These 3 projects demonstrate how steel framing conversions provided effective solutions for hospitality, education and adaptive reuse projects.

1. Grand Junction High School: CFS Frames 45-Foot-Tall Walls

The 3-story, 240,000-square-foot Grand Junction High School in Colorado features 154 tons of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.

The project team selected structural CFS for curtain walls rather than traditional concrete masonry units common in schools.

SFIA member ClarkDietrich supplied framing products and engineered wall systems for the project.

The 3-story, 240,000-square-foot Grand Junction High School in Colorado features 154 tons of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.

The cantilevered wing walls at Grand Junction High School required custom cold-formed steel (CFS) framing solutions to meet complex structural demands.

CFS Walls Improve Design Efficiency

The project team designed CFS framing for several complex building features:

• Curtain wall conversion: 3-story bypass CFS framing replaced CMU, with engineered headers over door and window openings
• Tall interior walls: Engineers designed 45-foot-tall walls with brick-veneer backing and framing for stadium-style seating platforms
• Cantilevered features: CFS framing formed wing walls that required custom engineering and detailing

The design also included metal-panel façades instead of brick in selected areas to reduce maintenance.

Engineers selected member sizes to meet structural loads without using excess steel.

The resulting CFS systems met complex design needs while reducing material use and helping control costs.

Read the BuildSteel article on Grand Junction High School.

2. Mullin Transportation Design Center: CFS Revitalizes Former Wind Tunnel

The Mullin Transportation Design Center in Pasadena, California, turned a former supersonic wind tunnel into a modern educational facility.

The 31,000-square-foot structure now houses design studios, viewing decks and design elements that appear to float within the building.

SFIA member CEMCO supplied cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for the project’s new interior assemblies.

The 31,000-square-foot Mullin Transportation Design Center in Pasadena, California, uses cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to transform a former supersonic wind tunnel into a modern educational facility.

Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing supports the Mullin Transportation Design Center’s building-within-a-building concept while minimizing structural loads on the historic structure.

CFS Supports Adaptive Reuse

The project team replaced wood and structural steel with CFS in several interior assemblies:

• Material conversion: CFS replaced heavier framing in partitions, soffits and ceilings, reducing structural weight and material costs
• Structural efficiency: Lightweight CFS helps create the building-within-a-building concept while minimizing loads on the existing structure
• Seismic separation: CFS framing allowed for the required separation between the new interior structure and the historic building shell

The new interior structure rests on 63 piles and grade beams. Cast-in-place concrete decks support the steel framing above.

CFS simplified installation, improved mechanical and electrical coordination and lowered construction risks.

The conversion kept the historic structure while creating modern learning spaces with unique design features.

Read the BuildSteel article on Mullin Transportation Design Center.

3. Avid Candlewood Suites: Designed for 124-Mph Winds

The 4-story Avid Candlewood Suites in Mission, Texas, originally called for wood framing.

The project team switched to load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for greater strength and efficiency. The conversion allowed off-site fabrication to reduce field labor and speed installation.

SFIA member Scottsdale Construction Systems supplied the roll-forming technology and software for producing the steel framing components.

The Avid Candlewood Suites in Mission, Texas, converted from wood to load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, is designed for 124-mph winds.

X-braced cold-formed steel (CFS) walls resisted lateral loads at Avid Candlewood Suites, while heavier first-floor members carried higher gravity and overturning forces.

Engineering the Conversion

The conversion required engineers to address structural loads, lateral stability and fabrication requirements:

• High-wind design: Engineers designed the framing for 124-mph ultimate wind speeds under Exposure C and Risk Category II criteria
• Lateral stability: X-braced CFS walls resisted lateral loads, while heavier first-floor members carried higher gravity and overturning forces
• Digital coordination: Scottsdale’s software linked framing layouts, structural analysis and fabrication data

Engineers also evaluated floor vibration, wall movement and vertical deflection to meet the hotel’s serviceability requirements.

The approach kept the original architectural design while using an engineered CFS framing system.

Read the BuildSteel article on Avid Candlewood Suites.

CFS for Better Building Solutions

These projects demonstrate how CFS conversions address structural, architectural and construction challenges.

Each project used a distinct conversion approach:

• Wood-to-steel framing for a 4-story hotel
• CMU-to-CFS curtain walls for a 3-story high school
• Heavy framing-to-CFS assemblies for adaptive reuse

Their results highlight how CFS conversions can improve structural efficiency, support architectural flexibility and reduce material demands.

Additional Resources

• 3 Award-Winning Projects Push the Limits of Cold-Formed Steel Design
• 3 Steel Framing Projects Show How CFS Framing Saves Time and Labor
• 10 Ways Steel Framing Solves Modern Construction Challenges

The post 3 Projects Switched to CFS And Solved Design and Construction Challenges appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Scottsdale Case Study: Cold-Formed Steel Framing Advances Mid-Rise Hotel Construction
• Scottsdale Case Study: Wood-to-Steel Conversion Advances Hotel Construction Project
• Maxan Interior Systems Earns SFIA Honors for Sculptural CFS Canopy in Etobicoke, Ontario

 

An 8,500-square-foot custom home in Texas demonstrates these capabilities. The residence incorporates multiple vaulted and cathedral ceilings, expansive interior spaces and complex structural steel connections.

SFIA member Scottsdale Construction Systems supplied the technology used to prefabricate the home’s CFS framing components. A 6-person crew erected the home’s steel framing in just 2 weeks.

Images provided by Scottsdale Construction Systems.

A 6-person crew erected the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing in this 8,500-square-foot Texas home in just 2 weeks using prefabricated components manufactured with Scottsdale roll-forming technology.

Meeting Custom Home Design Demands

In the article, “Beautiful Custom Premium Homes Built with Roll Forming Technology,” Scottsdale details the project’s coordinated framing approach. It shows how offsite manufacturing and field assembly helped bring the home’s design to life. 

The Texas home needed framing that fit its unique design and met strict material standards. Three needs shaped the design:

• Architectural Complexity: Varied ceiling shapes required custom framing and precise component dimensions
• Structural Integration: The design required connections between CFS framing and structural steel systems
• Material Selection: The homeowner specified no wood materials

CFS framing offered the flexibility and precise sizing needed for the project. Steel does not burn and resists termites, rot and warping from moisture, helping the home last longer.

Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing provided the precision needed to accommodate complex ceiling geometries and structural steel connections.

The Texas home’s distinctive architecture required customized framing solutions, with cold-formed steel (CFS) delivering dimensional accuracy and structural integration.

Precision Framing, 2-Week Installation

The project team manufactured CFS framing components that met the home’s specific design requirements.

• Offsite manufacturing produced consistent framing dimensions
• The crew of 6 erected the steel framing in just 2 weeks

Crews installed prefabricated CFS components alongside the home’s structural steel framing. The 2-week schedule shows how fabrication and careful planning can speed framing on custom homes.

Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing provides the precision and dimensional consistency needed to construct customized stair assemblies.

An aerial view shows how prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) framing integrates with structural steel systems.

Customized cold-formed steel (CFS) wall and roof framing demonstrates the versatility and precision of steel framing in premium residential construction.

A Model for Residential Construction

The Texas home shows how CFS framing can handle complex designs while saving construction time. Precise off-site fabrication and careful planning helped crews frame the custom home efficiently.

Read the Scottsdale article.

Additional Resources

• Scottsdale Case Study: Cold-Formed Steel Framing Advances Mid-Rise Hotel Construction
• Scottsdale Case Study: Wood-to-Steel Conversion Advances Hotel Construction Project
• Scottsdale: Modular Steel Warehouse Showcases Large-Span Cold-Formed Steel Design

The post CFS Components Produced With Scottsdale Tech Frame 8,500-Square-Foot Custom Home appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Louisiana Builders Turn to Steel-Framed Homes After Hurricane Ida
• Innovative Steel Design for Nine31 Apartments Earns CFSEI Award for McClure
• Cold Formed Steel Framing Expands Possibilities for Backyard Multilevel Deck

 

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.

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

The post 3 Steel Framing Projects Show How CFS Framing Saves Time and Labor appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Panel Prefabrication for an Austin, Texas, High Rise, Featuring ClarkDietrich Steel, Wins SFIA Honors
• Building Taller With CFS: 5 Steel Framing Engineering Decisions That Matter
• Building Taller With CFS: 5 Engineering Decisions That Matter

 

The publications cover structural connections, member reinforcement, lateral systems and wall framing. They provide engineering guidance on design considerations involving CFS members, connections and assemblies.

The updates include guidance on reinforcing members with holes, designing truss-to-bearing connections and addressing construction bracing for walls.

CFSEI develops its Technical Notes through industry experts and regularly updates the publications. The institute makes the resources available to engineers and other design  professionals.

The following publications cover several areas of CFS structural design and construction.

Connections and Member Reinforcement

Tech Note F501-26 — Cold-Formed Steel Truss to Bearing Connections

The updated Tech Note F501-26 provides educational guidance for building designers. It reviews the structural role of truss-to-bearing connections and the factors that influence their design. This updated tech note replaces F501-11.

As presented on BuildSteel, Tech Note F501-26 discusses the wind loads that truss-to-bearing connections may need to resist. It also examines responsibility for truss-to-bearing connection design. The technical note includes general design guidance and an illustrative design example, where the truss is bearing on a cold-formed steel (CFS) stud wall.

Tech Note G105-26 — Compression Member Reinforcement

Tech Note G105-26, recently updated, addresses reinforcement of CFS compression members, including wall studs and truss webs. It provides guidance for evaluating the strength of nonprismatic compression members that result from reinforcement.

Tech Note G900-26 — Design Methodology for Hole Reinforcement of Cold-Formed Steel Bending Members

Also updated, Tech Note G900-26 addresses design methodology for reinforcing holes in CFS bending members. The subject concerns reinforcement of members where openings affect the structural section.

Lateral Systems and Wall Framing

Tech Note L300-26 — Design of End Posts for Diaphragm Shear Walls: A Perspective

Need to address the design of end posts for diaphragm shear walls? This CFSEI document, Tech Note L300-26, focuses on a component of lateral force-resisting systems.

Tech Note W104-26 — Top Track Load Distribution Members

Tech Note W104-26 addresses top track load distribution members in CFS wall framing. The subject concerns the distribution of loads through the top track assembly.

Tech Note W106-26 — Design for Splicing of Cold-Formed Steel Wall Studs

Tech Note W106-26 addresses the design of splices in CFS wall studs. It focuses on engineering considerations for connecting stud segments.

Tech Note W200-26 — Header Design

The updated Tech Note W200-26 addresses header design in CFS wall framing. Headers provide structural support over openings in wall assemblies.

Tech Note W500-26 — Construction Bracing for Walls

Tech Note W500-26 addresses construction bracing for CFS walls. It concerns bracing considerations during construction, before the completed framing system provides its intended structural support.

Tech Note W601-26 — Design Methodology for Hole Reinforcement of Cold-Formed Steel Compression Members

Finally, Tech Note W601-26 addresses design methodology for reinforcing holes in CFS compression members. It complements the bending-member reinforcement subject covered in G900-26.

Access the Updated Technical Notes

CFSEI provides these Technical Notes at no cost to Corporate, Professional and Student Members. Members can download the publications through the Members Only section of the CFSEI website.

Nonmembers can purchase CFSEI Technical Notes through the CFSEI On-Demand page.

Additional Resources

• New CFSEI Tech Note Addresses Roof-to-Wall Wind Anchorage Design
• CFSEI Releases Tech Note J200-26: Vibration of Cold-Formed Steel Joist Framed Floors
• CFSEI Releases Updated Tech Note G500-25: Field Guide – Inspection Checklist for Structural CFS Framing
• CFSEI Releases Tech Note B011-25 for Engineers New to Cold-Formed Steel Framing Design
• CFSEI Publishes Tech Note F140-25: ‘Welding Cold-Formed Steel’
• CFSEI Publishes Tech Note L400-25: ‘Non-Bearing Cold-formed Steel Lateral Force Resisting Systems’
• CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on Evaluation and Remediation of Cold-Formed Steel Members and Connections
• CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Bearing Stiffeners
• CFSEI Publishes Tech Note on Hole Reinforcement of Cold-Formed Steel Compression Members
• CFSEI Publishes Technical Note on Strap Braced Wall Design, Loose Strap Considerations

The post CFSEI Releases 9 Updated Technical Notes on Cold-Formed Steel Framing Design appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Updated CFSEI Tech Note Addresses Roof-to-Wall Wind Anchorage Design
• Updated CFSEI Tech Note Explains Cold-Formed Steel Truss-to-Bearing Connections
• FAQ: What Is the Maximum Point Load for a Hanger Rod Attached to the Flange of a Roof Framing Joist?

