e-Mail
Print
What do a steel processing facility, a convention center, and a roller coaster have in common? Each project is the winner of the Steel Joist Institute 2009 Design Awards. Ranging in size from 22,000 to 1.4 million square feet with joist costs, including fabrication and erection ranging from $360,000 to $24 million, each of these three winning projects uses steel joists in innovative and creative ways.
The winners were selected in the following categories:
- Industrial (such as distribution centers, warehouses, and light manufacturing);
- Non-industrial (such as office buildings, schools, and churches); or
- Unique applications (projects with a unique application of steel joists).
The winning entries in each category will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship to be created in their company’s name for the school of their choice. The university will determine the engineering student to whom the scholarship will be awarded.
Eligibility — All projects submitted are located in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. The steel joists and/or joist girders must have been manufactured by an active member of the Steel Joist Institute. Only projects constructed within the last three years were considered. Projects eligible include new buildings and major retrofit or expansion projects. More than one project could be entered; each project was judged separately.
Judging criteria — Judging of each entry was performed by an independent panel of judges; see right. And each entry is evaluated and based on the following criteria:
- Flexibility — What role did flexibility play in how the steel joists were utilized? Did the project need to allow for an addition later? Were steel joists selected instead of other structural systems because of flexibility?
- Aesthetic considerations — Did the use of steel joists enhance the overall appearance of the project?
- Speed of construction — How quickly did the construction and erection of the steel joists take place? Was weather a factor?
- Value — How did the cost of the project compare with the results? Was the overall cost of the project a good value?
State-of-the-art processing facility wins for ThyssenKrupp Stainless
First-place winner: Industrial Submitted by Giffels, LLC / IBI Group, Southfield, Mich.
ThyssenKrupp committed to building a $4 billion world-class, state-of-the-art steel and stainless steel processing facility in Southern Alabama. The facility was a cooperative effort between two ThyssenKrupp segments, steel and stainless, and is an important part of ThyssenKrupp’s NAFTA growth strategy. The plant is expected to begin operation in 2010 and, when fully operational, will create 2,700 jobs. The facility will manufacture and process carbon steel and stainless steel for high-value applications by manufacturers in the United States and throughout North America. The plant will serve automotive, packaging, construction, electrical, and utility industries, as well as manufacturers of appliances, precision machinery, and engineered products.
What makes this project interesting — The size of this project is what makes it interesting. Steel tonnage totals are as follows: 1,227 tons of roof joists; 2,668 tons of joist girders; 1,045 tons of wall joists; and 540 tons of joist bridging. In addition, 142,000 bolts were used for the joists and joist girders alone, and 86,000 gallons of paint and 385,000 bolts were used in total. Overall, 22,000 tons of structural steel were used on the project with the largest piece of steel weighing more than 44 tons. The project utilized 12-meter-long joists, 40-meter-long joist girders, up to 40 MT rated capacity top-running bridge cranes and joist girders used in combination with building columns for moment frames to resist lateral crane loads and wind/seismic forces. Panelized erection methods were used for both roof and wall framing. Additionally, horizontal joists used as girts to support the metal siding enclosure eliminated the need for intermediate wind columns. Because of the sophisticated paint system requirements, bolted connections were used to minimize touch-up.
Generally, on past heavy industrial projects conventional framing would have been used. However, on this project the structural design team proved that joist and joist girder construction could be utilized in a very effective and efficient manner to resist all imposed loads and load combinations and to meet all project requirements.
Advantages of the chosen structural system — The joist and joist girder framing enabled fast-track design, fabrication, and erection. The joist and joist girder elements were cost effective compared with conventional fabricated steel purlins and trusses used on previous industrial projects. Joists were used for the wall framing, which resulted in the elimination of wind columns and associated foundations. Furthermore, the erection process was streamlined by using panelized construction methods for both the roof and wall framing system.
Project team
Structural engineer: Giffels-IBI Group, and Gulf States Engineering
Owner: ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA
Architect: Giffels-IBI Group, and Gulf States Engineering.
Construction manager: Hargrove
Steel joist manufacturer: Vulcraft
Steel detailer: Computer Detailing Inc., Southern Detailing, Protheous, Apel Structural, and C.H. Potter & Company
Steel fabricator: Cives Steel
Steel erector: Steel City Erecting
Project details
Project construction cost: $280 million
Joist cost, including fabrication and erection: $24 million
Size (square feet): 1.27 million
Roof area using joists (square feet): 1.24 million
Joist area (square feet): 1.24 million
Joist engineering to delivery: Approx. 90 days
Joist erection: Approx. 270 days
Expansion places first for Vancouver’s Convention Centre
First-place winner: Non - Industrial Submitted by Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers, Vancouver, B.C.
