Con-Agra Foods National Headquarters

Location : Greeley, CO
Project Completion : 2002
Architect : The Neenan Company (design/build)
TrusSteel Fabricator : Rigid Components, Longmont, CO
Project Description : Corporate Headquarters
 
Description
ConAgra is North America's No. 1 foodservice manufacturer and is the second largest retail food supplier. They produce both consumer brands for the grocery store and foodservice brands served in restaurants, hotels, schools and other institutions. They are best known for familiar household brands like Healthy Choice, Jolly Rancher, Butterball, Banquet, Hunt's, Orville Redenbacher, Reddi-Whip, Slim Jim and Armour.

McDonald's Restaurant

Location : Lebanon Junction, KY
Project Completion : 2004
Architect : Architectural Concepts, Indianapolis, IN
TrusSteel Fabricator : Tri-State Cold-Formed Steel
Framing Contractor : Coupe Construction Co., Louisville, KY
Project Description : chain restaurant
 
Description
New Trusses Under Golden Arches.  Ever wonder what was under that red mansard roof at your local McDonald's? It could be TrusSteel trusses.

Regency Office Building

Location : Des Moines, IA
Project Completion : 2004
Architect : Simonson & Associates, Des Moines, IA
General Contractor : Regency Commercial
TrusSteel Fabricator : Cascade Manufacturing Co, Cascade, IA
Project Description : Commercial office building 

Liberty Office Building

Location : Milwaukee, WI
Project Completion : 2002
TrusSteel Fabricator : Cascade Manufacturing Co.
Truss And Roofing Installer : Lange Drywall, Inc. - Waukesha, WI
Project Description : Commercial office
 
Description
Radius curved beams presented the design challenge of maintain correct overhang length and fascia heights at the same point. Long overhangs also required additional engineering and design considerations to prevent excessive deflection under load. The installer, Lange Drywall, Inc., was very impressed with the balance and stability of the TrusSteel product - a very important benefit when erecting trusses 30 feet above the ground.

First National Bank of Ardmore 

Location : Ardmore, OK
Project Completion : 2001
Architect : Barrett & Corner Architects, Ardmore, OK
General Contractor : Kornhaas Construction Inc.
TrusSteel Fabricator : Ardmore Construction Supply, Ardmore, OK
Area Under TrusSteel : 6100 SF 
 
The Story

Why would an experienced and successful wood truss manufacturer look for a truss job to build with steel? "I could say it was just time to try something different, but it was more than that," says Mark Ellis, whose Ardmore Construction Supply in Ardmore, Oklahoma has built Alpine trusses for 20 years.

"I'd been looking for the right project for nearly two years, ever since I heard about TrusSteel light gauge steel truss framing system. It had to be the kind of job I wouldn't have gotten in wood," he says. When Rob Barrett of Barrett and Corner Architects showed him the preliminary plans for the branch office for First National Bank of Ardmore, Ellis knew it was the one. The building would be 3,100 square feet plus a 3,000 square-foot drive through canopy. Roofing would be covered with concrete tile.

Ellis helped Barrett with TrusSteel cold-formed steel architectural and engineering issues as the plans were finalized.

Fred Pruitt, job superintendent for general contractor, Kornhaas Construction, Inc., was concerned about installing the trusses, then setting the roofing and concrete in a conventional manner. "The trusses were extremely tall and my men would have had to stand 13 feet off the ground to erect them," he recalls. "I didn't want them climbing or wearing safety harnesses any more than they had to."

Instead, the decision was to assemble the trusses in three sections on pony walls at ground level and brace them with plywood sheathing. Then, the sections could be lifted with a crane and lowered into place on the building frame.

The entire roof was set in a single day. "This approach negated the need for additional safety equipment, reduced production time and saved labor costs," Pruitt points out.

"We're very pleased with the results," Ellis says. "The light gauge steel trusses proved to be strong, lightweight, and very cost competitive. That last part is important, of course, especially when you're dealing with a bank."

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