Photo Credit: Ryan Gootee General Contractors LLC
A new $20-million apartment and retail complex features a unique framing and flooring system that combines load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing with Ecospan® composite joists from Nucor Corporation, an SFIA member.
The innovative structural system is central to the design and construction of the 68,923-square-foot project in the historic Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, not far from the French Quarter.
2930 Burgundy: Apartments and Retail
The mixed-use complex, known as the 2930 Burgundy project, features two structures:
- Five-story residential building with 69 apartment units
- Two-story commercial building with 2,500-square-feet of ground-floor retail space, a rooftop pool and an indoor fitness center
The complex is designed to be Energy Star-certified. It incorporates a mix of durable and energy-efficient features, including energy efficient appliances, LED lighting, operable windows and stormwater retention.
The 2930 Burgundy complex will offer below-market apartments and market-rate units, bringing diverse housing opportunities and economic life to the area, Engineering News Record says.
Load-bearing, cold-form metal studs combine with composite joists to create an innovative and cost-effective framing and flooring system for the 2930 Burgundy project. Photos credit: Ryan Gootee General Contractors LLC
Ecospan Provides Labor and Economic Benefits
Ecospan’s proprietary Shearflex® fastener attaches the concrete deck to the steel joists, creating a T-shape that provides more support than the joist would by itself, according to ENR.
“The system basically takes the best features of related systems and [combines] them,” says Johann Palacios, CEO and owner of PACE Group – providing civil, structural and foundation engineering for the project.
Palacios says structural engineers have come to rely more on system combinations because of labor shortages and the escalating price of materials.
The Ecospan System can be supported by virtually every framing system, including cold-formed steel (CFS) load-bearing walls. Photo credit: Nucor Vulcraft
Ecospan’s high-strength to weight ratio makes it ideally suited for multi-story residential and commercial buildings. It incorporates the benefit of open web configuration along with 48” to 72” joist spacing, allowing for maximum design and installation flexibility of HVAC and electrical systems, according to the Nucor Vulcraft website.
Cost-effectiveness is an advantage of the lightweight framing system, which eliminates the need for a tower crane, according to ENR. “A tower crane can add a quarter-million to a half-million dollars to a project,” Palacios says.
The Ecospan Advantage
The Ecospan system from Nucor delivers several advantages:
- Simple and fast, providing a short learning curve for contractors
- Light weight, providing designers with options for lighter materials for supporting structures
- Shallow composite joists to reduce floor-to-floor heights
For more advantages, see Nucor Vulcraft website.
Steel Joists Allow for Higher Ceilings
With Ecospan, engineers gain added flexibility in a building’s design with steel joists that have high strength-to-weight ratios, allowing for greater spans and spacing with lighter members.
The joists allow for more room to run mechanical systems and allow for higher ceilings. This lowers overall building heights, an advantage in New Orleans’ historic areas that limit how tall buildings can be.
“Every inch of ceiling height becomes important when you’re trying to get a five-story building with only 55 ft,” says Chad Leibe, senior superintendent for RGGC, the general contractor for the project.
A Resilient, Long-Lasting Structure
The CFS system offers greater lateral resistance to counter heavy winds, while the metal bracing straps provide further reinforcement for interior walls. With a combination of concrete and steel supports, the structure is expected to have a longer-than-average life expectancy, according to ENR.
“The steel and concrete structure should give it a longer-than-average life expectancy and help it stand up to the New Orleans weather,” says Stephanie Mezynski, director of construction services for Green Coast Enterprises, developer of the project.
The 2930 Burgundy project officially broke ground in January 2021 and is on-track for a completion date of May 2022.
Additional Resources
- Steel Framing Featured in 47 Modular Housing Units for Senior Housing
- 3 Reasons Why Cold-Formed Steel is Ideal for Urban Infill Projects
- Cold-Formed Steel Helps The Fynn Go Vertical