Old Dominion University Quad Housing

Old Dominion University Quad Housing consists of six 4-story dormitories. Originally designed as concrete block, The Steel Network was given the opportunity by the construction team to perform a design assist on the projects.  Our design assist is a complimentary service that evaluates the project for opportunity to switch the structural design to cold-formed steel framing. With its repeating floor plan, all six of the mid-rise dormitories at Old Dominion University proved to be ideal projects for SigmaStud®  as the primary cold-formed steel framing member.  

The Steel Network presented a proposal to change the primary structure of the project to cold-formed steel with hollow core plank.  This proposal communicated the true value of the SigmaStud® product to the Architect, Engineer of Record, General Contractor, Sub-Contractor, Specialty Engineer, and Owner/Developer.  By utilizing SigmaStud® as the primary load bearing wall component, the project was destined to save significant time and money when compared to the original cmu design.  

The design assist also included the StiffWall® shear wall system. StiffWall® is a stick build system that utilizes light gauge straps on both sides of the wall for shear resistance. StiffWall® is designed to be labor-friendly while carrying loads concentrically from the point of applied loads to the foundation or other termination point.   

The switch to both SigmaStud®  and StiffWall®  in each building created substantial additional savings by reducing the overall foundation requirements.  Additionally, the switch from cmu block to cold-formed steel accelerated the construction schedule, and every one of these projects were completed much sooner than originally anticipated. 

Overall project results include 30% cost reduction in addition to an accelerated construction schedule and revenue stream to the owner by an entire year per building!