The firm designed nonstructural and select structural cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for 3 themed façades. The scope included Bowser’s Castle, Peach’s Castle and Mario Motors.

Extensive radiused framing transformed the architectural concepts into buildable towers, turrets, battlements and curved entrances. Engineers also integrated anchorage, structural support and concealed equipment within the themed façades.

Featured photo above: SFIA member American Way Engineering won a CFSEI ward for cold-formed steel (CFS) design for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD’s Super Mario Land at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando.

Bowser’s Castle uses multiple cold-formed steel (CFS) framing strategies to create its radiused towers, turrets and battlements around structural steel supports. Photo ©2026 Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved.

Framing Bowser’s Castle with CFS

Bowser’s Castle presented the largest and most varied framing scope. Its design included 3 sets of towers and turrets at different scales.

American Way Engineering developed separate CFS approaches for each condition. The smallest pair consisted of freestanding turrets built from radiused shear wall panels.

Crews joined the panels with bolts at each seam. Radiused members formed the battlements and anchored them back to the main structure. The battlements also concealed spotlights used to illuminate the structure.

Bowser’s Castle shop drawings detail how cold-formed steel (CFS) framing formed the medium tower envelope around the primary structural steel.

Medium towers surrounded freestanding structural steel frames. This configuration allowed the CFS framing to form the exterior envelope around the primary structure. Elaborate battlements completed the towers and concealed equipment within the framing.

The tallest towers also wrapped existing structural steel frames and extended above the main castle. Engineers tied their battlement framing back to the tower wall framing.

Framing Peach’s Curved Towers

Peach’s Castle required a similar radiused tower system but introduced different architectural constraints.

Small prefabricated roofs replaced the battlements used at Bowser’s Castle. That configuration eliminated the space available for equipment at the tower tops. American Way Engineering instead incorporated equipment bays into the tower walls.

Hanging banners concealed speakers and spotlights within those areas. Windows added another framing condition to the curved walls.

Engineers specified oversized radiused tracks that accommodated straight, unmodified studs while maintaining the required wall curvature.

Peach’s Castle used radiused tower framing with oversized curved tracks, allowing straight studs while integrating equipment bays, windows and concealed lighting.

Shaping Mario Motors

Mario Motors required another approach to radiused CFS framing. The façade forms the entrance to a gift shop and ride lobby. Its stylized geometry created complex curved framing conditions.

American Way Engineering used radiused CFS tracks and studs to form the entrance façade. The framing translated the architectural geometry into a system crews could construct while maintaining the intended curved forms.

Mario Motors used radiused cold-formed steel (CFS) tracks and studs to translate the entrance’s complex curved geometry into buildable framing.

Anchoring Complex Façades

The 3 structures required more than curved framing. Their CFS assemblies also needed secure connections to existing structural steel and concrete.

American Way Engineering developed different framing approaches for each structural condition. Some assemblies functioned as freestanding radiused panels, while others wrapped structural steel frames.

Battlements required connections back to tower wall framing or the main structure. Equipment locations also influenced framing geometry at both castles.

These conditions required the CFS systems to coordinate structure, architecture and concealed equipment within the same façades.

American Way Engineering used curved cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to create complex curved façades throughout Super Nintendo World Orlando. Photo ©2026 Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved.

Translating Themed Architecture into CFS

American Way Engineering’s CFS designs addressed three primary requirements:

• Creating extensive radiused towers, turrets and entrance framing
• Integrating CFS assemblies with structural steel and concrete
• Accommodating lighting, speakers and other equipment within themed façades

The firm used several CFS strategies instead of repeating one framing detail. Each approach responded to the geometry and structural conditions of its respective façade.

That flexibility made complex architectural forms practical to frame while preserving the geometry central to Super Nintendo World Orlando.

Read the full case study from CFSEI.

Additional Resources

• CFSEI Announces 2026 Award Winners, Stipend Recipients and Distinguished Service Honoree
• Research, Resilience and Real-World Solutions Shape the 2026 CFSEI Expo in Long Beach, California
• Ensign Engineering Wins Top 2024 CFSEI Creative Detail Award for Universal Studios’ Mario Kart Ride

The post American Way Engineering Wins CFSEI Award for Cold-Formed Steel Design at Super Nintendo World appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Best Practices for Load-Bearing CFS Design: Insights from Structures Congress 2026
• McClure Wins 2026 CFSEI Award for CFS Transfer Detail at Kansas City Apartments
• Video: Load-Bearing CFS Design at Atlantic Crossing Building Wins SFIA Award for ADTEK Engineers

 

The company will feature both developments at METALCON 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The conference runs Oct. 7 – 9 at the Orange County Convention Center. Scottsdale will exhibit at Booth #765.

Images provided by Scottsdale Construction Systems.

KFS Framemaker 1220 Expands Roll-Forming Capabilities

Scottsdale has added the KFS Framemaker 1220G3 to its line of multi-profile roll forming machines. The machine expands the range of CFS members that fabricators can manufacture within the KFS Framemaker family.

Its multi-profile capabilities allow fabricators to produce framing for different customers, markets and project types using the same equipment.

