As 2025 comes to a close, we wish our members, partners and other industry professionals a happy holiday season. Here are 2025’s top articles, nos. 11-20. Our regular publication will resume on January 6.
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BuildSteel
 From Oct. 28: Speed and efficiency define today’s successful campus housing projects. Universities are meeting tight schedules by combining prefabrication with high-performance materials such as cold-formed steel (CFS) framing and cross-laminated timber. The Golden Oaks residence hall at Western Michigan University is a recent example. Prefabricated CFS wall panels and CLT assemblies helped cut the construction time of the Golden Oaks project by 25%. Read More
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BuildSteel
 On November 19, 2025, in a live awards ceremony held online, Don Allen, executive director of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), announced the 9 winners and 4 honorable mentions of the 2025 SFIA Industry Project and Product Awards. The SFIA Awards recognize excellence in the use of SFIA-certified cold-formed steel (CFS) products, which have passed mechanical, coatings and dimensions tests. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From Oct. 19: A new Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) paper by Robert Grupe explores how the IBC’s fire-continuity rules apply to cold-formed steel (CFS) design and construction. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Continuity of Fire Resistance in Cold-Formed Steel Structures (SFIA F101-25) defines continuity of fire resistance and examines the structural implications for the wall types most relevant to mid-rise CFS projects. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From July 22: On Thursday, July 24, at 11 am ET, this Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) webinar offers an overview of galvanized steel production, coating performance, corrosion resistance and design considerations — equipping participants with the knowledge to specify galvanized cold-formed steel (CFS) in structural applications. Presented by Aaron Beckley, Worthington Steel, participants who attend are eligible for 1.0 PDHs. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From Aug. 26: Lowe’s will acquire Foundation Building Materials, a member of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), in an $8.8B deal, expanding its reach in the drywall, metal framing and other categories. FBM serves 40,000 pro customers across 370+ locations in the U.S. and Canada. Closing is expected in Q4 2025. See what this means for steel framing availability. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From Nov. 11: Developers are discovering that building with cold-formed steel (CFS) can dramatically cut insurance costs. “That 50 percent delta on the insurance number really changes the ROI,” says Clay Arvola, vice president at Lockton Companies. On one Midwest hotel, builder’s risk premiums dropped from roughly $450,000 to about $92,000 when switching from wood framing to CFS. The savings can also carry into property insurance. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From Aug. 5: By engineering a 7-story apartment building with load-bearing cold-formed steel (CFS) panels, SFIA member Industrialized Construction Solutions eliminated a concrete podium, saved over $1 million in red iron costs, shaved 3 months off the project schedule and more. The West Point Apartments II in Tucson, Arizona, is a technical success and proof that a smart material strategy can impact the bottom line. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From March 25: CEMCO is a Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) Awards winner for the Wynkoop Street residences in Denver’s River North Arts District. CEMCO’s “Efficient Use of Cold-Formed Steel Framing” category win is for maximizing the strength of the cold-formed steel (CFS) used on the mixed-use high-rise. The judges said it is a “good example that can be applied to future projects.” Read More
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BuildSteel
 From July 22: Researchers at the University of California San Diego have successfully tested the tallest cold-formed steel (CFS) framed structure ever placed on an earthquake simulator. The 10-story, 100-foot building was subjected to 18 earthquake simulations, including replicas of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, in an effort to explore the potential for increasing height limits on CFS buildings in seismic zones. Read More
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BuildSteel
 From Oct. 7: At Rancho Monte Alegre in California, cold-formed steel (CFS) tabbed box assemblies support the modernist exterior, blending with wood framing to achieve a striking double-curved facade. The striking double-curved assembly design earned McClure a 2025 CFSEI Design Excellence Award win in the competition’s Residential/Hospitality category. The award was presented by the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI). Read More
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