COVER STORY
By Tina Cauller
Careful Sequencing Bel Air High School, El Paso, Texas Class III ($1 million to $2.5 million) Erector: Alliance Riggers & Constructors Fabricator: Basden Steel Corp. Detailer: Steelweb, Inc. Structural Engineer: Stubbs Engineering, Inc. Construction Manager: Banes General Contractors, Inc. Contract Value: $1.9 million Tons of Steel: 1,400
Erectors team up with other specialists to coordinate successful projects
The complex was framed with exposed long span trusses to support both the upper level and roof.
Kinder Building at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas Class IV (Over $2.5 million) Erector: Peterson Beckner Industries Fabricator: Myrex Industries Detailer: Myrex Industries Structural Engineer: Cardno Haynes Whaley and Guy Nordenson & Associates Construction Manager: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Contract Value: $3.2 million Tons of Steel: 1,800
Capital One Hall, Tysons Corner, Va. Class IV Honorable Mention Erector: Metrolina Steel Erectors, Inc. Fabricator: SteelfFab, Inc. Detailer: Prodraft, Inc. Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti Construction Manager: WhitingTurner Contracting Co. Contract Value: $6.5 million Tons of Steel: 3,030
T
hree steel projects in Classes III and IV were honored in SEAA's Projects of the Year competition in April 2020. All three involved complex geometries and large members. In Texas, Alliance Riggers & Constructors and Peterson Beckner Industries undertook athletic and art facilities, while Metrolina Steel Erectors (Honorable Mention) cashed in on a large event space.
■ Stacked Assets The Ysleta Independent School District In El Paso, Texas needed a modern athletics complex with multiple uses to include basketball, volleyball, dance, wrestling, gymnastics, cardio, and strength training. The existing gym would be replaced with a three-level complex on the same location. The 98,000 sq. ft. complex utilized glass, architecturally exposed structural steel, and minimal concrete. The lower level houses the main competition court with bleachers, locker rooms, staff offices, and storage. The ground level wraps the lower-level gymnasium with viewing and walking areas. The upper level supports additional practice courts, track, dance, gymnastics, and wrestling areas. Phillip Cordova of Alliance Riggers & Constructors noted, “I have traveled the world and Tina Cauller is a graphic designer and freelance writer with 30 years of experience reporting for trade and technical publications in building construction and real estate markets. She can be reached at tinacauller@ gmail.com
26 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
I have never seen a facility like this one. The stacked design presented unique challenges for stabilization during construction. We worked with the engineer and the fabricator on site to phase the project and keep everything within proper tolerances.” The facility was surrounded by existing buildings on three sides, a four-lane highway to the east, an open and occupied school campus, and limited site access from one residential street. Additional challenges included planning erection and rigging of large trusses, floor decking that exceeded 400 lbs. per sheet, and creating temporary bracing of the structure during erection.
Steel as a design element The complex was framed with exposed long span trusses to support the upper level and roof. The lateral system used a combination of cast-in-place shear walls and brace frames, limited to the perimeter of the building to meet the architect’s goal of an open space concept. The design stacked two long span trusses on top of one another with 40 ft. elevation difference.