Scottsdale integrates the roll former with its broader systems for CFS framing design and production. These technology offerings include ScotSteel design software, ScotRF production software, the recently launched ScotFab cloud-hosted production management platform and online ScotCalc Engineering Tools.

The company will highlight the KFS Framemaker 1220G3 at METALCON 2026.

Scottsdale’s KFS Framemaker 1220G3, the newest addition to the company’s multi-profile roll forming machines.

ScotCalc Adds More Engineering and Analysis Tools

Scottsdale has also expanded ScotCalc Engineering Tools, its collection of free online tools for CFS design and analysis. The tools help engineers, designers and fabricators evaluate engineering, material and manufacturing considerations before production begins. The tools do not replace engineering verification, coil certification or final engineering approval.

Stud Analyzer

The ScotCalc Stud Analyzer estimates structural demands on CFS wall studs before engineers conduct full verification. Users enter basic building geometry, loading conditions, stud dimensions, spacing, sheathing and bracing information.

The tool calculates loads, moments, shear forces, bracing requirements and preliminary SFIA stud options. Designers can compare wall configurations and identify potential design issues early. Fabricators can also estimate material needs and determine whether existing equipment can manufacture required profiles.

Coil Analyzer

The ScotCalc Coil Analyzer helps fabricators evaluate steel using data from a Mill Test Report or claimed material specification. It compares material properties against acceptance pathways in AISI S100-16.

The tool evaluates yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, thickness, coating and available documentation. Results can identify ductility concerns, candidate ASTM specifications and conditions requiring additional engineering review or testing.

CFS Member Checker

The ScotCalc CFS Member Checker evaluates how individual CFS profiles perform under specified loads and design conditions. It brings member properties, structural demands and engineering checks into one online workflow.

Engineers and fabricators can use the results to evaluate member performance before moving into fabrication. The tool also connects engineering decisions with material requirements and the capabilities of available roll forming equipment.

Scottsdale will showcase ScotCalc alongside its roll-forming technology at METALCON 2026.

The ScotCalc Engineering Tools for cold-formed steel (CFS) design include three new modules — the Stud Analyzer, Coil Analyzer and CFS Member Checker.

Read Scottsdale’s full article.

Additional Resources

• Scottsdale Showcases Steel-Framed Barndominium for Veterans Live at METALCON 2025
• Scottsdale Case Study: Wood-to-Steel Conversion Advances Hotel Construction Project
• Scottsdale: Modular Steel Warehouse Showcases Large-Span Cold-Formed Steel Design

The post Scottsdale Adds Multi-Profile Roll Former, Expands Online CFS Analysis Tools appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Innovation at CFSEI Expo: Dr. Ben Schafer Talks Emerging CFS Technologies
• Arkitech Highlights Manufacturing Trends Shaping Cold-Formed Steel Production
• Update #8: University of Houston’s Radar and AI Tech, Grabber’s Stud Cutter, ClarkDietrich’s Bridging Bar

 

The 300,000-square-foot residential structure sits above a 3-story, 240,000-square-foot precast parking garage. Its load-bearing CFS system supports 267 apartments.

Combining the 2 structural systems created a difficult interface. CFS shear wall reactions occurred independently of the precast double-tee stems below.

Images Courtesy of McClure and Luke Drailey.

Legends 267 Apartments places five stories of load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing above a 3-story precast parking garage in Kansas City, Kansas.

Managing Podium Loads

The contractor and developer selected the precast garage early in design. The project team later selected CFS for the residential structure above the podium.

Unlike field-built framing, the panelized CFS system required tight construction tolerances. Specific bearing walls and strap-braced shear walls concentrated loads at defined locations.

Residential layouts governed those locations rather than the precast framing below. McClure needed to transfer the resulting reactions without changing the primary lateral system.

Standard precast double-tees presented the first limitation. CFS shear wall reactions exceeded their typical capacity.

McClure iteratively analyzed the shear wall layout to reduce reactions. Engineers also coordinated with the precast engineer to establish the double-tees’ available capacity.

The shear wall end-post support detail uses an HSS member spanning between precast double-tee stems to transfer reactions while accommodating camber and topping slab tolerances.

Bridging Double-Tee Stems

Reducing the reactions did not solve their locations. Double-tee webs occurred at regular intervals, while CFS shear walls followed apartment layouts.

Shear wall end reactions frequently landed over the double-tee flanges. Their minimum thickness could not resist punching shear from the CFS end posts.

Placing concrete between stems was impractical because reaction locations varied throughout the building. That approach could have required unique double-tee sections.

McClure instead developed a detail that bridged between the double-tee stems. A tube member carried the concentrated shear wall reactions across the precast flange. The detail supported CFS shear wall reactions at locations that did not align with the double-tee stems.

The tube member and offset embed plate provide support for concentrated cold-formed steel (CFS) shear wall reactions before placement of the topping slab.

Accommodating Precast Camber

Precast camber introduced another challenge. The double-tees changed elevation as loading altered their deflection.

