Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1517387
M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | 47 Structural Steel P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y B EN S O N S T EEL has been involved in equally demanding work in the U.S., including the Pretty Rocks Slide Bridge, a 475-foot modified Warren Truss spanning the Pretty Rocks Slide in Denali National Park, Alaska. The remote site and geotechnical condi- tions required extensive project planning, one outcome being a unique launch scheme using a temporary truss within a permanent truss. KWH managed procurement of all superstructure related materials and relied on Integrated Design Detailing to meet the compressed schedule. Construction took place dur- ing two six-month summer seasons, with KWH crews living in work camps. In Seattle, KWH supplied and installed 1,000 tons of structural steel for the Lower Podium at the Washington State Convention Center. Originally, struc- tural steel for the project was fabricated years ago in accordance with an earlier design of the convention centre addition; KWH managed the re-detailing and re- fabrication of the steel to meet the current design. In addition, it designed crane supports and temporary shoring as well as erected two levels of steel and deck- ing to meet an accelerated schedule. Among many other projects, Benson Steel spent the last two years fabricating the two new Porter Airlines Hangars at the Ottawa airport. The 150,000-square- foot facility was designed to house all of Porter's E-2 aircraft maintenance; the hangers have indoor parking for up to eight aircraft and were built with sustain- ability in mind. "We finished work over the course of the winter and are proud of the outcome," says Benson Steel CEO Steve Benson. Benson adds, "We're currently involved in the Ādisōke library in Ottawa, supplying structural steel that is being used in conjunction with extensive mass timber." At 216,000-square-foot, this $326-million facility will be one of the larg- est libraries and archives in the world when it opens in 2026; it's also on track to being the first public building of its kind in Canada to achieve net zero carbon emissions, thanks to elements such as advanced energy saving systems, a green roof, and strategically located skylights. Benson Steel provides a full range of services from design, detailing, and construction engineering, through fabrication of special steel pieces to special finishes with architectural features. Structural steel for every project is fabri- cated off-site in Bolton, Ontario; at the right time it is brought to the construction site and rapidly erected, accelerating project schedules. Benson reports that the New Year is very much a time of change for his com- pany. "I recently stepped down as president and was replaced by long-time colleague Alex Baldissera," he says. "Alex now oversees daily operations, while I'm managing the future of our company and long-term investments." Currently, Benson is scrutinizing the potential for robotics and AI to enhance operations of companies such as his. "AI is definitely on the horizon for us, but I'm still researching what it can do specifically and how it would impact the industry. Even if its role was to help us facilitate communications between our sub trades and clients, that would be enormously helpful." Benson concedes that all this is unfolding during a time of considerable headwinds. "Inflation is having a big impact on high-rise tower projects: we saw one 20-storey tower in Ontario recently cancelled and the land sold, and there are many similar examples. But I remain optimistic about the future, consider- ing that increased immigration is making housing and related infrastructure and services a priority." Steel frame erection at the Porter Airlines hangars, Ottawa, ON. COMPLEX STEEL STRUCTURES bensonsteel.com MUCH MORE THAN A HOUSE FOR BOOKS Ottawa Public Library Library and Archives Canada Ādisōke The story of this project is about two major public institutions coming together to create a place where Canadians and visitors from around the world will gather to connect, to learn, discover, and create. A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR OVER 40 YEARS