Jeff Klaiman is a principal of SFIA member ADTEK Engineers and managing director at the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI). In a recent interview with Harikrishnan Magarabooshanam, technical marketing manager for SFIA member Scottsdale Construction Systems, Klaiman discusses wood-to-steel project conversions, growth in modular construction and changes to cold-formed steel (CFS) standards. Watch the full interview below:
Wood-to-Steel Conversions
ADTEK Engineers is a full-service civil and structural engineering firm headquartered in Virginia, with five additional offices in Virginia, Maryland and Michigan, as well as remote employees in multiple other states. ADTEK has been serving clients nationwide for over 37 years. Under Klaiman’s leadership, ADTEK maintains a dedicated steel framing group of 18 specialists across 5 offices, completing approximately 300 CFS projects annually.
“The vast majority of our work involves delegated-design, cold-formed steel shop drawings and exterior infill studs,” says Klaiman. “However, at any given time, we may also be managing two or three larger, load-bearing, multi-story projects.”
A recent project involved reimagining a four-story hotel, initially designed for wood framing, as a steel-framed structure.
“Anytime we can convert wood to cold-formed steel, I’m very happy about that,” says Klaiman.
By integrating detailed CAD/Revit models directly with Scottsdale’s design software, ADTEK is able to accelerate the steel framing design and fabrication process and offer exceptionally tight tolerances. The outcome is a compressed construction schedule, reductions in material waste and dimensional stability for the structure.
ADTEK Engineers earned the 2024 SFIA Award for Wagner College’s new locker rooms, a conversion from wood to steel framing, showcasing the strength, efficiency and light weight nature of cold-formed steel (CFS).
Volumetric Construction
ADTEK is helping shape the future of modular construction by engineering complete CFS modules—designed for transport, durability, rapid stacking and quick assembly on site.
“Modular is the way of the future for the right projects, and we’re happy to be on the ground floor with our partners,” says Klaiman.
ADTEK and one of its fabrication partners were able to deliver and stack more than 800 steel-framed modules to make up over 300 residential units in under twelve months. Klaiman says the effort amounted to one of the largest residential modular programs ever undertaken in the United States.
Designing 29-by-13-foot modules entirely from CFS presented engineering complexities, particularly around transport durability and lift-ready connections, notes Klaiman. But overcoming those challenges was a source of great satisfaction.
Standards and Compliance
Klaiman explains that CFS standards are currently being realigned following AISI’s decision to step aside as a steel standards development organization. Under this transition, deck design criteria will be administered by the Steel Deck Institute, metal-building provisions by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, steel framing standards by the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) and the North American Specification (S100) by the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Over the past year, Klaiman and other industry volunteers have worked diligently to re-establish governance and reconvene technical committees under these new organizations. By taking an active role in SFIA and AISC code-development meetings, ADTEK ensures that practical, field-driven insights will shape future steel framing revisions.
‘Do what you love’
As the framing industry continues to evolve, Klaiman emphasizes that engineers must stay engaged through committee participation and ongoing education. Yet above all, his guiding principle is simple:
“You just gotta do what you love,” says Klaiman. By embracing steel’s strength and versatility, engineers can lead the next generation of resilient, sustainable construction and keep CFS at the forefront of the construction industry, he says.
Read the original Scottsdale Construction Systems article.
About ADTEK Engineers
ADTEK Engineers, Inc. (ADTEK), founded in 1987, is a consulting firm with more than 50 design professionals firm-wide. ADTEK has offices in VA, MD, and MI, and offers broad-spectrum civil engineering, structural base building design, and specialty engineering services. ADTEK uses AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D and Revit™ Modeling software for the vast majority of design projects.
For more information, visit adtekengineers.com.
About Scottsdale Construction Systems
Scottsdale Construction Systems is a global company focused on research and development and the innovative development of light gauge steel technology for the house building and construction industries.
Scottsdale Construction Systems has been providing world leading solutions for the manufacture of steel frames and trusses for both the residential and commercial construction markets since its inception in 1995.
We are based in Australia and have North American operations and a rich history in the United States and North America. We have an established network here in North America and also in almost 100 countries worldwide.
For more information, visit scottsdalesteelframes.com.
Additional Resources
- ADTEK Engineers Wins SFIA Award for Volkswagen Headquarters in Virginia
- Scottsdale’s Mahsa Mahdavian and SFIA’s Don Allen Discuss Steel Framing Innovations
- SFIA’s Patrick Ford and Scottsdale’s Mahsa Mahdavian Discuss Steel Framing Standards and Certification
- ADTEK Engineers Wins SFIA Award for Mid-Rise, Mixed-Use Project in Cleveland
- Scottsdale Posts Comprehensive Guide to Steel Framing for Modern Construction