 

National Council of Structural Engineers Associations Structural Engineering Summit

Date/Time

October 27–30, 2026

Location

Hilton San Francisco Union Square
333 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco, California 94102 USA

Registration & More Information

Overview

Hosted by the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, the annual Structural Engineering Summit brings together structural engineers, engineering firm leaders, researchers, manufacturers and students for technical education and professional development.

Highlights include:

• Technical education covering structural design, building codes, materials, engineering practice and emerging technologies
• Up to 13 Professional Development Hours available through expert-led educational sessions
• The Structural Engineering Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding projects and individuals in the profession
• Networking events connecting attendees with engineers, manufacturers and industry leaders from across the country
• Young Member programs, including mentoring, professional development and dedicated networking opportunities

Visit SFIA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #416)

The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) and Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) will exhibit at booth #416, where attendees can learn about cold-formed steel (CFS) framing resources, technical publications, industry programs and current initiatives supporting structural engineers.

Stop by the SFIA and CFSEI Booth #416 to explore cold-formed steel (CFS) framing resources, technical publications and programs supporting structural engineering professionals.

The Summit Exhibit Hall features more than 90 exhibitors showcasing structural engineering products, software, equipment and professional services.

Registration & More Information

The post NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit to be Held in San Francisco, CA (Oct. 27-30) appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

       

While some say 10 stories is the limit for CFS, what could a structural engineer do if he thought “outside the box”?

The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) decided to find out. The Association commissioned Patrick Ford, P.E., then principal at Matsen Ford Design in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and now SFIA technical director, to create a CFS-framed high-rise. In April 2016, at an American Iron and Steel Institute meeting, Ford unveiled the SFIA Matsen Tower, a 40-story residence named after his late partner, John P. Matsen.

The SFIA Matsen Tower has opened the door to a new way of incorporating CFS framing into high-rise buildings.

“It’s time for structural engineers and our future engineers in school to see what can be done,” said Don Allen, SFIA executive director. “CFS can rise much higher than was ever thought possible and taller than any wood structure ever conceived.”

The Matsen Tower elevations showing wider front and rear wall openings and narrower bearing wall openings on the building’s sides.

Why Build Taller With Cold-Formed Steel?

Is there a need to go skyward? Increasingly, the answer is yes.

According to the United Nations, urban population projections show growing demand for housing:

• 1950: The world’s urban population stood at 746 million.
• 2014: The urban population reached 3.9 billion, representing 54 percent of the world’s population.
• 2050: The UN projected 66 percent urbanization, adding 2.5 billion urban residents.

With limited urban space, building owners will increasingly meet housing demand by building taller. The more options they have for building vertically, the better.

Not all architects, engineers and contractors recognize CFS framing’s high strength and ductility. Some associate CFS primarily with interior partitions and exterior wall backup framing.

Is CFS suitable for load-bearing support of a 40-story building? The SFIA Matsen Tower concept suggests it is technically feasible. Its design challenges the perceived 10-story limit for conventional CFS studs and joists.

“While several very good technical review issues [of the tower] have been brought forth, we could formalize the design for construction,” Ford explained.

40 Stories Using Conventional CFS Framing

The SFIA Matsen Tower is a residential R3 apartment building. Ford limited the design to studs, joists and other members commonly used in CFS load-bearing construction. He specified industry-standard spacings of 12, 16 and 24 inches on center. He also permitted double studs, but only for repetitive framing members. The SFIA Matsen Tower uses standard CFS profiles and thicknesses, eliminating the need to develop specialized framing products.

The other ground rules applied to the tower: 10’-0” story heights and 25’-6” center-to-center demising wall spacings, which create roughly 25’ clear spans.

How can the SFIA Matsen Tower rise 40 stories primarily on CFS structural framing?

The materials list includes lightweight EPDM on metal deck roof, lightweight 1-1/2” gypsum concrete on structural 0.6 C deck floor, lightweight exterior wall finishes of architectural metal, EIFS, or finished exterior cement board panels.

Here are some details:

• Typical floor assembly: LWGC on 0.6 C deck on C joists with RC and a GWB ceiling.

• Corridor walls: These are also bearing walls, supporting the shallower corridor framing.

• Exterior walls: CFS studs, GWB and sheathing with rigid insulation and architectural metal panel, EIFS or cement panel. The front and rear walls are non-bearing, aside from their self-weight and the balconies.

• Aluminum balconies: Wing walls support balconies at each unit. Alternatively, brackets can connect the balconies to double studs or corner posts in the exterior walls.

• Vision areas: The design incorporates openings in the front and rear walls, with smaller openings in the end-unit bearing walls. Ford limited openings to 4 feet wide in bearing walls and 6 feet wide in typical exterior walls.

How CFS Studs and Concrete Cores Support the Tower

What makes the 40-story tower so solid? Structurally, it features repetitive C studs and joists for the primary gravity load-carrying frame.

The major CFS exception is the MWFR primary bracing. This is provided by reinforced, cast-in-place concrete shear cores at the elevators and stairs.

The Matsen Tower design specifies reinforced, cast-in-place concrete shear cores at the elevators and stairs. The 7,000-psi concrete walls range from 8 inches thick at the top to 20 inches at the bottom.

Ford designed the tower to withstand wind speed gusts as high as 115 mph.

“This could be built in the vast majority of the United States,” Ford said. “Hurricane coastal areas could be an issue. High seismic might be an issue, but I don’t think so.”

Specifically, Ford designed the C studs to withstand worst-case wind loads and eccentric axial loads from the joists. He specified deflection limits of L/360 for wall members and L/480 under live loads for floor members.

Stud Spacing and Prefabrication: Two Critical Design Decisions

If the SFIA Matsen Tower were built, two elements would be critical: The first involves the spacing of CFS studs. Load would be distributed from bearing studs above to studs at different spacing below.