The long-awaited expansion to Vancouver’s convention and exhibition facilities opened in April 2009. The design team worked interactively with the clients — city of Vancouver Planning Department and the BC Government’s Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project (VCCEP) team. Their plan was to develop a new convention center that responds to the ever-growing demand for convention and exhibition space in Vancouver. With strict zoning height and depth restrictions and two thirds of the building hovering over the water, this was never going to be a straightforward project. The architectural concept included very large spans, juxtaposed spaces, angular shapes, and heavy loads. The superstructure design and construction was complicated by the high seismic zone, sloping columns on the north face, an irregular geometry throughout, and the glass curtain wall. The lateral system had no solid perimeter or core needed to resist seismic loads.
What makes this project interesting — Building information modeling transformed the design process of the Vancouver Convention Centre construction. Glotman Simpson proposed its use for this project and took full advantage of 3D modeling, design, presentation, and delivery of documentation via electronic communication. Paper copy was used only for minor information and backup. Glotman Simpson implemented steel detailing software from Tekla together with SAP2000 and Revit Structure to provide the structural modeling at the design stage. By employing Tekla solutions early in the project, the structural design information became the springboard for shop drawings and shortened the tendering and shop drawing period considerably. The structural design evolved with greater precision and speed than ever before. As an example, 3D conceptualization allowed engineers utilizing approximate and shortcut methods to estimate preliminary steel quantities within 5 percent of the final built configuration.
Atop the sloping and irregularly shaped roofs is a living green roof — the largest of its kind in North America to date. Joists over the ballroom spanning as much as 120 feet support the green roof. Only with the use of steel roof joists could the structure have been as economical and quick to construct. Floors with a combination of composite beam and joist provided an efficient solution where vibration sensitivity was high and the depth available to mechanical and structure was very limited. By using a joist system, this project stayed within its budget and erection timelines. Careful selection of systems helped contribute to the targeted USGBC LEED gold status.
Advantages of the chosen structural system — Pinched within the confines of two immovable limits — the high tide mark and an existing city street — the structure above the expansive exhibition hall on the lowest level could be no deeper than 600 mm. Fortunately, a few columns could be permitted in the exhibition hall, however, the meeting rooms, ballroom, and foyer had to be clear spans.
The key solution for planning the structure turned out to be steel trusses the full depth of floor levels and in a number of cases, multiple floor levels together with long span floor framing and roof framing. Steel joists provided a key part of the puzzle by carrying heavy loads over long spans and easily integrating with the truss framing of the support walls. Ten-foot-deep trusses over the ballroom created a span between key bearing points resulting in overall efficiencies that only the joists could provide.
Project team
Structural engineer: Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers
Owner: PAVCO/VCCEP Ltd
Architect: LMN Architects, Seattle; and Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, Vancouver
General contractor: PCL Constructors Westcoast, Inc.
Steel joist manufacturer: Canam Steel Works
Steel detailer: Dowco Consultants Ltd Steel Detailing
Steel fabricator: Canron Western Constructors Ltd
Steel erector: Canron Western Constructors Ltd
Project details
Project construction cost: $883 million
Joist cost, including fabrication and erection: $5.3 million
Size (square feet): 1.4 million
Roof area using joists (square feet): 300,000
Floor area using joists (square feet): 350,000
Joist area (square feet): 650,000 (886 joists, 1,487 tons)
Joist engineering to delivery: 810 days
Joist erection: 632 days
Rip Ride Rockit tops the list for Universal Studios Orlando
First-place winner: Unique Application Submitted by Bliss & Nyitray, Inc., Coral Gables, Fla.
Rip Ride Rockit is a themed attraction ride realizing the owners need to cross-market Universal Music’s brand with Universal Studios’ theme park entertainment. Constructed at Universal Studios Orlando in Florida, the project has two main components: a roller coaster with advanced sound, video, and lighting features; and an outdoor concert pavilion. The roller coaster facilities convey the energy, excitement, and attitude appropriate to the music industry, while the performance space evokes a nostalgic note with inspiration from the classic Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. A strict budget was the ultimate control on this project. Remaining in budget and working with the limited site required tight layout programming more evocative of ship design. Visual interest was derived from the direct expression of structure and building shape, not by covering the building with adjunct elaborate facades, show sets, and props.
What makes this project interesting — The facilities on this project include very strong architectural features that encourage an immediate emotional connection or response. The most prominent of these features are the roof lines. The owner encouraged an open structure to emphasize tight site restrictions creating a sense of size and space.
Advantages of the chosen structural system — The buildings have structural steel roof systems that utilize custom arched open-web joists. Bliss & Nyitray, Inc., was able to get the desired roof shapes, even applying custom rigging loads, while taking advantage of the cost savings afforded by the joist construction. This system allowed the contractor to bring the roof in on budget while maintaining the vision developed by the owner’s creative design team.
Project team
Structural engineer: Bliss & Nyitray, Inc.
Owner: NBC Universal
Architect: BRPH Companies
General contractor: PCL Construction Services, Inc.
