Construction is underway for a new steel framed 193-unit multifamily project in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The mid-rise development, Centreville on Mary, is the first major construction project in Chilliwack to use cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. At a recent construction conference, representatives from companies working on the project discussed the ‘significant’ benefits CFS provides to the cost, integrity and sustainability of the project.
An example of the cold-formed steel framing materials that will be used in the Centreville on Mary project.
Stakeholders Discuss ‘Purpose-Built” Project
At the 2022 Canadian Steel Conference, sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, a featured session covering the Chilliwack project included representatives from the following companies:
- Mann Group – real estate development company which specializes in commercial, industrial, retail, multi-family, and subdivision projects
- LifeTec Construction Group – renders, prints, and assembles light gauge steel structures using FRAMECAD 3D printed steel framing technologies
- Kasian Architecture – global architecture, interior design and planning practice
The presentation, “Purpose-Built Rental Apartments in Chilliwack BC: Opportunities and Challenges Working with Cold Form Steel (CFS),” covered the opportunities and benefits of CFS framed buildings and the implications for sustainability, cost, design and construction, noted the Journal of Commerce.
Project Revitalizes Downtown
The Centreville on Mary is being constructed on a three-acre lot of a former Safeway grocery store in downtown Chilliwack. Phase 1 of the project, started in April 2022, includes a pair of six-story buildings with one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.
This is the first project in Chilliwack to use CFS to frame a major construction building, according to the Chilliwack Progress.
Phase 2, expected to begin construction in 2024 once permits are approved, will be a mix of commercial, office and residential space.
The development is anticipated to be a key piece to the revitalization of the downtown core in the city of Chilliwack.
Making the World a ‘Better Place’ with Steel
The Centreville on Mary project includes a pair of six-story buildings with one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.
Inder Mann, president and CEO of the Mann Group, believes CFS framing will be a game-changer for how multifamily buildings will be constructed in the future.
“Wood frame is commonly used in low-rises and mid-rise structures, but we’re trying to change that,” said Mann. “Cold-formed steel provides significant advantages to the integrity of the structure, gives it long life and reduces the risk of fire.”
Mann cited several key benefits for the use of CFS as a structural material. He said that steel is:
- Non-combustible – safe, with lower insurance premiums
- Durable – less slumping and settling over time compared to wood, and termite resistant
- Resilient – tolerates moisture, does not need to dry out before the interior can be completed
- Consistent – ideal for structures that have regular, repeating geometry
“Developers are looking for an alternative to wood, and we want to replace as much wood with CFS as we can,” said Mann. “Anything that is made of wood can also be made of CFS – studs, prefab walls, joists and trusses, for example.”
Mann also discussed the sustainable benefits of steel framing. Steel is the most recycled material on the planet and production uses far less waste than other building materials. “I want to change the way people build, so that the world is in a better place when I leave it,” said Mann.
FRAMECAD Technology
LifeTec, a partner of SFIA member FRAMECAD, is manufacturing the steel for the Chilliwack project. They are the first organization to introduce FRAMECAD 3D printed steel framing technologies to Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, according to the company website.
LifeTec renders, prints and assembles CFS structures within an installed dimensional tolerance of 0.5mm (1/64 of an inch). The company has a 20,000 square foot building and 2-acres yard in Vancouver, B.C. “And we’ll be expanding soon because we need more space,” said Sukh Mann, business development manager at LifeTec.
Using CFS for the First Time
The BuildSteel eBook, “A Beginner’s Guide to Cold-Formed Steel Framing,” provides information on the basics of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and how to use it in a construction project. Download
Before using CFS for the first time, an initial educational process is required with the various stakeholders working on the project, said Mann.
The presenters noted that developers, construction consultants, trades and municipalities require some education to understand how to work with CFS. Inder Mann noted that steel may require some”‘time and effort” in the planning stage in order to get the architectural and engineering details right.
“The construction trades must spend time coordinating and confirming details before getting onsite with the steel,” he said. “Our framing team spends time in the LifeTec factory to make sure it thoroughly understands how to install CFS.”
“But, once the details are in place, the construction process proceeds smoothly, and faster than conventional wood frame construction,” Mann added.
Additional Resources
- Steel Framing a ‘Game Changer’ for British Columbia Apartments
- 5 Reasons to Use Cold-Formed Steel on Building Projects
- Leading By Design – The Benefits of FRAMECAD Cold Formed Steel Construction