The Matsen Tower stud offsets at spacing changes are identical throughout.

The design introduces stud offsets at two locations. At the 34th story, stud spacing changes from 24 inches to 16 inches on center. At the 30th story, spacing decreases from 16 inches to 12 inches on center. These transitions require continuous HSS 6 × 3 × 1/4-inch and HSS 6 × 4 × 5/16-inch tubes, respectively, with top and bottom plates.

The tower’s second critical requirement involves wall prefabrication. Fabricators must fully seat each stud against the track and compress adjoining stud webs in a fixture before welding. Engineers strongly recommend welded connections.

Bridging forces would accumulate in the walls. Intersecting and reverse-oriented CFS members, along with corner members, would resist these forces. Engineers could also incorporate occasional tee braces, but only at the uppermost levels.

Even with axial forces of over 60 kips per member, double studs would work completely unbraced at lower levels.

Could CFS Framing Reach 48 Stories?

In the end, the SFIA Matsen Tower is a conservative design. Few load reductions were used in calculating the requirements of the CFS members. For example, wind load weighs heavily into the moment of each CFS stud. But, wind load was not reduced as it could be, which would allow for more framing economies.

Also, the live load reductions for the walls were based only on the incoming tributary load area from each joist at the wall member. With the tributary area calculated per supporting member as one third of the incoming span, and the wall as a discrete bearing element — an entirely acceptable methodology in some circles — the height of the SFIA Matsen Tower becomes 48 stories.

Will building owners clamor to erect 40-story CFS-framed structures? Maybe in the future, if the design proves to be economical.

“We make no claim that this is the most efficient way to do a 40-story tower,” Ford said.

Still, the SFIA Matsen Tower shows how CFS’s strength benefits are much greater than many architects, engineers, and contractors may realize.

According to Ford, “Cold-formed steel has far greater capacity than it’s being used for.”

To explore the benefits of incorporating cold-formed steel in your building projects, get in touch.

Additional Resources

• CFS 101 in Practice: Real-World Examples of Project Teams Using Cold-Formed Steel
• Cold-Formed Steel Framing Passes 10-Story Earthquake Challenge
• Advancing Cold-Formed Steel in Mid-Rise Buildings
• Prefabricated Cold-Formed Steel Panels Cut Costs, Speed Construction of 7-Story Tucson Apartments
• Scottsdale Case Study: Cold-Formed Steel Framing Advances Mid-Rise Hotel Construction

The post How High Can You Construct a Building with Cold-Formed Steel Framing? The Answer May Surprise You appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• McClure Earns 2026 CFSEI Award for 10 World Trade CFS Framing
• CFSEI Webinar: Roles and Responsibilities for Success with Cold-Formed Steel Framing (Aug. 26)
• Salas O’Brien Receives 2026 CFSEI Award for Barclays Center CFS Platform

 

Webinar on Structural Floor Systems for Cold-Formed Steel Structures

Sponsor

Sponsored by the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI)

Date/Time

Thursday, October 29, 2026
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET (1+ hour of lecture, followed by discussion and questions – 1.5 hours total)

Register

Audience/Continuing Education

This webinar is for engineers, architects, building officials and contractors.

Cost

• Individual Registration (1 Participant Only)
  • $50.00 (member)
  • $75.00 (non-member)
• Site Registration (More than 1 Participant)
  • $125.00 (member)
  • $200.00 (non-member)
• Student Members
  • Free

The CFSEI webinar explores structural floor systems for cold-formed steel (CFS) construction, including their design, performance, installation requirements, advantages and limitations.

Webinar Details

The CFSEI-sponsored webinar will provide a comprehensive review of structural floor systems available for cold-formed steel (CFS) construction, including:

• 2- and 3-inch deck
• Dovetail deck
• Deep deck
• Cold-formed steel trusses
• C-joists
• Joists with service openings
• Steel Joist Institute joist and deck systems
• Composite joists
• Precast plank

Each system will be examined using 3D renderings and section details, with discussion of design attributes, load capacities, span ranges for various applications, deflection criteria, vibration performance, installation requirements, and fire ratings.

The webinar will also explore the advantages and limitations of each system to better understand how to select and specify appropriate floor systems for different project conditions.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and differentiate the primary structural floor systems available for CFS construction and their appropriate applications
• Evaluate floor system performance using load capacities, span ranges, deflection criteria, and vibration requirements
• Assess fire ratings and installation requirements that influence the safety and performance of structural floor systems
• Compare the advantages and limitations of different floor systems to select appropriate solutions based on structural, performance, and project requirements

Webinar Materials

On the day before the webinar, participants will have access to electronic versions of the following:

• Presenter’s notes
• Evaluation form
• Attendance form

Presenter

Francois Dutil, P.E., Bailey Metal Products Ltd.

Francois Dutil, P.E.
Bailey Metal Products Ltd

Francois Dutil, PE is the Director of COMSLAB & LSF at Bailey Metal Products Ltd. He is responsible for the introduction of the COMSLAB® floor system to the US market. Francois, a registered Professional Engineer, has 30 years of experience with companies like Hambro, Canam Steel and now Bailey with focus in product development, business development, estimation, engineering and fabrication of steel components for the construction industry.

Register

The post CFSEI Webinar: Comparing Floor Systems for CFS Construction (Oct. 29) appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

       

SFIA184: Cold-Formed Steel EPDs: What Designers Need to Know (Live Webinar)

Date/Time/Cost

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
2:00 pm (ET) / 11:00 am (PT)
Free

Register

Sponsor

AIA Continuing Education

This course is registered with AIA CES and participants will earn 1.25 “Learning Unit” in the “Health, Safety, Welfare” category. Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members.

This course also qualifies for 1.25 PDH under the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Description

The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) has published an industry-average Environmental Product Declaration for cold-formed steel (CFS) framing products, developed from primary data contributed by 12 manufacturers. The life cycle assessment was conducted by WAP Sustainability, the declaration was independently verified, and it is published under the UL Solutions EPD program in conformance with ISO 14025 and ISO 21930:2017.