McClure coordinated estimated camber before and after placement of the topping slab. The analysis established elevations needed for level CFS panel installation. Without that coordination, gaps of several inches could have developed beneath wall panels.

The HSS support detail uses shim plates to accommodate differential camber between precast double-tees while maintaining support for cold-formed steel (CFS) shear wall reactions.

Engineers incorporated shimming requirements into the shear wall support detail. The assembly accommodated elevation differences while maintaining the required end-post connection. A base plate distributed local stresses in the tube member. Its position also kept the connection accessible during placement of the topping slab.

The completed assembly concealed the tube within the floor, leaving no exposed steel in the finished space.

Stress analysis shows load distribution through the tube member and offset embed plate used in the cold-formed steel (CFS) shear wall support detail.

Transferring Lateral Forces

The detail also needed to transfer shear from the CFS structure into the podium’s lateral system. CFS shear walls above could not align with the precast shear walls below. The podium diaphragm therefore transferred lateral forces between the systems.

McClure placed headed studs along the sides of the tube members. These studs transferred forces from the tubes into the topping slab. The topping slab then carried those forces to the precast shear walls, completing the lateral load path.

Resolving the Structural Interface

McClure’s detail addressed three primary requirements:

• Bridging between fixed precast stems
• Accommodating precast camber and installation tolerances
• Transferring uplift and lateral forces into the podium

That solution allowed the five-story CFS structure and three-story precast podium to function together despite their different framing geometries.

This is the best location because the bullets act as a concise recap of the engineering accomplishment without interrupting the technical narrative earlier in the article.

Read the full case study from CFSEI.

Additional Resources

• McClure Earns 2026 CFSEI Award for 10 World Trade CFS Framing
• McClure Wins 2026 CFSEI Award for Mountain Resort Roof System
• McClure Guides Complex Cladding Replacement at Terminal Island Plant, Wins CFSEI Award

The post McClure Wins 2026 CFSEI Award for CFS Transfer Detail at Kansas City Apartments appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

       

September 1, 2026 — Data centers are fast-moving projects. They also have a lot of stuff packed into a relatively small amount of space.

There is structural steel, ductwork, piping, conduit, cable tray, busway, equipment and — somewhere in the middle of all of it — cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.

That makes these projects a great opportunity for a CFS contractor to use Building Information Modeling (BIM) to provide value. The goal isn’t to create the most impressive-looking model possible. The goal is to solve problems before they become field problems.

James Hillegas, BIMTECH Offsite. All images courtesy of Hillegas

Here are four ways to do that.

1. Coordinate the Congested Areas

You don’t necessarily have to model every stud on day one. Start with the areas where the framing is likely to interact with other trades.

Look at wall tops. At large openings. At where cable tray, busway, ductwork and piping cross walls. Look at structural steel. Look at areas where several systems are trying to occupy the same space. Those are usually the places where BIM can provide the most value.

A conflict may take 15 minutes to discuss during a coordination meeting. But it can become a much larger problem when several crews discover it in the field.

2. Figure Out How It Will Actually Be Built

Clash detection is useful, but finding the clash is only part of the job. The CFS contractor still has to figure out how the framing will actually be installed.

• Can the wall run to structure?
• Does the framing need to stop below something?
• How are you framing around the opening?
• Does another trade need access before the wall is closed?

These are construction questions, not just modeling questions. A good virtual design and construction team should help turn the design into something the field can execute.

Rough openings for louvers allow coordination with other trades whose systems pass through the walls.

3. Use the Model for Prefabrication

This is where CFS BIM can become especially powerful. Once the team coordinates the framing, portions of the project can potentially be prefabricated. Crews can then assemble it off-site and avoid building one stud at a time in the field. 

The model can help determine panel sizes, openings, framing locations and installation sequencing before material reaches the job site.

Now the BIM process starts connecting directly to production: Model. Coordinate. Fabricate. Install.

Instead of creating information and then throwing it away, the same coordinated information can continue downstream toward the shop and eventually the field.

4. Protect the Schedule

This might be the biggest benefit on a data center project.

Imagine a framing crew reaches a wall and discovers that a piece of structural steel, conduit or busway is occupying the same space.

Now the foreman needs an answer. The other trade may need to get involved. An RFI might be written. Someone needs to update the detail. Meanwhile, work stops in that area.

BIM gives the project team an opportunity to have that conversation weeks earlier. That’s when everyone is still looking at the model.

That doesn’t mean BIM will eliminate every field problem. It won’t.

A VDC team mayfind and solve expensive problems before crews encounter them. When that happens, the model has done its job.

The project team detailed the structural grid ceiling to generate a bill of materials, precut member lengths and coordinate with MEP systems.

The Bottom Line

Don’t BIM a data center just because the project requires BIM.

Look for the areas where CFS framing interacts with structural steel, MEP systems and equipment. Solve those conditions. Determine how they will be built. Then push that information toward fabrication and installation.

The value isn’t the model.

The value is making the project easier to build.

Additional Resources

• How to BIM: Using High-Tech Layout Tools
• How to BIM: 3 Ways VDC Teams Can Bring Value to Projects
• How to BIM: Creating Your Team
• How to BIM: Choosing Software for Your VDC Team
• CFS Prefab 101: What is It All About?

