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Bibliothèque Monique-Corriveau library, Québec City, QC. A PR IL 2019 | 23 Steel Building Systems PHOTOGRAPHY BY STÉPHANE GROLEAU/COURTESY CSSBI Steel building systems continue to beat misconceptions by ROBIN BRUNET T he steel building realm in 2019 continues to make modest but mean- ingful advances, to wit: while market share is "growing modestly," according to Steven Fox, general manager of the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute (CSSBI), lingering misconceptions about steel build- ings are starting to fade away. Fox says, "Lack of flexibility is one of the biggest misconception we still encounter. However, thankfully long gone is the idea of steel build- ing systems being boxes. That said, we need to emphasize more aggressively to designers and developers what steel building systems can do." Although not a steel building per se, the CSSBI offers a spectacular example of just how architecturally dynamic steel structures can be via the Bibliothèque Monique-Corriveau library project in Québec. The exterior feature of this one-time church, designed by architect Jean-Marie Roy, is its tent-like roof. As part of its conversion to a library, the roof consists of over 30,000 Galvalume Plus unpainted shingles (by virtue of their small size, the shingles hug the complex curves of the roof form and also sheath the 90-foot steeple). The reflective metal blurs the distinction between the snowy ground in winter and the sky, as well as complements the glass-walled extensions to the building. While the CSSBI showcases such projects to demonstrate the versatility of steel, it's also attempting to advance the popularity of steel building systems by staging what Fox refers to as "lunch and learn" seminars. "The idea behind these seminars is that our member suppliers will visit architects and engineers in their workplace and show them their capabilities," says Fox. "We intend the seminars to be staged coast to coast, and we think more familiarity about the versatility of steel will be of great benefit to the steel building sector, as well as to fabricators." American Buildings Company (ABC), a Nucor Company, is a great example of steel's versatility, being one of the largest and most experienced manufacturers of custom engineered steel building systems in the world with a huge array of products. ABC's insulated panels embody attractive styling, are lightweight (mak- ing them very affordable due to lower shipping costs), and durable. Their clean, consistent, and high-quality appearance immediately adds value to any building, with reliable thermal performance and insulation continuity – no cavities, no gaps, no crushed insulation, and no cold bridges. ABC's products have facilitated the successful completion of many noteworthy projects, a typical one being for A.M.B Lift Inc., a full-service material handling provider in Carp, Ontario. This 16,000-square-foot facility provides space for everything from customer lift truck repairs to ordering parts for repair projects, and its exterior is finished with Long Span III panels combined with a Galvalume standing seam 360 roof. For visual appeal, few projects using ABC materials could beat the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina. Its masonry wall system for this 12,500-square-foot gable-style facility is a startling example of steel building's uncanny ability to mimic traditional structures. The Ecospan mezzanine system supports classrooms and a corridor as well as a suspended ceiling below. Butler Manufacturing is another company that is rapidly killing the lingering misconception of steel buildings not being versatile or architecturally pleasing. The company offers as a creative showcase the 13,000-square-foot Barley John's Versatile & Durable

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