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Update #15: Cold-Formed Steel for Student Housing, Greenhouse and Fire Station

BuildSteel™ is dedicated to tracking the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing in projects across the globe. This post features CFS framing projects that showcase its ability to accelerate construction, support durable structures and keep projects on budget.

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Update #15: Cold-Formed Steel for Student Housing, Greenhouse and Fire Station (Video) by Dan Snyder

Student Housing Builders Achieve 18,000 SF/Week Production Rate with CFS 

In just 21 months, general contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. completed Phase 2 of the University of California, Riverside student housing project. The $285-million, 424,000-square-foot project adds much-needed student housing on the university’s main campus. Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing accelerated construction and improved overall quality.


According to Steve Farkas, director of business development at SFIA member CEMCO, the company “very likely supplied steel” for the UC Riverside student housing project. If so, CEMCO’s CFS framing members contributed to the project’s rapid construction pace and consistent build quality.

McCarthy used prefabricated CFS wall and floor panels to keep the project on schedule. McCarthy’s team manufactured the panels off site and delivered them just in time for installation, enabling production rates of 18,000-square-feet per week. Prefabrication also reduced site congestion and improved jobsite safety. The offsite work also maintained precision and consistency in the build.

“This project represents a breakthrough in how we think about access to housing and education,” says Sarah Carr, VP at McCarthy. “By delivering high-quality, affordable housing in record time, we’re helping expand opportunities for students and setting a new model nationwide.”

Read the full article.

Steel Framing Improves Light Distribution in Wisconsin Greenhouse

Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, a Colorado-based builder of energy-efficient greenhouses, completed a second aquaponic greenhouse in Crandon, Wisconsin. The 30′ × 78′ steel-framed structure expands the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe’s 2019 facility and increases year-round food production. Ceres Greenhouse Solutions built the structure with cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. The durable greenhouse will withstand northern Wisconsin’s harsh winters while maintaining a stable and efficient interior growing environment.

Ceres Greenhouse Solutions greenhouse in Crandon Wisconsin for the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe’s

Ceres Greenhouse Solutions completed this steel-framed greenhouse in Crandon, Wisconsin, for the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe, expanding year-round food production with a durable, energy-efficient design. Photo credit: Ceres Greenhouse Solutions

According to Ceres, steel framing provides several advantages over wood:

  • CFS requires fewer and smaller beams due to higher strength
  • C FS reduces shading over plants to improve light distribution
  • CFS allows faster erection for shorter construction timelines
  • CFS requires minimal maintenance and offers longer service life

The greenhouse includes a recirculating aquaponics system that produces 75,000 heads of greens and 1,000 pounds of fish annually. The harvest supports the Tribal Elder Food Box Program, providing nutritious foods to elders across Wisconsin.

Read the full article. 

Steel Framing Keeps $10 Million Fire Station Project on Budget

The new Fire Station No. 1 in Emporia, Kansas reached a milestone. City officials, firefighters and first responders signed the final steel beam during a topping out ceremony arranged by Crossland Construction. The 24,000-square-foot facility will open in January 2026 and expand space for fire and EMS operations. 


Structural and cold-formed steel (CFS) framing form the core structure of the fire station. The project’s mix of steel systems helped overcome cost increases and material delays. 

“You see structural steel on one side, and you see some cold-rolled steel framing on the other,” says DJ McClenny, vice president of Crossland Construction. “Those are some unique things with the project that helped us to get it on budget.”

The $10 million station includes a two-story apparatus bay, five truck bays and new living quarters for firefighters. The design enhances safety, privacy and morale for on-duty crews.

Fire Chief Brandon Beck described the project as “a gift for the future,” saying the team built it to serve the community for decades.

Read the full article. 

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