The post How to BIM: 4 Ways CFS Models Can Make Data Centers Easier to Build appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• How to BIM: Using High-Tech Layout Tools
• How to BIM: 3 Ways VDC Teams Can Bring Value to Projects
• How to BIM: Choosing Software for Your VDC Team

 

In coastal Florida, builders use CFS to strengthen homes against hurricanes and extreme winds. Noncombustible steel adds fire resilience in wildfire-prone communities in California. In Hawaii, steel frames 70% of single-family homes because of its termite resistance and long-term durability.

Still, questions remain about building with steel instead of wood.

The article “Steel-Framed Homes: Your FAQs, Answered,” from Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) member ClarkDietrich, addresses 8 of those common questions. Here is a look at the answers and the performance benefits behind them.

Questions About Cost, Comfort and Resilience

1. Does steel framing cost more than wood?

Not always. Initial steel costs are comparable with wood, sometimes slightly higher, depending on regional market conditions.

With steel framing, however, bear this in mind:

• No termite treatment is required for steel
• Due to its dimensional stability, steel doesn’t warp, twist or shrink the way lumber can as it dries and settles
• Less movement can reduce drywall cracking, air leakage and related maintenance
• Precise manufacturing and prefabrication can reduce waste and improve consistency

Over a home’s lifecycle, these advantages can strengthen steel’s overall value and help offset any higher initial costs.

Related Resource: The True Cost of Cold-Formed Steel v. Wood Framing

2. How do you hang pictures or shelves on steel studs?

Homeowners can hang common items on steel-framed walls using familiar methods.

Lightweight objects can attach directly to drywall. Heavier objects can connect to steel studs using appropriate screws instead of nails. A strong magnet can also help locate steel studs behind drywall.

Steel framing does not limit normal decorating, shelving or storage options.

3. Will a steel-framed home feel cold, sterile or echoey?

No. The framing material does not determine a home’s comfort, warmth or acoustics. Insulation, drywall, flooring and interior finishes shape how a home feels and sounds.

When properly designed, CFS framed wall assemblies can insulate as effectively as wood-framed assemblies. They also accommodate standard batt insulation, sound-dampening materials and familiar interior finishes.

Homeowners can achieve the same comfort and character while gaining steel’s strength and durability behind the walls.

ProChannel Ci Vertical Cladding Support System is a thermally and structurally efficient exterior wall cladding support system utilizing the self-sealing Grip-Deck TubeSeal® fastening system from TruFast Walls.

4. How does steel framing perform during severe weather, fires or earthquakes?

Much better than wood. Steel framing offers strong resilience against many of the environmental threats homes face across the country. 

Hurricanes: In hurricane-prone regions, engineers can design CFS framed homes to withstand wind speeds up to 190 mph. Designs include certified Category 5 hurricane protection.

Earthquakes: In earthquake zones, steel framing can flex and absorb force without snapping. Engineers can design steel systems for demanding seismic conditions, including Seismic Design Category E, which is reserved for structures near major, active faults.

Fire: Steel also tops wood for fire resilience. Steel does not contribute fuel to a fire as does wood. Properly designed assemblies can achieve fire ratings of up to four hours.

“This is especially noteworthy for wildfire-prone regions, where connective fuels (the flammable materials that let fire jump from point to point) are one of the biggest risk factors homes face,” the ClarkDietrich article says. 

Across wind, fire and seismic risks, steel gives builders a durable framing system engineered for demanding conditions.

Related Resource: eBook – Strength in the Face of Disaster: How Cold-Formed Steel Framing Keeps Buildings Safe

Questions About Insurance, Construction and Sustainability

5. Will homeowner’s insurance cost more with steel framing?

Steel can actually save money on builder’s risk insurance. Steel framing supports insurance savings because it is noncombustible and resists severe weather.

• Builder’s risk insurance savings for commercial projects can reach up to 75%, depending on location, building type and insurer policies
• The underlying logic extends to homeowners too

Some insurers offer discounts for homes with noncombustible or wind-resistant construction.

In wildfire-prone regions,discounted insurance rates for steel framing may also depend on landscaping, use of fire-resistent exterior materials and neighboring properties.

Ask insurers about discounts tied to fire-resistant and wind-resistant construction. Steel framing may help reduce risk and  insurance premiums.

Related Resource: Insurance Costs Are Re-Shaping Construction Choices — And the Data Speaks for Itself

6. Will steel framing limit siding choices?

Steel framing works with standard residential exterior materials. Builders can use stucco, fiber cement, brick veneer, vinyl, wood siding or stone.

Using noncombustible cladding can also strengthen overall fire resilience.

7. Does steel framing take longer to build?

Not necessarily. Construction speed often depends on contractor experience and the framing system selected.

CFS can arrive in stock lengths, custom-cut components, panelized assemblies or fully prefabricated systems. Prefabrication moves more work into controlled manufacturing environments. That can reduce field cutting, material handling and jobsite assembly time.

