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Nebs Fun World, Oshawa, ON M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | 23 Steel Building Systems P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y B EH L EN I N DUS T R I E S Versatility and seismic code shis fuel a surge in demand for steel building systems by ROBIN BRUNET T he steel building sector contin- ues to be one of the bright spots for the construction sector over- all, defying economic headwinds for simple reasons: commer- cial, institutional, and industrial clients need new or updated facilities, especially in the north. Plus, the manu- facturers can supply them with product that is both visually pleasing, cost competitive (compared to tra- ditional structures), and very quick to erect. Honco Steel Buildings is a prime example of a steel building company going flat-out in 2024 to meet demand. "We're so busy we're actually refus- ing jobs right now," says Genevieve Filteau, Honco's director of marketing. One reason why Honco is so prolific is because its steel buildings are self-supporting; some years ago, after undertaking research with several Quebec universities, Honco developed a patented construc- tion technology based on steel structural panels. Unlike conventional framed buildings, the weight of a Honco building and the load it supports is dis- tributed evenly over the foundation walls, the loads concentrated at the base of the columns. The advan- tage of this kind of engineering is that foundations with pilasters and reinforcements are not required; plus, a self-supporting building is much easier to build and reduces construction costs by up to 15 per- cent in some cases. Of the diverse projects Honco is currently han- dling, Filteau singles out the new Trailex facility in Rimouski for special mention. "This is a huge man- ufacturing facility for trailers in Eastern Quebec that we're in the middle of," she says. "As of January we just finished the structural work and are now focused on the interior." Designed by architect James Leeming, the Trailex complex brings all of that company's operations together in one location – and with a total space of 90,000 square feet over three structures, there is ample room for future expansion. Sean Lepper, VP and general manager of Behlen Industries, says the only thing that could top activity in 2023 for his company is the unfolding prospects of the New Year. "We came off an excellent year capped by us shipping 2.5 million pounds of steel for a Marathon Gold project in Newfoundland and working on a convention centre in Manitoba, plus we were busy with lots of welcomed bread and but- ter work," he says. "This year is shaping up nicely thanks to a very strong backlog of projects: we'll be busy right through the spring with forestry and mining projects." Key to Behlen's ongoing success is its frameless buildings and insulated metal panels. Behlen Frameless steel buildings, constructed with the company's engineered panel system, elim- inates the need for structural steel and can offer obstruction-free spans of up to 95 metres, com- pletely independent of structural elements such as columns and rafters. The lack of structural steel helps give these buildings an insulation advantage, because inexpensive batt insulation is installed eas- ily to the interior with insulation supports, thus minimizing energy loss caused by thermal bridging. As for the insulated metal panels, Behlen sup- plies a variety of configurations through its sister company, Artspan Inc. But as busy as Lepper is in 2024, he acknowledges that challenges lie ahead. "The big news this year is that the new 2020 building code with its new seis- mic requirements took effect in January," he says. "We're literally at the drawing board with our engi- neers trying to determine all the implications of the code, and designs might have to change as a result. Simply put, buildings will need more steel, and big- ger cavities will have to be created in order for us to insert a larger amount of insulation. However, this will drive more demand for our insulated metal panels, so there are definitely opportunities ahead." A broad range of capabilities is one reason why Nucor Buildings Group continues to be in high demand as one of North America's largest and most experienced manufacturers of metal building sys- tems. Its metal building brands include American Buildings; CBC Steel Buildings (which specializes in unique designs and complex projects, with a focus on energy efficient structures); Kirby Building Systems; and Nucor Building systems, which provides solutions for the agricultural, community, and retail sectors. However, Nucor also manufactures its own Metl- Span and Centria insulated metal panels to help deliver an economical and efficient building enve- lope, with a longer lifespan and less maintenance requirements. Also, in light of the ongoing push for renewable energy development, Nucor also offers a unique service with its NBG Solar Structures division. NBG provides custom-engineered elevated steel structures that support solar panels for parking garages, solar farms, carports, canopies, charging stations, ground mounts, and roof mounts. Nucor typically combines these structures with Nucor PowerShingle, an innovative solar panel system that serves as the roof of the structure and whose water- shed design eliminates leaks. This eliminates the need for costly sub-roofing that is typically required to waterproof conventional solar systems. In addition to consistently delivering quality of product as well as offering a versatile product range, Toro Steel Buildings has become a preferred source for clients in many sectors, due to the company's col- laborative approach with clients and ensuring that the right product is selected for their needs. Aiding Toro is a specialized team of designers, engineers, and customer service specialists, all of whom are experts in creating solutions for residential, com- mercial, and industrial applications worldwide. As for the buildings themselves, Toro is famous for its Quonset hut-style steel building with arch frame construction. Toro's "Q" and "S" styles both feature a curved roof, but the "S" also has straight sidewalls, allowing for the storage of larger equip- ment and machinery. Each design is available in varying widths, depending on requirements and intended use. Ben Koslik, Toro's leader, Special Projects Group, says, "Typically we deliver over 3,000 buildings internationally per year, and we have a tremendous amount of leads for 2024, especially for buildings 10,000 square feet in size or larger. Frankly, the demand is overwhelming, and I would love to hire five project managers right now just to handle the inquiries." As such, Laura Betancourt, Toro's recruitment and success manager, anticipates hiring two new sales teams in the first quarter as the company tar- gets record-breaking revenue. "The need for new talent is robust, and we're especially keen to hear from people already in our industry who are looking to maximize their potential," she says. For over 120 years, Butler Manufacturing has consistently been an innovator within the steel building sector, and two of its most recent featured products bear this out. The Butler Tier II Classic building system, which is suitable for almost any use, offers a competitive Steel On Top

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