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Update #19: Cold-Formed Steel Used for Apartment Project, Pickleball Complex 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 in apartments in England, a pickleball complex in Florida and a fire station expansion in Massachusetts.

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Update #19: Cold-Formed Steel Used for Apartment Project, Pickleball Complex and Fire Station by Dan Snyder

Panelized Steel Framing Speeds Apartment Construction

A new 4-story apartment development at Stonedale in Croxteth, England, will deliver 27 affordable homes as part of a wider regeneration program. The project replaces outdated housing with modern apartments that improve energy efficiency and community stability. Cold formed steel (CFS) framing — manufactured off site for consistent construction and reliable delivery — provides the primary structural system.

Factory production allows manufacturers to produce CFS structural panels with consistent quality. This approach maintains tight construction schedules while supporting a safe build process.

The Stonedale development is part of a regeneration program focused on improving area housing. The use of CFS framing supports faster assembly and more predictable construction timelines. These benefits deliver new affordable housing while supporting the long-term renewal of the Stonedale community.

“Regeneration projects like Stonedale demand a delivery approach that prioritizes certainty from the outset,” says Martin Lynch, head of commercial at Mansell Building Solutions. “Our factory-first model allows key design and construction decisions to be locked in early, reducing risk and supporting a safer, more predictable build process on site.”

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Steel Trusses Strengthen Resilience of Pickleball Complex

The Fort Pickleball Complex in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, creates a new hub for competitive and recreational pickleball. The project transformed a 10-acre site into a facility with 43 courts and a dedicated pickleball stadium. Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing supports the project through steel truss systems that span key structures.


The project team designed the facility for long-term durability, performance and sustainability. To strengthen resilience against South Florida’s climate, the team used CFS framing truss systems and auger cast piles for the foundation. The team selected each material to address moisture, storms and long-term structural performance.

CFS framing truss systems provide structural strength while maintaining a lightweight profile. Manufacturers prefabricate the trusses so crews can install them quickly and maintain consistent quality. Their lightweight allows faster handling and placement during construction. These characteristics support efficient installation while maintaining long term durability in coastal conditions.

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Noncombustible Steel Framing Supports Fire Station Expansion

A fire station expansion and renovation in Gloucester, Massachusetts, highlights how steel framing supports modern public safety facilities. The project renovates 5,490-square-feet of the existing Lanesville Fire Station and adds 8,250-square-feet of new space. Crews install cold-formed steel (CFS) framing along the perimeter of the addition, forming the structural framework for the expanded facility.


Contractors connected the new structure to the existing station using welded structural connections. CFS framing and structural steel allow the project team to expand the station efficiently, while tying new construction into the original building.

CFS framing helped the project team deliver durable construction for a critical public safety facility. It provides a noncombustible structural system suited for a fire station. 

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