Steel framing is also lightweight, which can make components easier for crews to handle and position. Pre-engineered systems can improve dimensional accuracy, reduce waste and support more predictable installation.

As more contractors gain experience with CFS, these advantages can help accelerate construction and improve jobsite efficiency.

Related Resource: 5 Reasons Why Cold-Formed Steel Can Save Time and Money on Projects

8. Is steel more sustainable than wood?

Yes. Steel offers several sustainability advantages across a building’s lifecycle. 

CFS framing contains recycled content and remains fully recyclable at the end of its useful life. 

• Steel framing contains at least 25% recycled steel
• Steel can be recycled repeatedly without degrading its performance
• Steel framing scrap does not enter landfills

Precision manufacturing and prefabrication can further reduce construction waste by producing components closer to their required dimensions.

The industry is also reducing embodied carbon. ClarkDietrich, for example, offers framing products with up to 30% less embodied carbon than standard counterparts.

These benefits give builders more options to reduce material waste and lifecycle impacts while maintaining steel’s strength and durability.

Related Resource: 5 Ways to Sell the Sustainable Benefits of Cold-Formed Steel Framing

A Stronger Case for Steel

Residential home framing must perform for decades after construction crews leave the site. That makes durability, resilience and lifecycle performance critical considerations.

The answers to the 8 questions above point toward a consistent conclusion. Steel resists termites, dimensional movement and combustion. Engineers can also design steel framing for demanding wind and seismic loads.

For builders and homeowners focused on long-term performance, CFS framing deserves a closer look. Steel represents a solid investment for the long run.

Additional Resources

• Fire Changes Everything: Why Cold-Formed Steel Is Reshaping Housing Construction
• Steel Stands Firm as Termites Threaten Homes, Real Estate Agents Say
• Homebuilders Embrace Steel as an Alternative to Wood Framing

The post Considering a Steel-Framed Home? 8 Questions Answered by ClarkDietrich appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Steel Framing: The Often Overlooked Key to a Better Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel
• Conversion Stories #2: Cold-Formed Steel Framing for Wildfire Rebuilds, Backyard Decks and Kitchen Designs
• Steel-IQ Receives 2026 CFSEI Award for Luxury Home CFS Framing System

 

The mission of the Student Competition on Cold-Formed Steel Design is to promote higher education in cold-formed steel (CFS) structural design and to encourage students to use creative thinking skills to solve engineering problems.

Enter the 2027 CFSEI Student Competition

Eligibility

The 2027 CFS Design Competition is open to all full-time students at all levels. Students can work on the project individually or within a team.

Schedule

• November 1, 2026: Submit ‘Intent to Participate’ on CFSEI website. Deadline for mentor assignment: November 1, 2026.
• January 31, 2027: Entry Submission deadline

CFS Competition Problem Statement

For decades, a small wood-framed ice shanty served anglers and outdoor enthusiasts on the frozen waters of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. The structure became a familiar landmark during the annual sturgeon spearing season and winter recreation events. Unfortunately, the aging wood structure was recently destroyed by a fire, leaving the community without a gathering shelter on the ice.

To replace this loss, the community is seeking an innovative, durable and transportable replacement that highlights the advantages of cold-formed steel (CFS) construction. The new ice shanty must be a safe, weather-resistant shelter. It must also demonstrate the efficiency, sustainability and resilience of CFS framing systems.

The competition challenges student teams to design a modern ice shanty for three occupants using CFS that can be transported to and from the lake on a trailer and withstand Wisconsin’s demanding winter environment.

Awards

• 1st place: $2,000 USD, award plaque, 2027 Expo Registration and 2027 CFSEI Expo Stipend
• 2nd place: $1,500 USD, award plaque, 2027 Expo Registration
• 3rd place: $1,000 USD, award plaque, 2027 Expo Registration

CFSEI will recognize and exhibit the winning designs on appropriate platforms, including conferences, websites and newsletters.

Enter the 2027 CFSEI Student Competition

Click the above button to learn more about the design considerations and obtain an application form. Submit your “Intent to Participate” document (last page of the application).

Additional Resources

• Abstracts Due for 2027 CFSEI Expo, Emerging Technologies Forum and Future Webinars (Oct. 15)
• CFSEI Announces Winners of 2026 Student Competition on Cold-Formed Steel Design
• CFSEI Announces Winners of 2026 Expo Stipend Program

The post CFSEI Seeks Entries for 2027 Student Competition on CFS Design, Submissions Due Jan. 31 appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• The 2027 CFSEI Student Competition Seeks Mentors, Applications Due by Oct. 2
• Update #6 | Raymond Group’s 90 Years, Salas O’Brien Bicycles, Awards for raSmith and U.S. Steel
• Update #6 | Raymond Group’s 90 Years, Salas O’Brien Bicycles, raSmith and U.S. Steel Win Awards

 

Competition Details

• August 2026: Competition launched
• October 2, 2026: Mentor applications due
• November 1, 2026: Students must submit their Intent to Participate documents
• January 31, 2027: Students’ design submissions due

