Industrialized Construction Solutions Wins SFIA Sustainable Project Award for Las Vegas Industrial Park

The design-build team conceived the Sunset & Decatur Industrial Park industrial warehouse complex in Las Vegas, Nevada, as an energy-efficient alternative to tilt-up concrete construction. SFIA member Industrialized Construction Solutions, Inc., produced load-bearing, prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) panels. Some panels are as tall as 35 feet, for Phase 1 of the project. The panels allowed for a continuous insulated envelope using exterior rigid and cavity batt insulation — delivering superior energy efficiency.

Industrialized Construction Solutions, which engineered 287 tons of panelized CFS framing for the project, is the 2025 SFIA Industry Project and Product Awards winner for the industrial park project, winning in the Sustainable Project category. Matthew Comber of Industrialized Construction Solutions submitted the SFIA Awards entry.

Featured image: The Sunset & Decatur Industrial Park in Las Vegas features 287 tons of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. Images courtesy of Industrialized Construction Solutions, Inc.

The installer field-applied the exterior sheathing after the cold-formed steel (CFS) panels had been erected to keep panel weights as low as possible and eliminate the need for a high-capacity crane.

Industrialized Construction Solutions’ win was announced at the 2025 SFIA Awards ceremony held live recently and posted online. The SFIA 2025 Industry Project and Product Awards, an annual awards competition, focuses on CFS manufacturing and construction. Designers, manufacturers, distributors and contractors entered a variety of projects in the 2025 competition.

Design Quality

Did this project make efficient use of metal framing products?

Industrialized Construction Solutions helped conceive the project as an energy-efficient alternative to conventional tilt-up concrete construction.

Instead of using traditional framing methods, Industrialized Construction Solutions used load-bearing prefabricated CFS panels to construct six, 35-foot-tall warehouse buildings. The prefabricated wall panel design allowed for a continuous insulated envelope using continuous exterior rigid and cavity batt insulation. The design delivered superior energy efficiency, addressing the impact of evolving code requirements in Las Vegas.

The design-build team designed the wall system to integrate seamlessly with long-span roof trusses and interior mezzanines. It uses 8″ CFS framing for durability and alignment. The resulting solution provided:

• Short-term construction benefits
• Long-term operational advantages
• Avoidance of future retrofit needs
• Compliance with Las Vegas’ stringent energy ordinances

As the project began, Industrialized Construction Solutions employed a sheet steel shear wall Lateral Force-Resisting System. This system minimized weight and negated the need to field-apply strap bracing across multiple tall prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) panels.

Installation of the load-bearing, prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) panels began early each day in Las Vegas.

Installation Complexity

What difficulties existed on the project?

Industrialized Construction Solutions executed the framing system using prefabricated panelized cold-formed steel (CFS) construction across all six buildings. The system incorporated both load bearing wall panels and floor cassettes. The approach enabled efficient sequencing. Framing operations proceeded swiftly with a limited crew.

Due to the height of the wall panels — reaching up to 35 feet — the team elected to erect the CFS panels without sheathing to reduce weight. The lower weight also ensured safe handling during placement.

Subsequently, installers applied the sheathing in the field. The consistent installation rhythm across the site supported predictable scheduling. It improved labor productivity and helped maintain a high level of quality and control throughout the framing process.

The installing contractor staged long-span cold-formed steel (CFS) roof trusses on site and ready for installation.

Erection continues on the structural shell of Sunset & Decatur Industrial Park, Phase I, built entirely of cold-formed steel (CFS) products.

Manufacturing Complexity

Were special materials involved?

The scale and configuration of the warehouse complex presented unique framing demands. The buildings reach up to 35 feet in height. They incorporate both long-span CFS roof trusses and interior mezzanine levels supported by the exterior bearing walls. The structural design required heavy-duty assemblies.

Load-bearing wall panels used 8-inch CFS studs, while the mezzanines relied on long-span 1200S200-68 joists at 12″ o.c. spacing to support office loads. Under typical conditions, sourcing these large profiles at scale would necessitate special ordering and long lead times.

Instead, the project capitalized on CNC roll-formed panelization. The CNC machines enabled the panel fabricator to produce strong panel profiles on demand. This approach ensured full design flexibility without schedule disruption. It, thus, delivered consistent tolerances critical for the long-span, multi-building installation.

Industrialized Construction Solutions, Inc., produced this cold-formed steel (CFS) framed warehouse building, one of six framed with CFS components.

Long-span cold-formed steel (CFS) joists — a thick product with a 1200S200-68 designator — support the office mezzanines.

Overall Job Quality

How did the completed system turn out?

The CFS panelized framing system produced a clean, highly insulated envelope that met both aesthetic goals and high-performance operational targets.

Continuous insulation, air barrier continuity and tight panel tolerances contributed to an energy-efficient shell that will continue to provide investment returns to the owner over the life of the buildings through minimal energy costs.

All six buildings maintained consistent alignment, detailing, and visual uniformity — demonstrating repeatable success at scale across the development.

Cold-formed steel (CFS) load-bearing framing allowed for the support of both the exterior rigid insulation and the interior cavity batt insulation system.

The finished space, framed with cold-formed steel (CFS), is heavily insulated and much more energy efficient than a comparable tilt-up building.

Conversion from Another Material

How was conversion from the other material to metal framing achieved?

While initially conceived as a tilt-up concrete project, this development ultimately embraced panelized cold-formed steel (CFS) construction to better address future-facing energy standards and installation efficiency.

Recent ordinances passed in Las Vegas are going to make the use of traditional swamp coolers in tilt-up warehouses prohibitively expensive in coming years. The owner expects many tilt-up buildings in the area are going to need to be retrofitted with interior fur out wall framing to house batt insulation to improve energy performance.

The design-build team decided to build the structure using prefabricated panelized CFS load-bearing wall construction to serve “double duty” as both structure and an insulation cavity. Although initial build costs were modestly higher than tilt-up construction, the enhanced envelope performance is expected to yield significant lifetime energy savings — ultimately reducing total cost of ownership and increasing long-term asset value.

By opting for CFS, the team ensured compliance with new energy codes, accelerated the build schedule, and positioned the project for sustainable operational success. The finished six buildings provide an uncharacteristically beautiful aesthetic, superior build quality and long-term resistance to the wear and tear associated with these building types.

Industrialized Construction Solutions is the 2025 SFIA Industry Project and Product Awards winner for Sunset & Decatur Industrial Park, Phase I, in Las Vegas, winning in the Sustainable Project category.

Additional Resources

• The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) Names 13 Recipients of the 2025 Industry Awards
• SFIA Unveils 9 Winners of the 2024 Industry Project Awards
• SFIA Reveals 7 Winners of the 2023 Industry Project Awards in Online Ceremony