Construction Industry Outlook in 2019
Technology is pushing the construction industry outlook forward every day. Structures and features that were impossible just a few years ago are easily achievable now.
One example is the advancement in fabric building technology. When Legacy Building Solutions introduced fabric structures with a rigid steel frame, it made structural engineering features and options available that were previously unheard of on fabric buildings.
While custom engineering, professional installation and a dedication to quality are not innovative new construction materials, Legacy Building Solutions has combined these factors with the latest fabric building technology to create world-class structures with unlimited design options.
Collateral Load Placement
Collateral loads, which include conveyors, cranes, climate control systems and even raised platforms, can be placed anywhere on a custom engineered rigid-frame building. The same is true for Legacy fabric buildings.
Bulk storage, manufacturing and light industrial work are more efficient if the building is designed around the operation. Supporting collateral equipment from below wastes valuable square footage that would be better spent on revenue-driving activities.
Fertilizer storage building featuring an off-center conveyor.
Legacy customizes each rigid I-beam steel frame to support all applicable live, dead and point loads. This way the building can be optimized for your individual building needs without paying extra for over-designed steel beams or extra unnecessary building square footage.
Building Height
Unlike the open web trusses common on fabric building designs of the past, fabric buildings on a rigid steel frame have straight sidewalls. This results in more useable space inside the building, including the ability to operate equipment and stack stored material to the edges of the building.
The straight sidewalls also allow for the application of many different sidewall finishes, which include metal panels, precast panels and many more.
Check out this case study of an assembly hangar that soars to 82 feet high.
The straight sidewalls can extend to any height. Some activities that can benefit from additional overhead space include:
- Driving and tipping trucks
- Viewing platforms and second-floor expansions
- Manufacturing applications with overhead cranes
- Storing and assembling aircraft
- Indoor events and concerts
- Large equipment maintenance
- Transloading and covered loading
Door and Entry Options
Accessibility is a requirement for any building. This means access for personnel, heavy equipment, machinery and manufactured components.
Some applications may require large access points, such as MegaDoors or overhead doors. Occupied buildings can use multiple doors to allow for quick entry and exit, or a separate entry path for people and machinery.
Freespan Space
Interior support columns create hazards for your equipment and reduce the available storage space. With the engineered confidence of a rigid steel frame, Legacy buildings are available in any size (up to 300+ feet wide) without support columns. This allows more room for revenue-producing activities inside the building, like bulk commodity storage, athletics, aircraft hangars and more.
Custom Engineering
One benefit of Legacy’s rigid frame buildings is that they are custom engineered, which allows them to meet necessary building codes while maximizing the investment.
See our case studies page for some examples of innovative engineered designs.
Legacy buildings are designed using the same proven engineering methods and software that is used worldwide to design thousands of buildings each year. This proven system has passed the test of time and is not dependent on an individual engineer calculating each part of the work.
Many fabric buildings are constructed using a truss system. These trusses are unique designs specific to one manufacturer.
Open web trusses also have limited design options. Trusses are typically fabricated in standard sizes, leaving customers to often choose a building that is not optimized for their specific application. Trusses are also prone to movement under environmental loading such as wind or snow. This often leads to increased maintenance and downtime on conveyors and collateral loads when compared to similar systems hung from a rigid frame.
Constant Innovation
Legacy Building Solutions continues to push the envelope to make fabric buildings better, safer and longer-lasting. A team of experienced builders, designers and installers meets regularly to discuss potential improvements to the building system.
With this experience and commitment to improvement, the Legacy team is prepared to meet the needs of nearly any building application. Our commitment to using established engineering principles as well as new trends in construction technology makes us the perfect partner for any project.