Award

M A R C H 2 0 2 5 | 55 Steel Building Systems and rafters at the haunch, as well as between the rafters at the apex, to provide rigidity to the structure. The main advantages of cold-formed buildings are that they weigh less, are more affordable, and have a quicker lead time than rigid-frame buildings. They can include mezzanines, be designed with single-slope, gable-style, or gambrel roofs, and offer similar flexibility to rigid-frame buildings. Braemer recommends cold-formed buildings to clients who require clear spans of 50 feet or less, don't mind smaller sidewall bay spacings, are planning to erect the building themselves, and would like a foundation design. Since cold-formed buildings are lighter, Braemer's engineered plans include a basic foundation design for a concrete slab or piers, compared to much heavier rigid- frame buildings, which require the services of a local engineer. Toro Steel Buildings' newest contribution to the cold-formed buildings sector is its M Model, which offers a versatile and economical solution for prefabricated steel garages, commercial buildings, agricultural structures, and storage units. The M Model is marketed as featuring game-changing engineering with limitless customization options, characteristic of a company renowned for simplifying its products for end users. Toro achieves this by providing complete, easy-to-understand illustrated instructions and designing every steel building kit to require only one size of bolt, meaning every building can be constructed using simple tools and basic DIY experience. Toro says of its cold-formed offerings, "An experienced CFS building crew of three people can erect a 30- by 40- by 10-foot Gable in about four days and a 60- by 80- by 14-foot Gable in about 14 days," and adds that, "Cold-formed steel sections are engineered to withstand the harshest environmental conditions, including seismic events, high winds, and corrosion. With proper maintenance, CFS buildings can retain their structural integrity for decades, providing a reli- able and resilient solution for a wide range of applications." Suppliers of metal products that facilitate the development of steel build- ings enjoyed a thriving 2024, not the least of which was the Bailey Group of Companies (which consists of Bailey Metal Products, Bailey Metal Processing, and Agway Metals). In June 2024, it completed its acquisition of Saint-Gobain North America, with the aim of bringing a full portfolio of building solutions, both interior and exterior, to customers from the Maritimes to B.C. Products from the Canadian-owned Bailey include structural and drywall framing, the Comslab composite floor systems, roofing products, and most recently, the BMaxx Framing System – a high-performing, cost-effective, heavy- duty 118 mils stud and track system used for axial loadbearing walls and curtain walls. The superior strength and capacity of the 118 mils steel thickness are ideally suited for stud and jamb applications that require significant increases in load capacity and wall heights. Canadian-owned Vicwest has, since 1930, engineered and manufactured metal roofing and wall systems that withstand harsh weather conditions. Josh Havin, director – ICI at Vicwest, reports, "The most exciting thing for us in 2024 was that we finalized expansion into B.C. with a new manufacturing facility in Agassiz. Now we can truly say we have offices from coast to coast." Havin goes on to explain, "About 90 percent of what we do is made to order, and Agassiz will help us move product much quicker throughout B.C." Havin is looking forward to a busy 2025, noting, "We've got such a huge port- folio offering that if one of the sectors we serve goes into decline, other sectors compensate. That said, we continue to focus on our working relationship with architects, who really drive the decisions on what buildings will look like and aid us immeasurably in developing products they need." One recent example of the advantages of such a relationship is a long-term care facility in Ontario, where the architects aimed to amalgamate a new struc- ture with a historic building containing beautifully aged wood. "As it turned out, the wood matched our Smoked Barnboard print for siding perfectly and went a long way in making the amalgamation seamless," Havin says. The effectiveness of Vicwest's prints that make its Bellara steel siding so organic in appearance is due to the company having access to one of only three special scanners in the world. "With it, we've really pushed the boundaries of what you can do with building envelopes, and we'll continue to push into the New Year with more new releases – as well as further collaboration with archi- tects," Havin says. A Aqua Tech.indd 1 Aqua Tech.indd 1 2025-03-11 10:17 AM 2025-03-11 10:17 AM

• Cover