Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings were primarily used just for shops and warehouses, but PEMB’s are now a great option for any building type. When PEMB’s are constructed the manufacturer rarely provides the foundation design, a piece that needs to be completed by a structural engineer. Over the years we have become very proficient at this design and most efficient with construction cost. One benefit of PEMB’s is their efficiency and ability to be designed with just the right amount of steel. Shouldn’t the same kind of efficiencies be utilized in the foundation as they are in the superstructure? Constructing these buildings in high wind areas such as coastal South Carolina and Georgia can create substantial uplift on the foundation, making it critical the engineer understands how to deal with such loads.

John Harris Body Shop

Bluffton, SC (in progress).
Court Atkins Architects.

Newly designed PEMB body shop.

New pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) body shop facility. Provided the foundation design for the building, including the pits for the paint booths and the lifts. Also a high-wind region, its critical the foundation design ensures the building is properly anchored to the foundation; anchor bolt and footing design need to account for substantial uplift from the frames bearing on the foundation.

Jeff’s Beverage

Richmond Hill, GA (2017).
Ainsworth Designs, Architect.
Dewitt Tilton Group, Contractor.

PEMB designed retail store with wood framing.

New retail store facility, designed as a pre-engineered metal building (PEMB), with wood framed exterior walls and second floor. A high-wind region, its critical the foundation design ensures the building is properly anchored to the foundation; anchor bolt and footing design need to account for substantial uplift from the frames bearing on the foundation. Another important aspect ensures the slab is properly designed for the applicable forklift loading.

Preciball

Black Creek, GA (2016).
Dewitt Tilton Group, Contractor.

New PEMB manufacturing building.

New facility for the manufacturer of large ball bearings. Provided foundation design for this pre-engineered metal building (PEMB). A high-wind region, its critical the foundation design ensures the building is properly anchored to the foundation; anchor bolt and footing design need to account for substantial uplift from the frames bearing on the foundation. Another important aspect ensures the slab is properly designed for the applicable forklift loading.

Sheldon Fire Station

Sheldon, SC (in progress).
John Crouch, Architect.
Neal’s Construction, Contractor.

Two-phase project and expansion of existing fire station. 

Two-phase project and expansion of existing fire station. First phase involved new engine bay expansion, created using pre-engineered metal building components, needed foundation for the building was part of our scope. Phase two provides additional dormitory space constructed with wood trusses and concrete slab on grade. Liquefaction was mitigated structurally in accordance with accepted practices in the NHERP 2015 document. The shear and uplift due to wind and seismic is resisted with wood shearwalls and tiedowns at the ends.

Delegated design of steel connections for projects includes: shear tabs, moment connections, seismic connections for braced frames and moment frames. Not to mention a variety of one-off connection designs that have to be ‘invented’ and then analyzed for projects. We use the latest codes and expertise including AISC and AISC seismic to meet demanding engineering requirements. We also use a variety of software packages and methods to provide efficient designs.

Royal Live Oaks Academy

Hardeeville, SC (2019).
Master Steel, Contractor.
SGA, Architect and LADC, Engineer of Record.

Provided connection design as the delegated connection engineer on the project.

Structural connections design required by the fabricators delegated engineer. Particular importance in building design for special seismic requirements. An educational facility has a higher risk category (Risk Category III) than default. Included in requirements were the design of intermediate moment frames (or IMF).

Island Recreational Center

Bluffton, SC (2017).
FWA Group, Architect.
Fraser Construction, Contractor.

Provided analysis of large-span steel trusses for the project. 

Role of fabricator’s engineer to meet the requirements set forth by the Engineer of Record. Long-span steel trusses designed by the fabricators engineer. The fabricator was Macuch Steel of Augusta, GA, and RISA was the software used for analysis.

Delegated design requires the contractor or fabricator to hire a specialty engineer, presenting itself in many forms including steel connections, steel stairs, awnings, retaining walls, etc, anything the architect or engineer of record delegates to others. For steel connection design, see also steel connection section. 

Royal Live Oaks Academy

Hardeeville, SC (2019).
Master Steel, Contractor.
SGA, Architect and LADC, Engineer of Record.

Provided connection design as the delegated connection engineer on the project.

Structural connections design required by the fabricators delegated engineer. Particular importance in building design for special seismic requirements. An educational facility has a higher risk category (Risk Category III) than default. Included in requirements were the design of intermediate moment frames (or IMF).

Island Recreational Center

Bluffton, SC (2017).
FWA Group, Architect.
Fraser Construction, Contractor.

Provided analysis of large-span steel trusses for the project. 

Role of fabricator’s engineer to meet the requirements set forth by the Engineer of Record. Long-span steel trusses designed by the fabricators engineer. The fabricator was Macuch Steel of Augusta, GA, and RISA was the software used for analysis.

