The Steel Joist Institute has announced the winners of its 2017 Design Awards, which are presented in three categories: industrial, non-industrial and unique.
This year’s winners are:
- Industrial: The Method Home Products Factory project in Chicago. This project called for new construction of a manufacturing and warehouse facility featuring a 6,000 sq. ft office mezzanine, solar thermal hot water, photovoltaic solar panels, roof top greenhouse and daylight harvesting. At occupancy, it is the second manufacturing plant in the U.S. to be certified Platinum LEED. The entire roof was designed as steel joists and joist girders to achieve maximum economy. The open web steel joists allow in natural light from the 40 skylights, and support a 2-acre greenhouse on part of the roof. The project included 400 tons of steel joists and joist girders. Photos of the project can be viewed at http://steeljoi.st/2xb3Qey.
- Non-industrial: The Gerald Ford International Airport Parking Deck Roof in Grand Rapids, Mich. Since the original construction in 2011, this airport has never used the top parking deck during the winter. With the growth of air travel, the airport wanted to cover the top level without entirely closing the sides. For long-term protection, along with the structural steel, the final design required all of the steel joists and bridging to be galvanized. With over 600 pieces at 62 ft long, the joists were too long for single dip galvanizing, resulting in each joist being fabricated with a custom matched bolted splice at the center. Steel joists were lighter in weight and more economical than using wide flange beams. Vulcraft/Verco Group (an AISC member) manufactured the steel joists, and Builders Iron (an AISC member) was the project’s steel fabricator. Photos of the project can be viewed at http://steeljoi.st/2vKdszb.
- Unique: Philip Simmons High School in Charleston, S.C. The project covers 214,000 sq. ft and includes 275 tons of joist and joist girders, featuring 120-in. deep girders spanning 118 ft by 100 in., deep double pitched top chord “gable” joists spanning 60 ft, and KCS joists in addition to sloping parallel chord underslung joists. The use of sloping joists and double pitched top chord joists offered the architect the ability to design high and low roofs that blend with the architecture style of the Charleston area. Canam Steel Corporation (an AISC member) served as the steel joist manufacturer, and D & T Steel, Inc. (an AISC member) was the project’s steel fabricator. Photos of the project can be viewed at http://steeljoi.st/2wX1Ffn.
Judging of each project was based on flexibility, speed of construction, value and aesthetic considerations. Eligible projects included new buildings and major retrofit or expansion projects, which were constructed within the last three years and located in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. For more about the competition, visit https://steeljoist.org/design-awards.