The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) named DSi Engineering LLC as the winner of its Design Excellence Award, which was presented recently during the 2014 CFSEI Annual Expo and Meeting at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. The award recognizes small and large projects that exemplify excellence in the structural design of new or renovated structures utilizing cold-formed steel products.

DSi Engineering LLC was recognized for its innovative work on the David C. Barrow Elementary School in Athens, Ga. The project called for renovating a portion of the building that was originally built in 1923 (which now houses the administrative offices and classrooms for pre-kindergarten through first grade) and adding a new two-story structure that houses classrooms for second through fifth grades, a media center, specialty classrooms, a new gymnasium and a new dining facility.

“This project presented some stringent time, cost and architectural constraints that challenged the principals involved to come up with several design innovations so that the school could open for the 2013-2014 school year,” said Maribeth Rizzuto, LEED AP-BD+C, Managing Director of the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute. “The design innovations included composite steel beams with the poured concrete slabs, load distribution members, special alignment techniques for the shear walls, and composite slabs with bar-joists that allowed the loadbearing steel portion of the project to be completed in just a few weeks. The innovations, along with the inherent durability, straightness and quality of cold-formed steel framing, enabled the construction process to be completed on time and under budget?the very definition of ‘design excellence.’

“We congratulate the project team of DSi Structures; DSi Engineering, led by Steve Haddad, Project Manager; GW Design Group LLC; Odom Construction Systems Inc.; Piedmont Construction Group LLC; SP Design Group, Architects and Engineers; and the Clarke County School District on meeting all of the project parameters with innovative cold-formed steel solutions,” said Rizzuto.

The design team utilized DSi Structures’ proprietary IntelliModel software to integrate the panel design with the architectural and structural design. Using 100 percent BIM technology, the panels and shear walls were laid out in 3D along with the composite floor systems using Ecospan floor joists. The innovative DSi header system was used to ensure efficiency.

All CFSEI award entries were judged by a panel of cold-formed steel professionals on demonstrated excellence and achievement in the use of cold-formed steel based on the following criteria: design creativity, technical innovation, system efficiency and economy, constructability, complexity of problems solved and design integration.

For more information, visit www.cfsei.org.