Prefabricated CFS Lowers Costs, School Wins Award
In November, Australia’s most innovative and striking steel designs were honored at the 2024 Australian Steel Institute’s National Steel Excellence Awards held in Sydney, Australia. The event featured 48 winners from each state and territory competing across six categories, showcasing projects that demonstrated creativity, engineering ingenuity and a strong commitment to sustainability.
The Innovative Cold Formed Steel Building category was awarded to Glenelg Primary School in South Australia, submitted by MYT Framing Solutions. As part of the South Australia Government’s Department of Education upgrade program, Glenelg Primary School underwent a $7 million upgrade.
- The inclusion of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing in the design resulted in less steel being used, improving the life cycle assessment for the project
- A standard width of 11.2 ft (3.4 m) was adopted for each module to ensure ease of transport to the site, with lengths varying from 34.4 ft (10.5 m) to 40.7 ft (12.4 m)
- Each roof module was constructed with four or five trusses, weighing between 165 lbs to 309 lbs.
- The 17 tons of CFS framing required for the project were delivered in smaller, more manageable pieces, minimizing site costs and reducing on-site labor requirements
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“The prefabrication of some of the elements ensured for an efficient use of materials and less disruption to the school due to decreased construction time,” says the award judges. “The use of cold-formed steel ensured the design criteria were met and lends itself to modular construction.”
“This remarkable achievement showcases our team’s dedication, ingenuity, and passion for pushing the boundaries to elevate steel framing to new heights, ” says MYT Framing Solutions. “From curved walls to modular construction and prefabricated steel elements, this project sets a new benchmark in modern construction.”
Steel Framing Speeds Up Hospital Expansion, Allows for Two Extra Floors
The $118-million expansion of HCA Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, evolved from a horizontal to a six-story vertical patient tower featuring 90 rooms, a sterile processing department and space for a future cath lab and surgery suite.
Prefabrication was crucial. Backup panels were made of exterior cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and gypsum sheathing, assembled off-site and installed quickly on-site using a unitized curtain wall system. This modular approach allowed for the addition of two extra floors without delaying the project timeline.
Working within an active 24/7 healthcare campus, the project team expertly managed limited space and stringent access controls, ensuring uninterrupted hospital operations.
The successful use of prefabricated CFS components enhanced the medical center’s capacity and functionality. The project earned a ENR 2024 Mountain States Best Projects award in the healthcare category, recognizing its innovative design and expedited construction methods.
Steel Framing Supports Durable Affordable Housing
Construction has topped out on 6525 Queens Boulevard, a nine-story, 95-foot-tall affordable housing building in Queens, New York. Designed by Angelo Ng and Anthony Ng Architects Studio, the 23,861-square-foot structure includes 29 rental units, each averaging 823 square feet, and incorporates cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to ensure enhanced durability and structural integrity.
6525 Queens Boulevard incorporates cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to ensure enhanced durability and structural integrity.
With the main structure completed, crews started framing the building with metal studs in preparation for the installation of a metal-clad façade. The project is slated for completion in fall 2025, replacing a three-story convenience store and auto body repair shop.
The property, acquired for $2.73 million in October 2020, benefits from the use of metal studs, which facilitate efficient construction while contributing to the building’s longevity and sustainability.
Additional Resources
- Update #7: Cold-Formed Steel Framing for Historic Pump Station, Fire Station and Landmark Building
- Update #6: Cold-Formed Steel Framing for Student Housing, Luxury Condos and K-12 Schools
- Update #5: Cold-Formed Steel Framing for a Tech Center, Townhomes and Affordable Housing
- Update #4: A Mixed-Use Project, Prefab Student Housing and a Hospital Picks Steel Over Wood
- Update #3: A Steel-Framed Mosque, Prefabricated Student Housing and a Net-Zero Public Building
- Update #2: A Steel-Framed Training Center, Prefabricated Student Housing and ‘Zero Energy Ready Home’
- Update #1: A Steel-Framed Fire Station, Sustainable Steel Homes and a $320M Steel Factory