Mentor Qualifications

Professional Experience and Expertise

• Industry Knowledge: Extensive experience in cold-formed steel (CFS) design, including practical application and theoretical understanding
• Project Experience: Involvement in relevant projects that utilize CFS in design and construction

Interpersonal Skills

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to explain complex concepts clearly
• Active Listening: Ability to listen to students’ ideas and concerns, providing thoughtful feedback
• Patience and Supportiveness: Patience in guiding students through their learning and project development process

Commitment and Availability

• Willingness to commit time: Mentors must be willing to support the competition by dedicating time to preparation, meetings and review sessions as needed

Application Process

• Submit application by Friday, October 2, 2026
• By submitting application, you are confirming your commitment to the student competition and adherence to these mentor guidelines
• Mentors will be selected based on proximity to student
• Selected mentors will be notified

Apply Today

Additional Resources

• Abstracts Due for 2027 CFSEI Expo, Emerging Technologies Forum and Future Webinars (Oct. 15)
• CFSEI Seeks Entries for 2027 Student Competition on CFS Design, Intent to Participate Due Nov. 1
• Research, Resilience and Real-World Solutions Shape the 2026 CFSEI Expo in Long Beach, California

The post The 2027 CFSEI Student Competition Seeks Mentors, Applications Due Oct. 2 appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• CFSEI Seeks Entries for 2027 Student Competition on CFS Design, Intent to Participate Due by Nov. 1
• Update #6 | Raymond Group’s 90 Years, Salas O’Brien Bicycles, Awards for raSmith and U.S. Steel
• Update #6 | Raymond Group’s 90 Years, Salas O’Brien Bicycles, raSmith and U.S. Steel Win Awards

 

The single-story building measures 100 by 100 feet. Excel Engineering designed its exterior CFS as non-load-bearing infill framing between the foundation and structural steel roof framing. The project required the framing to accommodate vertical movement while transferring shear forces into plywood shear walls.

Images Courtesy of Excel Engineering, Inc.

Excel Engineering designed the non-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) infill framing for Rutter’s No. 82 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, including shear wall details that accommodated structural movement.

Read the full case study from CFSEI.

Balancing Movement and Shear Transfer

Structural steel beams spaced 5 feet on center formed the roof structure. Perimeter steel beams and columns supported the roof framing. The CFS infill framing rested on the foundation and connected beneath the perimeter beams with slip connections (SNIP A).

Non-load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) infill framing sits on the foundation and connects beneath perimeter structural steel beams with slip connections that accommodate vertical movement.

Structural plans identified plywood shear walls on three building sides (SNIP B). Moment frames provided lateral resistance along the fourth side. This arrangement created a critical detailing challenge. The wall needed to accommodate live load deflection while maintaining a clear shear load path.

Plywood shear walls on three building sides required detailing that accommodated live load deflection while maintaining a clear shear load path.

Creating the Shear Load Path

Excel Engineering developed a wide-flange stud to collect shear forces at the top of the wall. The collector nested flat inside the slotted slip track.

Slots spaced 1 inch on center provided flexibility for screw placement. The connection transferred shear from the structural steel beam through the slotted track.

Loads then traveled into the wide-flange collector, top track and plywood sheathing. The resulting load path followed this sequence:

Steel beam → slotted slip track → wide-flange collector → top track → plywood sheathing

The detail allowed the wall to resist shear and out-of-plane wind loads while accommodating live load deflection.

A wide-flange collector nested inside the slotted slip track transferred shear from the structural steel beam into the top track and plywood sheathing.

Verifying the Shear Wall Application

A later CFSEI seminar on non-bearing shear walls prompted Excel Engineering to review the completed detail. The guidance emphasized maintaining a clear load path and limiting these systems to appropriate applications.

Rutter’s No. 82 met the conditions discussed during the seminar. The building has 1-story and falls within Seismic Design Category A.

At least half the wall length on three sides also functioned as shear walls. This configuration kept the lateral forces manageable. Excel Engineering’s review confirmed that the detail provided the required load path while accommodating structural movement.

Preserving the Load Path

The review also highlighted the importance of protecting non-bearing shear wall systems during future renovations.

Excel Engineering recommends identifying the shear wall framing so future work does not inadvertently remove critical components. The company also plans to note non-bearing shear wall systems in future submittals. These measures helped preserve the intended load path after the original construction.

Resolving Competing Structural Requirements

Excel Engineering’s detail reconciled 2 competing requirements within a non-bearing CFS wall. The connection accommodated live-load deflection while maintaining shear transfer into the plywood.

The nested wide-flange collector and slotted slip track created a defined load path through the wall assembly. That detail addressed structural movement, lateral loading and constructability within an application suited to non-bearing shear wall framing.

Read the full case study from CFSEI.

