October 17, 2026 — Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing helps project teams shorten construction schedules by shifting work off-site and improving installation efficiency. Precision fabrication, digital coordination and predictable deliveries reduce rework and job-site congestion.
These 3 projects demonstrate how CFS saves months and manhours in a variety of projects, including hospitality, residential and healthcare.
1. Hotel Henrietta: 4 Floors in 3 Months
The 5-story Hotel Henrietta in New Orleans used load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) walls above a structural steel podium.
Crews installed 4 floors of framing in just 3 months. Traditional field framing would have required up to 8 months to complete the same work.
SFIA member Howick supplied the roll-forming technology used to manufacture the prefabricated wall panels.
Hotel Henrietta finished 4-months ahead of schedule using panelized cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.
Crews installed 4 floors of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing at New Orleans’ 5-story Hotel Henrietta in just 3 months, compared to up to 8 months with traditional field framing.
Factory-Built Panels Accelerate Construction
The project team combined digital planning with factory production to accelerate installation:
- Off-site fabrication: Teams manufactured load-bearing CFS panels and shipped them to the site for installation
- Digital precision: Revit and Strucsoft connected design with roll-forming equipment, labeling components and maintaining accurate window openings
- Reduced labor: 6 workers installed the panels, requiring about 1/3 the estimated on-site labor of conventional field framing
The project finished 4 months ahead of schedule. Precise fabrication also helped limit field adjustments while preserving the hotel’s architectural details.
Read the BuildSteel article on Hotel Henrietta.
2. Cleveland Clinic: CFS Pods Save 17,000 Trade Hours
Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, used prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) framed laboratory pods to streamline construction.
Each fully furnished pod weighed 10,000 pounds, creating engineering challenges during transportation, lifting and installation. SFIA member R.A. Smith engineered the freestanding CFS framing, lifting connections and load-transfer systems.
SFIA member raSmith engineered the framing and lifting systems for Cleveland Clinic’s 10,000-pound prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) laboratory pods.
Prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) laboratory pods reduced on-site carpentry by 40%.
Modular CFS Framing Cuts On-Site Carpentry by 40%
The project team developed a construction approach to address 3 critical requirements:
- Off-site fabrication: Crews assembled and furnished the research lab pods before transporting them to the job site
- Engineered lifting: R.A. Smith designed 4 lifting points along each long side, using CFS spreader beams to distribute loads
- Precision installation: Cranes lifted the pods to the second floor, where crews rolled them into position and anchored them
Engineers designed the CFS framing to limit deflection and protect interior finishes during transportation and installation.
The modular approach reduced on-site carpentry by 40%, eliminating 17,000 direct trade hours.
The project demonstrates how engineered CFS modular systems can reduce on-site labor while maintaining structural integrity.
Read the BuildSteel article on Cleveland Clinic.
3. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital: 294 Prefabricated Bathroom Pods
The $550 million SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital features 802,000-square-feet of space and 316 private patient rooms.
The project required extensive interior construction within a demanding schedule. SFIA member T.J. Wies Contracting prefabricated 294 cold-formed steel (CFS) framed bathroom pods using 25 different designs.
Off-site production advanced punch-list activities and helped save months on the construction schedule. The controlled production environment also helped crews complete prefabrication with zero lost-time injuries.
SFIA member T.J. Wies Contracting prefabricated 294 cold-formed steel (CFS) bathroom pods using 25 different designs for the $550 million SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.
A combination of 14- 16 and 18-gauge cold-formed steel (CFS) accommodated the complex geometry and top-lifting requirements of prefabricated, floorless bathroom pods.
Prefab Pods Shorten Construction Schedule
Prefabrication helped the team accelerate construction activities:
- Parallel production: Crews built bathroom pods off-site while structural steel work continued at the hospital
- Engineered framing: Crews used 14-, 16- and 18-gauge steel to support floorless bathroom modules during fabrication and lifting
- Assembly-line workflow: Teams completed framing, mechanical and electrical work, finishes, testing and inspections before scheduled deliveries
The customized pods accommodated tight spaces, unusual shapes and challenging room layouts.
The hospital opened on schedule and within budget.
Read the BuildSteel article on SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.
BuildSteel™ CFS Guide
The BuildSteel™ CFS 101 In Practice Guide highlights the value of project teams planning early. Its project examples show how coordinated CFS design can:Early collaboration also helps teams identify where CFS offers advantages over conventional framing systems. Those advantages depend on project requirements, structural layouts and construction methods, but they can often reduce costs and shorten construction schedules.
- Reduce structural weight
- Improve tolerances
- Support efficient construction
Accelerating Construction With CFS
These projects shortened construction schedules through different approaches:
- Panelized walls
- Integrated structural framing
- Prefabricated pods
Each relied on coordination between design, fabrication and installation to reduce job-site work.
Their results demonstrate how CFS can improve construction efficiency while reducing labor demands, costs and scheduling challenges.
Additional Resources
- 3 Award-Winning Projects Push the Limits of Cold-Formed Steel Design
- Howick: CFS Framing for Australian Housing Project Cost About 20% Less to Produce, Fabricator Says
- 10 Ways Steel Framing Solves Modern Construction Challenges