Timber is an ancient and most reliable building method that in today’s world still exhibits many benefits. While time-honored, with mass timber adopting new technologies, such as CLT, it has gained substantial attention over the past decade. Some aspects of mass timber require special attention to detail in meeting code requirements as well as providing desired aesthetics. We executed one of the first mass timber projects in the U.S. for a Hilton Head beach house. 

Hilton Head Beach House

Hilton Head, SC (2009).
Matt Taylor, Architect.

Innovative modern coastal home with CLT wood decking system.

Modern 10,000 sq. ft., coastal home. At the time of construction, the first residential project on the east coast utilizing new product material, CLT; considered to be one of the first CLT projects in the US. To achieve a modern look, numerous aspects of the building created interesting design challenges. To name a few: the architect’s personal challenge to eliminate exposed connections, large single and double cantilever spans, and beach location necessitated hurricane loading requirements. One aspect of hurricanes is the scour of the foundation. This house was designed with concrete augercast foundation pile support. In the event of scour, the house will still be secure due to this foundation design. In addition, seismic and liquefaction requirements are accounted for being within the vicinity of Charleston, SC.

Special Inspections was brought into the International Building Codes in the early 2000’s. These provisions require a certified third party inspector, besides the building department, provide an additional measure of quality control on projects, particularly as it relates to structural requirements. Whether we provided the design or did not, consider our team for this phase of work. 

Pinewood Fire Station 894

Burton, SC (in progress).
Court Atkins, Architect.
Fraser Construction.

Two-story addition to existing fire station providing additional dormitory space.

Two-story building addition to existing fire station provides additional dormitory space. The roof and floor framing is wood trusses, slab is a concrete slab on grade. Liquefaction was mitigated structurally in accordance with accepted practices in the NHERP 2015 document. Shear and uplift due to wind and seismic is resisted with wood shearwalls and tiedowns at the ends. 

Bluffton Centre

Bluffton, SC (in progress).
SM7, Architect.
South Coast, Contractor.

Multi-office medical facility serving growing demand in larger Bluffton region.

In collaboration with the architect on the 29E6-Step Process, we provided an ideal structural system. Three buildings utilized steel construction framework with open web bar roofing joists. The lateral system, ordinary moment frames (OMF), allowed maximum flexibility of architecture for the current design as well as future modifications. Through keen understanding of codes we were able to utilize ordinary moment frames (OMF) in lieu of intermediate moment frames (IMF) - a small difference with big cost savings through efficient engineering. 

TRU by Hilton

Beaufort, SC (in progress).
SM7, Architect.
Alpha Construction, Contractor

Four-story wood-framed hotel.

Walls and roof of traditional light-framed, wood construction. Steel used to span large areas at ground level. Situated relatively close to possible seismic activity, the project had potential for a modest amount of liquefaction. Structural mitigation was utilized in order to alleviate this occurrence.

Construction support is a key part of the 29E6-Step Process. The engineer that designed the structure should be an integral part during the construction process for a number of reasons. Namely, potential engineering interpretation and oversight helps ensure the project is built safely and according to plan. Often unanticipated circumstances arise during construction and need to be handled. Having the engineer onboard helps navigate impediments and eliminate ‘holdups’ during the construction phase. Additionally, there are often opportunities to change or even value engineer the design. As such, we see the construction phase as almost an extension of the design phase with some of the final design touches being put in place once the entire team is working together. Construction support services included, but not limited to, are: construction observation and site visits, special inspections, shop drawing review, responses to requests for information (RFI). 

Pinewood Fire Station 894

Burton, SC (in progress).
Court Atkins, Architect.
Fraser Construction.

Two-story addition to existing fire station providing additional dormitory space.

Two-story building addition to existing fire station provides additional dormitory space. The roof and floor framing is wood trusses, slab is a concrete slab on grade. Liquefaction was mitigated structurally in accordance with accepted practices in the NHERP 2015 document. Shear and uplift due to wind and seismic is resisted with wood shearwalls and tiedowns at the ends. 

TRU by Hilton

Beaufort, SC (in progress).
SM7, Architect.
Alpha Construction, Contractor

Four-story wood-framed hotel.

Walls and roof of traditional light-framed, wood construction. Steel used to span large areas at ground level. Situated relatively close to possible seismic activity, the project had potential for a modest amount of liquefaction. Structural mitigation was utilized in order to alleviate this occurrence.

Value Engineering is a somewhat subjective term that typically encourages taking another look at the design to save money. If we designed the project it’s believed to already be efficiently designed, however, there may be another approach that presents alternative value. If another team designed the project we are happy to provide recommendations on that work, bringing additional value and potential savings. 

PE Exam Education

Online instructor for ACE the PE, preparing students for the PE Exam Review Course covering the five sub-disciplines of civil engineering. The course is hosted by Professional Publications, Inc. (PPI, 2012-2017)

Continuing Education

Changes to IBC 2018 Presentation: AIA of Savannah, Allison Ramsey

Would you like us to present to a group of yours? For architects in SC we can provide one hour of CEU credits for the SCLLR license renewal. Go to our contact page and request a one hour presentation.