Additional Resources

• Excel Engineering Wins 2025 CFSEI Award for 10-Story CFS Project in Washington, D.C.
• Excel Engineering Wins Top 2025 CFSEI Creative Detail Award for Harrah’s in New Orleans
• Excel Engineering Wins 2024 CFSEI Award for Flexjet HQ’s Exterior and Interior CFS Framing

The post Excel Engineering Wins 2026 CFSEI Award for CFS Shear Wall Design appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

Related Stories

• Excel Engineering Wins Top 2025 CFSEI Creative Detail Award for Harrah’s in New Orleans
• Excel Engineering Wins 2024 CFSEI Award for Flexjet HQ’s Exterior and Interior CFS Framing
• Excel Engineering Wins 2024 CFSEI Award for Flexjet HQ Exterior and Interior CFS Framing

 

Issued Aug. 13, 2026, the UL-certified EPD is an industry-average, Type III environmental product declaration. It covers structural and nonstructural CFS framing products used in interior and exterior walls, roofs, floors and ceilings.

The EPD covers CFS framing products manufactured from hot-dip galvanized cold-rolled steel coil. Products include studs, joists, rafters, truss components, channels, furring, angles and L-headers. They meet the requirements of AISI S220 and AISI S240.

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

Download EPD

Cradle-to-Gate Environmental Impacts of Industry CFS Products

The EPD reports cradle-to-gate environmental impacts for raw material supply, transportation to CFS manufacturing facilities and manufacturing. These activities are identified as life-cycle modules A1 through A3. The declared unit is one metric ton of cold-formed steel framing products.

Twelve manufacturers contributed data to the study. The declaration features one manufacturing facility from each participating manufacturer for the life-cycle assessment. The selection maximized technological, geographical and industry representativeness. The EPD calculates a weighted average based on production mass across the manufacturing facilities included in the study.

Companies listed in the latest version of the SFIA industry-average Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for cold-formed steel (CFS) framing products.

Broad Industry Participation Supports New EPD

Primary manufacturing data cover the period from January 2024 through December 2025. Participating facilities represent a mix of locations across the United States and Mexico and include small, medium and large CFS framing product manufacturers.

The following manufacturers participated in development of the industry-average EPD:

SFIA members: CEMCO, ClarkDietrich, Ironline, JN Linrose, MBA Building Supplies, Panel Rey, State Building Products, Steeler, Super Stud Building Products and The Steel Network.

Other participating manufacturers: Klover and Marino\WARE.

WAP Sustainability conducted the life-cycle assessment in accordance with ISO 14044 and the applicable product category rules. The declaration and background life-cycle assessment report were independently verified in accordance with ISO 14025. UL Solutions serves as the EPD program operator.

The EPD has a declared market applicability of North America and is valid through Aug. 13, 2031.

For additional information, or to inquire about the process of adding your company to the listing, contact Don Allen at allen@steelframing.org.

The post SFIA Releases New Industry-Average Environmental Product Declaration for Cold-Formed Steel Framing appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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AWCI Webinar: Designing Fire-Resistive Joints to Meet Today’s Designs

Date/Time

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 2:00 am ET / 11:00 am PT

Cost

Free

Sponsor

Sponsored and presented by CEMCO. Hosted by the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry.

Register to Attend

Description

In this webinar presented by CEMCO, attendees will gain knowledge of fire-resistive joint applications and their respective IBC requirements.

CEMCO will discuss fire-resistive joint applications, influencing IBC requirements, various applications and the options available today. Fire, aesthetics and sound requirements will be discussed with focus on cost effective, code compliant products and solutions.

Presenter

David Mistler, CEMCO Firestop Product Manager

David Mistler, firestop product manager at CEMCO, leads product development, testing, marketing, sales and technical support for the firestop product line. With over 35 years of experience in construction products and firestop systems, Mistler is an active member of IFC and contributes to the development and advancement of ASTM and UL firestop standards.

Register to Attend

The post Free AWCI Webinar: Designing Fire-Resistive Joints to Meet Today’s Designs (Sep. 16) appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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SFIA182: Cold-Formed Steel Goes Higher: Lessons from a Landmark 10-Story Building Earthquake and Live Fire Test Program

Date/Time/Cost

Thursday, October 1, 2026
2:00 pm (ET) / 11:00 am (PT)
Free

Register

Sponsor

An SFIA member

AIA Continuing Education

This SFIA-hosted course is registered with AIA CES and participants will earn 1 “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 1.0 PDH under the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE).

Description

Builders widely use cold-formed steel (CFS) in low-rise construction. But barriers remain to using CFS as a primary load-bearing system in taller buildings and high seismic regions. Design code height restrictions and a lack of full-scale performance data have limited its use.

This webinar will highlight findings from the NSF-sponsored CFS-NHERI research program and its landmark CFS10 project. The project tested a full-scale, 10-story steel-framed building at the University of California San Diego. Researchers subjected the building to increasingly demanding earthquake conditions on the university’s Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table. Researchers followed the earthquake testing with post-earthquake live fire compartment tests.

Attendees will learn what CFS10 revealed about the resilience and performance potential of engineered CFS systems. They will also learn how the research can support analytical modeling, performance-based design and future code and design guidance.