This session explains how the declaration was developed, what its cradle-to-gate results represent and how design professionals can use it correctly. Attendees will learn to read the reported impact data and its statistical range across participating facilities, to recognize the limits the standard places on comparison and on manufacturer-specific claims, and to determine where an industry-average EPD supports specification and green building documentation and where a manufacturer-specific EPD is required instead.

SFIA’s new industry-average EPD provides independently verified environmental impact data for cold-formed steel framing products.

Learning objectives

1. Explain how an industry-average Type III Environmental Product Declaration is developed and verified under ISO 14025 and ISO 21930, including the distinct roles of the declaration owner, the LCA practitioner, the program operator and the independent verifier
2. Interpret the environmental impact results reported in the SFIA industry-average EPD, including the cradle-to-gate (A1 to A3) system boundary, the one metric ton declared unit, the reported recycled content and the statistical range across participating facilities
3. Identify the boundaries and permitted uses of an industry-average EPD, including why results may not be used to compare products outside a whole-building functional unit and why an industry average does not represent any individual manufacturer’s performance
4. Apply industry-average EPD data in specification language and in green building program documentation and determine when a manufacturer-specific or product-specific EPD is required instead

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What do engineers need to know about building tall, load-bearing structures with cold-formed steel? Building taller involves more than increasing structural capacity. Engineers must address gravity loads, lateral forces, floor systems, fire resistance and construction logistics.

Recent projects illustrate how design teams can tackle these challenges.

• The 40-story SFIA Matsen Tower, unveiled in 2016, demonstrated the conceptual potential for incorporating CFS framing into high-rise construction.
• The 7-story West Point II Apartments in Tucson, Arizona, substituted built-up CFS stud packs for structural steel components, saving more than $1 million
• The design of the 8-story Element Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, combined load-bearing CFS walls, floor joists and structural steel into a precise, repeatable framing system
• Researchers subjected a 100-foot-tall, 10-story CFS building to 18 earthquake simulations, which delivered data demonstrating the building’s resilienc

Together, the Matsen Tower concept design and these 3 projects reveal five engineering decisions that can shape the success of taller CFS buildings.

1. Design an Efficient Load Path

Tall CFS buildings require engineers to manage increasing gravity loads across successive floors. Wall placement, structural connections and floor systems determine how those loads reach the foundation.

Vertically aligned bearing walls offer one approach. By stacking CFS bearing walls, engineers can reduce the need for heavy structural transfer systems.

SFIA Matsen Tower: A 40-Story CFS Concept

In 2016, SFIA unveiled the 40-story Matsen Tower, a conceptual residential high rise designed by structural engineer Patrick Ford, P.E. The tower honored Ford’s late partner, John P. Matsen.

Unveiled in 2016, the 40-story SFIA Matsen Tower concept demonstrated the potential for cold-formed steel (CFS) framing in high rise residential construction.

The design explored how conventional CFS framing could support high-rise construction without requiring specialized framing products. Its engineering parameters included:

• Conventional framing: Standard CFS studs, joists, profiles and thicknesses
• Stud spacing: Typical 12-, 16- and 24-inch on-center configurations
• Building geometry: 10-foot story heights and approximately 25-foot clear spans
• Lightweight assemblies: Gypsum concrete floors, metal-deck roofing and lightweight exterior finishes
• Lateral resistance: Reinforced concrete shear cores with walls ranging from 8 to 20 inches thick
• Wind design: A 115-mph design wind speed

Additionally, Ford explored engineering assumptions that could potentially extend the concept to 48 stories. Although the tower remains unbuilt, its design illustrates how conventional CFS products could support ambitious high-rise concepts.

West Point II: CFS Replaces Wood and Concrete Podium

Specialty engineer Industrialized Construction Solutions used vertically aligned bearing walls at West Point II Apartments in Tucson. Tori Contracting handed cold-formed steel prefabrication for the project.

The original design called for 5 stories of wood atop a 2‑story concrete podium. However, a feasibility analysis showed such a design would strain the project budget.

“The project team instead designed a full cold-formed steel superstructure,” says the BuildSteel case study. The project earned a Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) Efficient Use of CFS Framing Award.

CFS Stud Packs Help Save $1 Million

Engineers aligned load-bearing CFS walls from the upper residential floors through the first-floor amenities to the foundations. Two design decisions proved especially important:

• Aligned CFS bearing walls: Eliminated concrete and structural steel transfer systems
• Built-up CFS stud packs: Replaced HSS for shear wall hold-downs and balcony supports, saving more than $1 million

However, the project still required some conventional structural steel. Engineers incorporated limited wide flange moment frames around large first floor storefront openings.

West Point II demonstrates how early structural planning can improve a project’s financial feasibility. Coordinating bearing walls and load paths can eliminate costly transfer systems while maintaining structural performance.

By vertically aligning bearing walls, Industrialized Construction Solutions streamlined the structure and improving construction efficiency. The West Point II project won an SFIA Award.

Crews framed the 7-story West Point II apartment building in just 75 days using prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) panels from Tori Contracting. The approach cut roughly 3 months from the overall construction schedule. The project also featured noncombustible subfloors using USG STRUCTO-CRETE® panels. Photo courtesy of Industrialized Construction Solutions

2. Coordinate Walls, Floors and Connections

Load-bearing walls cannot function independently of the floors they support. Engineers must design these components as an integrated structural system.

Key engineering considerations include:

• Gravity loads: Floor joists transfer loads to bearing walls
• Lateral forces: Diaphragms distribute lateral loads, while connections maintain structural continuity
• Longer spans: Engineers must evaluate strength, deflection and vibration while coordinating framing with architectural layouts and building services

The 8-story Element Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, demonstrates this integrated approach. The 110,000-square-foot hotel used load-bearing CFS walls and floor joists as its primary structural framing package.

US Frame Factory manufactured the components using technology from SFIA member Scottsdale Construction Systems.

The 110,000-square-foot, 8-story Element Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, features load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) wall framing and floor joist systems manufactured by US Frame Factory. Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Construction Systems

The Element Hotel incorporated several notable engineering features:

• Floor spans: CFS joists accommodated room spans of 15 to 20 feet
• Wall framing: Engineers specified 24-inch-on-center CFS framing throughout guest rooms and corridors
• Hybrid integration: On lower floors, engineers coordinated CFS framing with structural steel
• Wind resistance: Engineers designed the framing for a 112-mph basic wind speed
• Seismic design: The project met Seismic Design Category B and Site Class D requirements

These details demonstrate the coordination that taller CFS buildings demand. Engineers must resolve structural interfaces, connections and floor assemblies before fabrication begins.