Steel joist manufacturer: CMC Joist & Deck
Steel detailer, fabricator, and erector: Steel Fabricators, LLC
Project details
Project construction cost: $18 million
Joist cost, including fabrication and erection: $360,000
Size (square feet): 22,476
Roof area using joists (square feet): 13,000
Joist area (square feet): 13,000
Joist engineering to delivery: 30 days
Joist erection: 30 days
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the winners, an honorable mention was awarded in each category.
Honoring Allen Canning Company’s new facility
Honorable mention: Industrial Submitted by Burrough-Brasuell Corp., Van Buren, Ark.
The Allen Canning Company has an existing food processing plant in Van Buren, Ark., that produces a variety of canned vegetable products. This client desired a new structure to be erected over the existing structure that encompassed an overbuild area of 132,500 square feet. The primary advantage of the chosen joist/joist-girder design was cost and the commitment of NUCOR-Vulcraft to an accelerated delivery schedule to match the project requirements.
Project team
Structural engineer: Burrough-Brasuell Corp.
Owner: Allen Canning Company, Siloam Springs, Ark.
Architect: Robert Bowen, Burrough-Brasuell Corp.
General contractor: Don Peters Construction
Steel joist manufacturer: NUCOR-Vulcraft
Steel detailer: MBM Enterprises and NUCOR-Vulcraft
Steel fabricator: MBM Enterprises
Steel erector: Browers and Associates
Indianapolis International Airport New Terminal and Concourses takes off
Honorable mention: Non-Industrial Submitted by Fink, Roberts and Petrie, Inc., Indianapolis
The client’s objectives for the new airport at Indianapolis, known as the “Crossroads of America,” included a modern, efficient gateway uniquely representative of the history and future of Indiana. An aerodynamic building of structural steel shaped to work with the wind and the sun was the result. The joist framing was selected as the most economical means to frame the long spans between the primary trusses. The overall tonnage was significantly less than if wide flange purlins were used.
Project team
Structural engineer: Fink, Roberts and Petrie, Inc.
Owner: Indianapolis Airport Authority
Architect: Aerodesign Group
General contractor: Hunt/Smoot Construction Managers A Joint Venture
Steel joist manufacturer: Canam Steel Corporation
Steel detailer: Mountain Enterprises (roof framing)
Steel fabricator: Cives Corporation (terminal) and Hillsdale Fabricators (concourses)
Steel erector: Ben Hur (terminal) and FA Wilhelm (concourses)
Top marks for Shepherd University’s Center for Contemporary Arts
Honorable mention: Unique Application
Submitted by Robert Silman Associates, Washington, D.C.
This new, 44,200-square-foot visual arts building is the first of three buildings to be built as part of the Shepherd University Center for Contemporary Arts. The building was designed in such a way as to allow passersby to view artwork in the making. There were several advantages to using a steel joist system for the roof frame. The lighter weight of the individual elements of the steel joists allowed for easier roof construction. The roof profile resulted in a significant variation in snow loading, and with the steel joists Robert Silman Associates was able to keep the joist a regular depth, allowing for a more consistent look for the structure below. The profile of the joist top chord allowed for a simile connection for a simple bolted nailer connection for the tongue and grove wood decking.
Project team
Structural engineer: Robert Silman Associates
Owner: Shepherd University
Architect: Holzman Moss Architects LLP
General contractor: Callas Contractors, Inc.
Steel joist manufacturer: Canam
Steel detailer: Canam
Steel fabricator: Canam
Steel erector: Somerset Steel Erection Co.
| Judges |
 R. Donald MurphyJefferson City, Mo. Murphy is retired from the Steel Joist Institute where he served as managing director and technical director from 1991 to 2004. He was associated with steel joist manufacturing for more than 50 years. His extensive knowledge of steel joist construction has proven invaluable to the Institute through service on various technical committees prior to becoming the managing director. |
 G. Wayne Studebaker, P.E.WAHA Engineering, Norfolk, Neb. Studebaker is retired after 40 years at Nucor Corporation, where he served as sales engineer, engineering manager, research manager, and general manager of research and development. He spent four years as bridge design engineer with the Missouri Highway Department. Studebaker served as chairman of the research committee for the Steel Joist Institute for 35 years. |
 Robert J. NeumannComputerized Structural Design S.C., Milwaukee Neumann is project manager for Computerized Structural Design S.C., where he has been employed since 1979. He obtained his Wisconsin registration as an architect in 1987 and is a past member of the American Institute of Architects. His familiarity with construction materials and detailing has led to investigations of material and system failures. |
 Richard A. Phaneuf, P.E.Steel Joist Engineering, Sarasota, Fla. Phaneuf is currently a structural steel design engineer for buildings and bridges in private practice. Previously, he served as director of engineering for various steel joist manufacturers. During a 16 year period, he was active on various Steel Joist Institute committees, including serving as chairman of the engineering practice committee. A graduate of Tufts University, he has assisted architects and engineers in development of standard and non-standard steel joist structures. |
|
About SJI |
