Speed and efficiency define today’s successful campus housing projects. Universities are meeting tight schedules by combining prefabrication with high-performance materials such as cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and cross-laminated timber. The Golden Oaks residence hall at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Golden Oaks Residence Hall is a recent example.
Prefabricated CFS wall panels and CLT assemblies helped cut the construction time of the Golden Oaks project by 25% compared with traditional methods. The project demonstrates how steel framing serves as the anchor of a hybrid design, balancing durability, cost and environmental performance.
Images provided by Western Michigan University.
Builders are using prefabricated cold-formed steel panels to cut construction time by 25% on Western Michigan University’s Golden Oaks Residence Hall, scheduled for completion in 2026.
Prefabricated Panels Deliver 25% Faster Build
When WMU announced plans for the 270,000-square-foot residence hall, design firm Hanbury and its partner, Christman Construction, proposed an off-site prefabrication strategy that paired cold-formed steel framing with cross-laminated timber floor slabs.
The project team assembled CFS wall panels, 3-ply CLT floor slabs and 11-foot-wide exterior panels with insulated metal framing off-site. This shortened timelines and controlled costs. It also reduced on-site labor and allowed work to progress in parallel. The team delivered design and cost documentation within six weeks and began construction a year ahead of conventional schedules.
According to Hanbury, the prefabrication strategy shortened the design and construction timeline by 25%. The result was a faster, safer and more predictable build.
“By combining prefabrication with design-build delivery, the team created a replicable model for future campus housing,” says Hanbury’s project summary.
The project summary emphasizes that the prefabricated metal panels stabilized costs, maintained quality and reduced weather-related delays.
Steel Framing Anchors Hybrid Structure
The hybrid structural system at Golden Oaks integrates steel and timber to achieve strength. The cold-formed steel wall panels provide precision alignment and load-bearing support for the CLT floor slabs above.
Each prefabricated steel panel was delivered ready for installation, enabling crews to complete entire sections in a single day. Each CFS panels’ light weight and high strength simplified coordination with the timber and glulam components, while maintaining the tight tolerances required for modular construction.
Hanbury reports that the hybrid system achieved an ideal balance between performance and economy. Steel helped to ensure structural stability and long-term durability. The combination of cold-formed steel and timber also optimized wood material use, reducing waste compared with conventional concrete or wood-only construction.
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Prefabrication: Cuts Overall Schedule by 1 Year
Off-site fabrication played a central role in meeting WMU’s aggressive project schedule. Christman Construction coordinated directly with steel panel manufacturers to ensure just-in-time delivery to the jobsite.
The prefabricated CFS assemblies arrived in sequence, minimizing storage needs and jobsite congestion. Crews lifted each panel into place using standard rigging equipment and secured them to the floor slabs with factory-formed connections.
This controlled panel installation process limited weather exposure and improved worker safety. It also reduced noise and disruption around the active campus environment.
Hanbury’s documentation credits the prefabricated steel and timber assemblies with reducing the overall project schedule from 3 years to approximately 2. That time savings translates directly into earlier occupancy, improved cash flow and reduced overhead costs for the university.
The Steel Framing Advantage
Cold-formed steel (CFS) leads the way as the preferred framing material for prefabricated structures for multiple reasons. CFS is:
- A pre-engineered material that can be cut to exact lengths
- Dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
- Lightweight compared to wood and concrete
- Resilient and will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements
- Sustainable and 100% recyclable
- Durable and has a high tensile strength
- Non-combustible and is a safeguard against fire accidents
Metal Panels Enhance Performance
Beyond speed, the cold-formed steel systems enhanced the building’s energy performance and architectural quality. The full-height metal wall panels incorporate 3 inches of continuous insulation, reducing thermal bridging and improving the building envelope.
Exterior facades feature a durable metal skin paired with floor-to-ceiling punched storefront windows. These systems align with the timber interiors to balance strength and warmth while ensuring long-term weather resistance.
According to WMU’s facilities team, specifiers selected materials for the Golden Oaks project to meet strict sustainability and maintenance criteria. The steel and metal assemblies provide corrosion resistance, long service life and easy recyclability — all priorities in WMU’s campus-wide sustainability plan.
Building with Strength and Vision
University leaders see Golden Oaks as both a construction milestone and a statement of institutional values.
“This project is an entirely different approach to a residence hall at Western,” said Barry Olson, associate vice president for campus life at Western Michigan University. “The use of advanced materials and a strong sense of connection to the wooded environment will provide a cutting-edge residence hall experience that adds warmth and a true sense of home.”
Olson also emphasized the project’s scale and significance. When it opens in fall 2026, the residence hall will house over 1,000 first-year students.
“We believe it is the largest residence hall project going on, certainly in the state [of Michigan], and possibly nationwide,” says Olson.
While the exposed timber ceilings and glulam beams draw attention, the steel systems ensure structural stability — and contribute directly to the bottom line. Prefabricated metal panels reduced field time, controlled costs and supported the project’s accelerated delivery.
The combination of precision-engineered steel framing and renewable timber products creates a model for sustainable campus housing.
On-Demand Course: Panelization for Cold-Formed Steel Wall Systems
In this free on-demand course, Pat Ford explains the types of cold-formed steel (CFS) panel systems available, their advantages over stick framing and other systems that interact with the wall system.
Model for Future University Builds
Western Michigan University’s Golden Oaks residence hall reflects a growing national trend toward hybrid construction using prefabricated steel framing. The integration of cold-formed steel wall systems, insulated metal panels and off-site manufacturing allowed the team to build quickly without compromising quality.
The WMU project demonstrates steel framing as a cornerstone of modern construction innovation. By serving as both a structural and logistical solution, CFS framing delivers measurable benefits — speed, precision and long-term value.
When students move into Golden Oaks in 2026, they will experience more than a new residence hall. They will live within a structure built on the strength and efficiency of steel framing — proof that modern construction’s fastest path to completion is built with metal.
Additional Resources
- Steel Framing Saves Money, Adds Extra Story on Student Housing Project
- Steel Success Stories: Poly Canyon Village Student Housing
- Steel Framing Helps Schools See the Light