Load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing integrated with structural steel on the lower floors to create a coordinated structural system at the Element Hotel. Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Construction Systems

3. Address Seismic Performance and Height Limits

As buildings rise, lateral-force resistance becomes increasingly important. Engineers must address several critical challenges:

• Wind and seismic loads: Taller buildings place greater demands on shear walls, diaphragms, connections and anchorage systems
• Building drift: Excessive movement can damage structural and nonstructural components, even when the building remains stable
• Code limitations: In high-seismic regions, current provisions limit certain CFS lateral-force-resisting systems to 65 feet

The 65-foot restriction does not establish a universal height limit for CFS buildings. Engineers have already constructed CFS buildings reaching 10 stories and higher using appropriate structural systems.

However, researchers have now investigated whether CFS systems can safely exceed existing seismic design limits. Their findings could help expand future applications of load-bearing CFS framing.

The 10-story CFS10 test building at UC San Diego exceeded current code seismic height limits and served as the centerpiece of extensive research. Copyright 2026 Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI). Used with permission.

Lynn Padgett of ClarkDietrich Engineering Services explains the design of the 10-story CFS10 test building during the 2026 CFSEI Expo keynote address in Long Beach, California. Photo: Marco Johnson

A 10-Story Building Faces 18 Earthquakes

At the University of California San Diego, researchers constructed a full-scale, 10-story CFS test building known as CFS10. CFS10 is the capstone project within the larger Cold-Formed Steel—Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (CFS-NHERI) research program. 

The CFS10 design team, led by Lynn Padgett with the engineering group at SFIA member ClarkDietrich, pushed beyond conventional construction practices. Engineers specified all-steel framing, CFS joist floors and roof systems, eliminating concrete toppings and other wet construction methods.

The 10-story structure combined panelized construction and modular techniques. Researchers also incorporated ledger framing and higher-capacity components to explore structural solutions beyond current high-seismic design limits.

The approximately 100-foot-tall CFS10 structure incorporated several structural features:

• Shear walls: Steel-sheet-sheathed walls resisted lateral forces
• Floor diaphragms: Dry floor diaphragms transferred lateral forces
• Lateral systems: Continuous tie rods resisted forces in one direction, while HSS chord studs and hold-down assemblies served the other

The research team installed more than 1,000 sensors throughout the building. Those instruments monitored structural movement, wall behavior, diaphragm performance and nonstructural systems.

Results Show CFS’s Seismic Resilience

Researchers conducted 18 earthquake simulations, including two Maximum Considered Earthquake motions. The building demonstrated strong seismic performance:

• Design-level earthquake: Peak interstory drift remained below approximately 0.5%
• Maximum recorded drift: Drift ratios reached approximately 1.2% during testing
• Structural condition: The building remained plumb, with no major structural distress observed

Researchers documented localized damage to finishes and wall interfaces. Independent assessors estimated less than $150,000 in repairs following the two Maximum Considered Earthquake motions.

Researchers continue analyzing the results to improve numerical models and support future standards development.

Cold-formed steel framing (CFS) and steel-sheet-sheathed shear walls were among the structural systems evaluated in the 10-story CFS10 testing program. Copyright 2026 Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI). Used with permission.

4. Evaluate Fire Resistance and Floor Systems

Structural capacity alone does not determine a building’s allowable height. Construction classifications, occupancy requirements and fire-resistance ratings also influence the design.

CFS framing offers an important characteristic: Steel is noncombustible. However, engineers must evaluate complete wall and floor assemblies to establish the required fire resistance.

Floor-system selection also influences building weight, construction sequencing and coordination among trades. Two projects illustrate how engineers addressed these considerations:

• Two-hour fire-rated floor assembly: At the Element Hotel, engineers incorporated load-bearing CFS joists into a tested two-hour fire-rated floor and ceiling assembly. The system required no concrete topping slab.
• Lightweight CFS joists: At the West Point II Apartments, engineers replaced the specified concrete-filled metal deck with a lightweight CFS joist floor system. The revised system maintained acoustic and fire-performance requirements while eliminating separate concrete floor pours.

At West Point II, the revised floor system also helped consolidate framing work under one subcontractor. This simplified trade coordination and construction sequencing.

The lesson extends beyond selecting a fire-rated assembly. Engineers should evaluate structural performance, floor construction and code requirements together during early design.

The tested two-hour fire-rated floor assembly at the Element Hotel integrated load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) joists without requiring a concrete topping slab. Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Construction Systems

Cold-formed steel (CFS) floor joists and noncombustible STRUCTO-CRETE® structural panels from SFIA member USG helped West Point II’s owner reduce insurance costs compared with wood construction. Photo courtesy of Industrialized Construction Solutions

5. Plan Prefabrication Before Construction

Tall CFS construction requires precise coordination across multiple floors. Fabrication methods, installation sequencing and job-site constraints can influence the project’s schedule and cost.

Prefabrication can help teams manage those demands. Factory-produced components offer consistent dimensions and reduce the amount of framing work crews must complete on-site.

However, effective prefabrication starts with engineering decisions, not manufacturing equipment.

West Point II illustrates that connection. Its downtown Tucson site offered limited space for staging materials and equipment. The project team adopted several prefabrication strategies:

• Panelized framing: Crews assembled prefabricated CFS wall panels to accelerate construction
• Reduced crane time: The team shipped panels without sheathing to reduce weight and minimize lifting demands
• Digital fabrication: Custom software transferred engineering data from Revit models into shop drawings and roll-forming files

The project used 251 tons of CFS framing across 77,000 square feet. Crews erected the 7-story structure in just 75 days. According to the project team, the CFS framing process saved roughly two to three days per floor.

The Element Hotel succeeded due to substantial advance coordination. Its project timeline included:

• Planning: One year of preparation before fabrication
• Manufacturing: Approximately eight months producing framing components
• Installation: A 12-person crew erected the structural framing package

These projects demonstrate the relationship between design coordination and construction efficiency. Project teams can simplify field installation by resolving component details and sequencing before production.

