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Traditional categories of steel building types involving agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing applications are familiar to most consumers. There have been design innovations in recent years, however, that have broadened the categories in which steel buildings are being used for.
Automobile and truck dealerships nationwide are looking more and more to steel when considering expansion or brand new buildings. One of the advantages that a steel building offers a vehicle dealership is the ability to add a mezzanine to afford the capability of vertical parts inventory storage in lieu of more expensive horizontal plans. This precludes the need for a bigger and costlier building because previously unused overhead space can be used.
Churches are increasingly being built with steel. Most churches have limited funding available for any new construction. They quickly find out that traditional materials such as wood, brick, or stone can be as much as twice the cost of steel. As most rigid frame steel buildings simply bolt together on assembly, some congregations can erect their building themselves and save considerable construction costs. The purchase and erection of a steel building can allow a church to have a new sanctuary at a fraction of the cost of a more conventional building.
Steel has become the popular construction material of choice for entertainment facilities and nightclubs. Owners of entertainment facilities enjoy the clear-span framing system available for their venues that allows for up to 300 feet of uninterrupted floor space width. This interior column-free environment provides the maximum use of square footage under roof without obstructions limiting floor plan layouts. This can be seen in the unrestricted line-of-sight features for nightclubs and uninterrupted floor space used for dancing, dining, or hosting large parties.
Schools and universities have also realized the many advantages of building with steel. Many school boards and administrators of higher education facilities have discovered that steel buildings can be erected rapidly and put to full use in about half the time it would take for a similar sized conventional structure to be built. Any school or university can realize substantial cost savings in the on-site labor costs alone, and the quick assembly of the building will only minimally impact the schedules of year-round learning campuses.
Steel buildings are now being used, successfully, for many other applications in the 21st century including sports complexes, marinas, correctional facilities, and hotels and resorts. No matter how elaborate or distinctive the design of your new building, a steel structure may be your best choice for strength and durability.
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