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44 | A PR IL 2018 Structural Steel In contrast to such a large project, Walters is currently getting ready to begin fabrication and installation of 280 tons of structural and miscella- neous steel for a Hamilton, Ontario plant. Selected by the Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W), their scope of work involves erecting the steel structures surrounding the B&W blast furnace gas-fired TSSG boiler and auxiliary equipment. Fabrication and install of several truss columns – two of which are 68-feet tall - and the 17-feet by nine-feet by 56-feet stair tower (which will be installed in one piece) are designed to minimize field work and maximize shop fabrication by taking advantage of Walters' close proximity to the job site. Steel erection is commenc- ing in the spring, and the project is expected to be completed later this fall. Walters also recently completed its role of fabrica- tion, painting and erecting at the Laurier Brantford YMCA Athletic & Recreation Centre in Brantford, Ontario. Feature elements included seven 115-feet span AESS trusses, eight girders and two cantilever trusses, each 140-feet long by 22-feet wide, which will be exposed to view within the new fitness cen- tre. With large truss lifts at the site, logistics and planning was key with a full street closure required to successfully complete their scope of work. Although the Richmond Oval will probably always be mentioned in association with KWH Constructors, the company points to a much smaller but no less intricate project as a prime example of its expertise in complex structural steel elements. When the Robson Square Plaza ice rink was lengthened some years ago the roof structure underwent an upgrade, and new 144,000- pound elliptical stainless steel domes had to be tightly fit into the existing supporting "semi-circu- lar" cantilevered concrete beams. The intricacy of the geometric domes required precise detailing and fab- rication in order to have all connections work. Each piece of the dome was preassembled to ensure a per- fect fit during installation at site, and because of their sheer size and weight, each dome was spliced into four sections for transport. Just as KWH's most famous achievement to date is the Richmond Olympic Oval, Quebec-based Supérmetal still regards its work on the International Facilities Project for the Calgary International Airport as one of the most challenging installations it has ever engineered, fabricated, transported, and erected: 8,000 tonnes of structural steel, including 2,000 tonnes of architecturally exposed structural steel, was used for the airport concourse. Finally, M&G Steel Ltd. has provided advanced steel fabrications for architects and general contractors for over 25 years, and by combining the capabilities of sister companies TAGG Industries and KMI (which together encompass extensive glass, metal panel, and steel capabilities), it can create complex architectural structures and enclosures and act as a single point of contact for construction management. Among the many projects that M&G continues to promote as an example of its expertise is the design of a 58-foot-long by 36-foot-wide elliptical steel ring supported on a 12-foot-long structural frame of sloping diagonal steel leg braces for a large sky- light inside Yorkville Village. M&G used BIM to design the steel framework and ring, and project manager Brian Thompson has noted that "We had to provide the tube roller Durose Manufacturing with 12 three- quarter-inch pipes to roll to various points to meet the geometry of the elliptical ring." As challenging as the structural steel market may be, Thompson offers advice on how those in the indus- try can prevail. "Pricing can get tough, as the market has created interest for many steel competitors both foreign and domestic," he says. "Each fabricator and installer must gravitate to their niche of work in the marketplace that stands them apart and makes them more competitive than other steel companies." He adds, "With the evolvement of rapidly changing IT system and new types of construction contracts, it would be fair to say that all steel fab- ricators have to continually review how they are running their businesses in order to stay above water. We must all remain positive for the sake of the current industry and the sustainability of the steel market." A Laurier Brantford YMCA Athletic & Recreation Centre, Brantford, ON. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY WALTERS GROUP www.bridgeelectric.com • Commercial • Institutional • High-rise Residential • Light Industrial • Fully Equipped Service Fleet • Engineered Design Build • Serving the Lower Mainland since 1982 604.273.2744 Ask us about our commitment registration #10546 Bridge Electric.indd 1 15-11-10 9:22