At the Element Hotel, extensive advance planning and eight months of prefabrication streamlined installation of the cold-formed steel framing by a 12-person crew. Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Construction Systems

At West Point II Apartments, crews used cranes to lift cold-formed steel (CFS) wall panels prefabricated by Tori Contracting and shipped without sheathing to reduce weight and crane time. Photo courtesy of Industrialized Construction Solutions

Where Should Project Teams Begin?

These projects offer a practical framework for taller load-bearing CFS buildings. Architects, engineers, fabricators and contractors should establish the structural strategy early in design.

Start with structural feasibility. Engineers should evaluate bearing-wall alignment, floor spans, gravity loads and lateral-force-resisting systems.

Establish code requirements. Construction type, occupancy, fire resistance and seismic provisions can influence building height and structural configuration.

Plan for fabrication. Coordinating component dimensions, connections and installation sequences early can help teams avoid costly field changes.

Building Taller: Is CFS Ready for the Skyline?

The engineering evidence continues to grow. Seven-, eight-story and 40-story designs demonstrate the practical applications of load-bearing CFS framing in mid-rise construction.

The Matsen Tower stud assemblies are designed for the worst case combination of uniform lateral and eccentric live and total load from the joists.

Advances in engineering and seismic research could expand opportunities for taller load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) buildings, pushing structural design beyond current limits.

West Point II shows how efficient structural layouts can eliminate costly transfer systems. The Element Hotel demonstrates the importance of coordinating the design and installation of walls, floors and structural connections.

The CFS10 research adds another dimension. Its seismic results could inform future structural systems and design standards for taller CFS buildings.

Yet the most important decisions still occur before construction begins. Project teams must evaluate loads, code requirements, structural designs and construction strategies together.

Building taller with CFS is not simply about adding stories. It requires designing the entire building around a coordinated structural system.

As engineering methods advance, that approach could expand opportunities for load-bearing CFS framing in taller buildings.

Additional Resources

• CFS 101 in Practice: Real-World Examples of Project Teams Using Cold-Formed Steel
• Cold-Formed Steel Framing Passes 10-Story Earthquake Challenge
• Advancing Cold-Formed Steel in Mid-Rise Buildings
• Prefabricated Cold-Formed Steel Panels Cut Costs, Speed Construction of 7-Story Tucson Apartments
• Scottsdale Case Study: Cold-Formed Steel Framing Advances Mid-Rise Hotel Construction

The post Building Taller With CFS: 5 Steel Framing Engineering Decisions That Matter appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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These 3 projects, recognized by the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI), turned ambitious architectural concepts into buildable structures.

1. The (W)rapper: Framing Complex Curves

The (W)rapper rises 235 feet above Los Angeles, featuring 7 stories of unconventional architecture and sweeping exterior bands. The building challenges traditional construction with curved surfaces, unusual angles and cantilevered elements.

Lochsa Engineering designed the specialty cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, including complex hyperbolic wall trusses that curve in multiple directions.

The 235-foot-tall, 7-story (W)rapper features sweeping exterior bands, unconventional geometry and cantilevered elements. Its distinctive architectural design challenges traditional construction methods.

Lochsa Engineering designed complex cold-formed steel (CFS) hyperbolic wall trusses that curve in multiple directions. Engineers used finite element analysis to develop framing connections that accommodate seismic loads and building movement.

Engineering Challenges Behind the Curves

The project presented several demanding engineering challenges:

• Complex geometry: CFS trusses followed curved wall surfaces that required specialized framing details
• Seismic performance: Connections needed to accommodate substantial building movement and lateral loads
• Unusual openings: CFS headers and jambs framed windows that wrapped around corners at varying angles

Engineers used finite element analysis to evaluate loads, deflections and connections across the building’s unusual geometry.

Corner conditions required the window systems to “wrap” the building at 90-degree angles, which required a cantilevered low wall design.

The design also required intricate CFS framing around exterior cantilevered stair systems.

These engineering solutions helped achieve the building’s distinctive architectural design while addressing demanding structural requirements.

LG3.21 hyperbolic wall sections at The (W)rapper, courtesy of Lochsa Engineering.

Read the BuildSteel article on The (W)rapper.

2. Sphere at the Venetian: Prefabricating Unusual Geometry

The Sphere at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas features a massive, globe-shaped exterior. Beneath it, a distinctive collar curves and slopes around the building’s base.

Ensign Engineering and Landing Surveying designed custom cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to support the collar’s exterior insulation and finish system.

Unlike conventional walls, the collar changes in height, radius and slope as it wraps around the building.

The $2.3 billion Sphere features a massive, globe-shaped exterior above a distinctive collar that curves around its base. Custom cold-formed steel (CFS) framing supports the collar’s complex geometry.

Ensign Engineering designed 142 custom cold-formed steel (CFS) panels, ranging from 6 to 9 feet wide and reaching 38 feet tall. Some panels slope nearly 15 degrees from vertical.

CFS Panels Simplify Installation

The engineering team developed a prefabricated cold-formed steel framing solution to address several challenges:

• Unique panel geometry: The collar required 142 custom CFS panels ranging from 6 to 9 feet wide, with some reaching approximately 38 feet in height
• Precision fabrication: Automated equipment cut, punched and labeled components to match the engineered panel designs
• Specialized connections: Custom “handshake” connections supported sloping panels and maintained precise alignment around the curved structure

Crews assembled the panels and applied exterior finishes off-site before installation. Prefabrication reduced on-site construction time and limited the amount of work performed at elevated locations.

The approach demonstrated how CFS panelization can simplify construction while accommodating highly irregular architectural geometry. Some of the panels had slopes nearly 15 degrees from vertical.

Ensign Engineering coordinated with KHS&S Contractors and STUD-IO to design the panel connections for The Sphere at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

Read the BuildSteel article on Sphere.

3. 10 World Trade: Engineering Sweeping Ceilings

At Boston’s 10 World Trade, cold-formed steel (CFS) framing helped deliver sweeping architectural features throughout a 17-story, 555,250 square foot, mixed-use building. McClure engineered radiused, non-bearing CFS systems for ceilings, exterior canopies, façade framing and interior walls.

