Thanks to the evolution of steel framing technology, it’s now possible to build structures using innovative construction techniques to work smarter, faster and safer, while minimizing construction costs and reducing the environmental impact of a building over its life.
Smart Building
Smart buildings are constructed with environmental responsibility and sustainability in mind. They link core systems — water meters, pumps, fire alarms, power and lighting — through sensors so they can share data and controls with one another, says Tom Bell of Irisys.
But smart buildings also feature “environmentally friendly credentials” of construction, Bell says. “The main motivation behind the smart building is to avoid … [the] wasteful use of energy and resources,” he notes.
The Poly Canyon Village, San Luis Obispo, provides a quintessential example of a smart building framed with cold-formed steel (CFS) framing.
- Poly Canyon Village is the largest CFS load-bearing framing project in California, featuring 11,000 wall panels
- Originally planned for a 20-month schedule, the project was successfully completed in 14-months, shaving off six months from the original schedule
- The project achieved a LEED® Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council
Tegan Sullivan, Clark Design/Build, confirms that the LEED® certification requirement was a main reason steel framing was selected for Poly Canyon Village.
“When they were deciding how they would build, CFS and the panelization process was attractive because of the off-site plant,” Sullivan says.
In addition to qualifying for a LEED® credit because of steel’s recycled content, the project earned LEED points because the steel stud manufacturing plant was located within 500 miles of the job site.
Article cited from BuildSteel.org