Award

March 2021

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Coulee Brew Co. Brewery & Restaurant, Lethbridge, AB. M A R C H 2 0 2 1 | 25 Steel Building Systems P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY N U CO R B U I L D I N GS G RO U P The assembly starts near one end of the wall with workers bolting the wall pan- els on the footing channels that have already been secured on the foundation walls. The ceiling panels are temporary supported on the scaffolding frames by a system of screw jacks to adjust the levels, while the wall-ceiling connection and the end-to-end overlapping joints are bolted. When three modules are erected, some end wall panels are bolted at the ceiling to an end wall connecting bracket in order to temporarily brace the assembly. Honco roof truss consists of an upper compression chord (roof panels), a lower tension chord (ceiling panels), and a system of struts and gussets that link the roof and ceiling panels together. Dual chord trusses function as diaphragms to brace the building, and the roof truss assembly distributes the building load toward the bearing walls. The TC roof trusses are differentiated by their curved roof structural panels connected directly to the ceiling structural panels at the edge of the truss. The connecting joint where the roof, ceiling, and wall meet is solidly fastened by bolts to form a high-resistant assembly. For the interiors, hook systems support wood lathing, and insulation with an aluminum-FSK vapour barrier is installed between the lathing rows. Loose fill insulation is blown in the attic above the ceiling structural panels at a thickness. There are many other facets to the Honco construction process, but Filteau points out that it allows for great architectural flexibility – and openings, even large ones, can be located where needed since there are practically no structural elements along the side walls. While products such as the All Weather Insulation Panels (AWIP) and Marquis and Prestige roof systems have been widely used throughout Canada for their design performance and visual appeal, Vicwest also provides metal components that are vital to any metal buildings project. Case in point, its metal floor deck panels, which provide excellent lateral diaphragm action (thus reduc- ing the need for structural bracing) and excellent fire ratings. The HiBond (HB) Floor Deck series of profiles have embossed lugs in the web of the profile to allow for greater bonding with concrete, producing a high strength composite section. If Behlen is monitoring steel prices and Honco and Vicwest are educating clients about construction methods, then Robertson Building Systems in 2021 is interested in the advent of 5G technology and the evolution of building codes. Specifically, Robertson views the advent of 5G as beneficial to steel building companies (and the greater construction industry) because it will enable owners and project managers to provide quicker responses, give customers greater peace of mind, improve communication between teams, minimize risk, and in some situations reduce the number of people needed on a job site. Robertson views 5G as making significant improvements in manufactur- ing, design and construction, and completed buildings. With manufacturing, switching to 5G will give manufacturers more options to automate certain operations and reduce the number of people needed for each step in the manu- facturing process. For design and construction, Robertson believes 5G will bring the teams of these two disciplines together on a common communication platform with the same network. Additionally, electronic tools such as stationary site cameras and drones can be connected to the 5G network and used to document, record, and communicate on-site activity. With regard to completed buildings, Robertson predicts that 5G will soon be incorporated into construction plans; building features will not only be customized to accommodate the specific needs of the client, but the flexibility of 5G will also allow manufacturers to collect data that can help improve their offerings to customers. As for the evolution of building codes, Robertson stays current with related news by maintaining certifications and memberships with industry associa- tions, and it notes that the pandemic may change certain aspects of codes in the foreseeable future, which in turn could affect the way washrooms, plumbing, and ventilation systems in some buildings are designed and constructed. By anticipating changes such as how HVAC systems recirculate air in buildings, designers and builders of steel buildings can potentially stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge rather than playing catch-up. Meanwhile, continuous improvement is critical to Robertson, and one of its more recent new product offerings is Edgecraft, a new standard profile for gut- ter and rake trim developed to improve consistency and quality while reducing lead time – and deliver a better quality product to customers faster. Finally, Barry Boyd, district sales manager for Alberta and B.C. at Nucor Building Systems (which, along with American Buildings Company is part of the Nucor Buildings Group), reports that while business in Canada is steady in 2021, "There's no denying that the ailing oil and gas industry in Alberta has had a negative impact on us – because that province, along with B.C., has tradition- ally driven the steel buildings market in this country. "However, we're still looking forward to new opportunities in the mining and agricultural sectors, and there's lot of commercial projects underway in B.C. Ontario is enjoying a bit of a boom in steel building projects, so 2021 is shaping up to be a good year in Canada." Underscoring Nucor's continued success is something endemic to steel build- ings in general. Boyd explains, "Gone are the days of utilitarian boxes. In fact, it would be difficult for people to identify many steel buildings as made of steel, thanks to the creative architecture and traditional exterior materials used on so many projects." Nucor's strengths include being a fully custom steel building manufacturer, and that along with its design expertise and support from over 1,200 authorized builders across North America has led to spectacular projects in the past such the Coulee Brew Co. Brewery & Restaurant, a 17,000-square-foot Nucor building, located on a corner lot in one of the most high-profile locations in Lethbridge, Alberta. The beer brewery and restaurant was designed by integrating three individual pre-engineered buildings into one, adding significant cost savings to make the project viable. A

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