Industries
Our Experience
Apartment, condos and even dormitories are constructed similarly to hotels. These are often referred to as “head on pillow” buildings as they are primarily sleeping quarters. The repetitive layout of the buildings provides for an efficient design and lower cost. Multi-story buildings are often constructed on top of a “podium” structure. The podium is most often a multi-story parking garage; however, other uses may be implemented.
We have experience with every type of project that includes residential units, and we know how to deal with questions and challenges that may arise along the way.
Challenges
- For load bearing structures, the stacking of loads and consideration of bearing forces/locations is paramount. Multi-story buildings can quickly develop stud axial loads in the 10-20 ton range. Special consideration must be paid to details at these concentrated forces.
- Podium structures are often designed separately between the structural engineer responsible for the entire building and the specialty structural engineer responsible for the cold-formed steel portion above. Coordination and communication between the two parties is very important.
- In many mixed-use type projects, the first level (or levels) is often dramatically different aesthetically from the upper floors. Lower-level retail spaces will often have large storefront or curtain wall glazing, whereas the upper floors will usually have repetitive smaller windows for individual units. The lower-level openings will often require a mixture of cold-formed steel and structural steel to support the large opening, and the upper levels are usually handled with cold-formed steel alone.
Recently Completed Apartment & Condo Projects
Masonicare at Mystic
Mystic, CT
Iron Engineering provided the structural design of the cold-formed steel bearing walls for gravity and lateral loads for this 250,000-square foot senior living center in Mystic, Connecticut.
All American Assisted Living
Warwick, RI
This two-story, 58,000-square foot senior living center features 58 rooms over two stories.
Fastest Turnaround
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