The project’s curved ceilings presented particularly demanding structural and coordination challenges. Heavy wood panels required substantial support, while crowded ceiling spaces contained mechanical, electrical and fire-protection systems.

The 17-story, 555,250-square-foot 10 World Trade building features sweeping ceilings, exterior canopies and radiused walls. Cold-formed steel (CFS) framing helped achieve these distinctive architectural features.

McClure engineered radiused, non-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) systems for 10 World Trade, including curved ceilings, canopy eyebrows, façade framing and interior radiused walls.

Balancing Complex Design and Structural Demands

McClure developed a flexible framing approach using radiused backer studs, hat channels, hangers, kickers and strongbacks.

The design addressed 3 critical requirements:

• Structural support: Framing needed to carry heavy architectural panels along continuously curved surfaces
• Trade coordination: Engineers positioned ceiling supports around congested mechanical and fire-protection systems
• Building movement: Specialized joints accommodated movement while preserving seamless visual transitions

Early coordination allowed crews to install hangers before mechanical systems and fireproofing. These strategies helped limit rework while maintaining the architectural geometry.

The CFS framing supported the building’s distinctive curved features without compromising structural performance or construction coordination.

Read the BuildSteel article on 10 World Trade.

Pushing the Boundaries of CFS Design

These 3 projects demonstrate how CFS supports architectural creativity through advanced engineering, fabrication and construction methods.

Each presented different challenges, from complex structural connections to precise panel geometry and crowded ceiling spaces.

Their success highlights the versatility of CFS in applications that extend far beyond conventional walls and ceilings.

Additional Resources

• eBook: Cold-Formed Steel Framing: Engineering the Details of Your Next Project
• CFSEI Announces 2026 Award Winners, Stipend Recipients and Distinguished Service Honoree
• Specifying the Right Framing Connectors is ‘Everything’

The post 3 Award-Winning Projects Push the Limits of Cold-Formed Steel Design appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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CEMCO says the Product Selector combines AI with information from its cold-formed steel (CFS) product catalogs. Users can enter criteria such as required height, assembly type, lateral pressure, loading and deflection limits. The Product Selector then displays available solutions in a format designed for easy review and comparison. CEMCO announced the first version in its Sept. 23 newsletter.

Steve Farkas, CEMCO director of business development and marketing, connected the launch with the company’s broader technology strategy.

“CEMCO will continue to strive towards meeting those needs using the most relevant technologies available,” Farkas said.

CEMCO’s new AI-powered Product Selector helps users identify products meeting specific project requirements.

Simplifying Product Research

Steel framing product selection often requires users to search limiting-height tables and compare several performance criteria. Many manufacturers now provide this information primarily through websites and digital documents.

However, those resources can still make product research difficult, Farkas said.

“Digging for limiting heights using specified criteria” through traditional catalogs has become outdated, Farkas told BuildSteel. He cited wall composition, lateral pressure and deflection among the criteria users must consider.

Websites, PDFs and other digital options have “proven to be less than ideal for our customers,” Farkas said.

CEMCO worked with its web development partners to create a more efficient alternative. Users apply filters describing their project conditions, then review the available product options. “The user can quickly see what options they have,” Farkas said.

Option to Create Downloadable Project Lists

The CEMCO Product Selector extends beyond the initial product search. Users can select products and then add them to a project file for printing or downloading.

This feature provides a convenient record of products identified during the selection process. Project teams can use that information during planning, coordination and product discussions.

The tool also organizes solutions in a consistent format, simplifying comparisons across separate tables and technical documents.

CEMCO designed the Product Selector as an evolving resource. Customer and end-user feedback will help guide future modifications and additions.

“As with everything we do at CEMCO, our customers play a critical role,” Farkas said.

Viper-X Studs Will Join the Selector

For its next step, CEMCO plans to add its Viper-X non-load-bearing studs to the Product Selector, Farkas said. The company currently offers the product line in selected western markets.

CEMCO expects customer and end-user discussions to generate other modifications. The company has not announced a schedule for those updates.

Try CEMCO’s Product Selector.

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• Tom Porter to Retire as CEMCO President and CEO
• CEMCO Promotes Garret Koleszar to Vice President of Sales, Effective January 1, 2027
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The post CEMCO Launches AI-Powered Selector for Its CFS Framing Products appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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The comments follow President Donald Trump’s announcement on September 28, 2026, that Mesabi Metallics plans to invest $15 billion in a new steelmaking complex in Iowa. The project remains subject to financing and other development requirements before construction moves forward. The company expects the facility to begin production in 2030. It plans initial annual production of 7.5 million tons of steel, eventually increasing capacity to about 10 million tons.

“The Mesabi Metallics project is significant, and additional domestic steelmaking capacity is encouraging for U.S. manufacturing,” said Don Allen, executive director of SFIA. “In time, this investment could help strengthen the domestic supply chain that supports cold-formed steel framing.”

Additional domestic steelmaking capacity could benefit the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing supply chain over the long term, SFIA says. Photo: SFIA

Domestic Steelmaking Capacity Expands

Allen noted that the Mesabi announcement follows several years of increased investment in domestic steelmaking capacity.

“These increased capacities are important to support the on-shoring of manufacturing,” Allen said. He noted that added capacity also supports the buildout of data centers and energy infrastructure. Markets ranging from automotive and construction to packaging would benefit, he said.

“Growing North American capacity also allows more of that demand to be met by a steel industry that leads globally in reducing environmental impacts,” Allen added.

Near-Term CFS Impact Remains Limited

However, SFIA cautions against assuming additional steelmaking capacity will translate directly or immediately into lower prices or greater availability for CFS framing products.

Total steelmaking capacity is only one part of the equation. CFS manufacturers depend on the availability and pricing of the specific coated steel coil products used to produce CFS framing.

For contractors bidding projects, SFIA does not view the Mesabi announcement alone as a reason to change expectations. Near-term CFS framing prices and availability depend on broader market conditions.

Additional Resources

• CFS 101 In Practice: Real-World Examples of Project Teams Using Cold-Formed Steel
• Fire Changes Everything: Why Cold-Formed Steel Is Reshaping Housing Construction
• The State of Steel Framing (On-Demand Course)

The post SFIA: New Domestic Steelmaking Investments Could Strengthen Long-Term CFS Supply Chain appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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