through strategic financial support.

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Steel-Framed NYC Building Achieves Landmark Status

The Modulightor Building, a Midtown East structure designed by renowned architect Paul Rudolph, was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in December 2023. This multi-layered building features a duplex apartment on the third and fourth floors, showcasing advanced construction techniques, including cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, to achieve its distinctive design.

CFS framing enabled Rudolph to execute his intricate design vision by providing flexibility and strength for an open-plan layout. 


“Inside and out, the triumph of the design is that Rudolph pulled off the kaleidoscopic complexity with wallboard and off-the-rack metal studs and joists,” says architect Joseph Giovanni. He adds that the use of CFS framing was pivotal in realizing the building’s innovative spatial qualities and aesthetic details.

Originally constructed as a row-house in the 1860s, Rudolph rebuilt the structure in 1989 to house Modulightor, a lighting showroom. After Rudolph’s passing in 1997, the project continued with the addition of two stories. The Landmarks Preservation Commission is considering granting landmark status for the interior of the building, which would give the CFS-framed building unique historical and architectural significance. 

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