Across the globe, people are migrating to cities to live and work. The United Nations says 3.9 billion people — 54 percent of the world — live in metropolitan areas. By 2050, 66 percent of all people will be city dwellers, which means an extra 2.5 billion people will need urban housing.
The boon in urban development is also well underway here in the United States. Nearly one-third of all Americans live in one of the 10 most populous cities. Overall, 89 percent of American economic growth takes pace in metro areas.
With that in mind, what should designers, developers, and builders know about the brave new world of urban development?
New infill guidelines
Many American cities have issued ordinances related to urban infill development. Narrow-lot zoning and the formation of special city agencies allow architects, developers, and builders to create more urban townhomes, row houses, and cottage courts.
Los Angeles passed a successful small lot ordinance in 2005. Where 5,000-square-foot lots once had to be used for single-family homes or condominiums, LA’s Small Lot Ordinance No. 176354 opened the options on how small lots could be developed.
In 2014, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning published the Small Lot Design Guidelines. The handbook outlines what’s expected of designers and developers. For example:
- Small lot homes must be structurally independent with no shared foundations or common walls.
- Projects must use existing topography and maintain grade levels consistent with surrounding structures.
- The proximity of structures requires innovation related to massing, height, and transitional areas.
Of course, some local activists are challenging Los Angeles’ approach to urban infill development. Nevertheless, the City of Angels remains a model for how designers, developers, builders, city planners, and community members can work together to develop the urban landscape.
The question is, can any building materials contribute to urban infill project success?
An ideal framing material
Narrow-lot zoning gives designers, developers, and builders some leeway in choosing building materials for projects. But stakeholders should carefully consider their choices. Some building materials, such as cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, can contribute significantly to the creative use of tight spaces.
Here are three reasons why CFS is an effective framing choice for infill projects….
1. CFS is strong and lightweight
2. CFS is noncombustible
3. CFS panelization lowers the construction impact on neighborhoods