Learning objectives

1. Explain the primary barriers that have historically limited CFS steel as a load-bearing system. Describe how these barriers affect mid-rise buildings in moderate-to-high seismic regions
2. Describe the scope and testing methodology of the CFS-NHERI and CFS10 research programs. Explain how the programs incorporated full-scale seismic and post-earthquake fire testing
3. Identify key findings related to the seismic performance and resilience of engineered CFS structural systems
4. Discuss how the research may influence future design practices, analytical tools, code guidance and broader adoption of cold-formed steel in mid-rise construction

Register

The post Free Webinar: CFS Lessons from a Landmark 10-Story Building Earthquake and Live Fire Test Program (Oct. 1) appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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• CFSEI Webinar: Roles and Responsibilities for Success with Cold-Formed Steel Framing (Aug. 26)

 

Revival on the Platte, a 7-story residential structure, uses load-bearing CFS framing over a 2-level concrete podium. Martin/Martin designed the lateral systems and provided LOD 400 design and production detailing for the prefabricated CFS framing.

Images Courtesy of MKM Build Photography and Martin/Martin Inc.

Martin/Martin designed the load-bearing and lateral cold-formed steel (CFS) systems for Revival on the Platte, a 7-story residential structure over a 2-level concrete podium.

Designing the CFS Structural System

The project used a fully CFS-framed load-bearing and lateral load-resisting system. The approach maximized the capabilities of the project’s multi-profile roll-form equipment.

The equipment fabricated heavy 6” wall profiles and joist profiles up to 12” deep. Martin/Martin designed the CFS system around those manufacturing capabilities.

Strap bracing resisted lateral forces while reducing the need for structural steel and concrete. Cementitious deck panels reduced building mass and simplified the floor assemblies.

A crane lifts a prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) framing section into place, demonstrating the project’s factory-built approach to structural assembly.

Coordinating Prefabricated Framing

Typical floor and roof framing used 10” joists assembled into prefabricated cassettes. Fabricators installed decking and MEP systems into the cassettes before they reached the jobsite.

Crews also panelized all structural walls and pre-installed strap bracing and MEP systems. Exterior wall panels received their finishes before leaving the factory. DfMA principles guided the framing design and production process. This approach shifted substantial framing and building-system work from the field into the factory.

Weekly BIM meetings coordinated mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection routing with the structural framing. Coordination produced unique web punch-outs in floor joists and frequent framing adjustments to accommodate building systems.

Prefabricated load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) wall panels incorporated strap bracing and coordinated MEP systems before arriving at the jobsite.

Spanning the Exterior Stair Shafts

Two exterior stair shafts presented an unusual structural condition. The CFS lateral system eliminated traditional core walls that typically support stair framing at each floor.

The stair walls instead extended 8 levels, including 7 occupied floors and the roof overrun. Built-up CFS girts at each level carried the lateral wall loads.

The girts transferred out-of-plane loads into the stair shaft end walls. Along the stair’s long direction, the typical girts spanned a 23-foot opening. Each typical assembly used four 600S250-118 members and two 600T300-118 members. The built-up configuration remained within the structure’s typical 6-inch wall depth.

Framing the Exterior Elevator Shaft

One elevator shaft extended beyond the building’s typical exterior face on 3 sides. Without a concrete core, the 3-sided box needed to remain nearly self-supporting over the building’s full height.

Martin/Martin designed the box to act essentially as a horizontal moment frame. Structural steel plates connected CFS panels at the two exterior corners. The connections engaged all 3 sides as a complete moment-frame system. The approach also allowed crews to fully finish the exterior wall panels.

Martin/Martin detailed structural steel plate connections at the elevator shaft corners to engage 3 cold-formed steel (CFS) walls as a horizontal moment frame.

Detailing the Rated Shaft Walls

Denver’s rated shaft requirements introduced another challenge. The assemblies needed to maintain a continuous rating while providing floor support and support for load-bearing walls. Martin/Martin designed the system to maintain continuous sheathing along both wall faces. Light-gage Z plates hung from the top of the wall.

The plates fit between wall panels and support the floor cassette framing. Crews installed the upper sheathing layers and Z plates during factory production. Moving this work into the shop maximized production while reducing field installation.

The shaft wall floor support detail used light-gage Z plates to integrate floor cassettes while maintaining continuous rated wall assemblies.

Extending the CFS Structural System

Martin/Martin provided structural design, lateral analysis, LOD 400 design and production detailing around a CFS system built off site. Built-up girts resolved the unsupported stair shafts. A horizontal moment-frame supported the exterior elevator shaft without a traditional concrete core.

Rated shaft details maintained continuous sheathing and combined with prefabricated floor cassettes. Together, these solutions made CFS framing work in challenging structural conditions.

Revival on the Platte’s finished rooftop deck sits above seven stories of load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and prefabricated building systems.

Read the full case study from CFSEI.

Additional Resources

• Martin/Martin Receives CFSEI Award for U.S. Air Force Academy Visitor’s Center
• Martin/Martin Wins Municipal/Cultural CFSEI Award for CSU Spur Hydro Water Project
• Martin/Martin Takes 2023 CFSEI First Place for Penn State’s Lasch Football Building Renovation

The post Martin/Martin Wins 2026 CFSEI Award for Prefabricated CFS Project in Denver appeared first on BuildSteel.org.

      

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