Traditionally, pre-engineered steel buildings have been used for agricultural, production, and also commercial and business functions. However, today’s uses for such buildings have grown to include many you may not even have considered.

One contemporary use of steel structures is for schools and universities. School boards find it pleasing that steel structures can be erected and ready for use in about half the time of a traditional structure—and then there are also the cost advantages of building with steel. Construction site labor is considerably reduced, thus reducing labor costs, and finally, the fast erection time of the structure has only a minimal impact on the daily schedules of all those attending the institution.

The car sales industry is fast becoming a great fan of steel buildings. Particularly of use is that the steel building can include a mezzanine that holds vertical parts inventory stores as opposed to horizontal parts inventory stores, which would require the addition of expensive extra floor space. However, without needing larger and more costly premises, a car sales building can simply utilize existing overhead space.

The entertainment industry is yet another sector that is turning to steel as a favored building material. The primary advantage here is the use of the clear-span steel framing design that steel I-Beam buildings provide. The result is internal floor space that is unobstructed by load-bearing pillars—useful particularly for such activities as dining, dancing, or large gatherings. Clear span configuration allows for the maximum use of internal space.

Steel buildings are being used in the construction of an increasing amount of churches and other religious buildings. The fact that churches and temples often have limited funds means that a pre-engineered steel building is an excellent economical yet modern choice. Building with conventional materials such as wood, brick and masonry can be up to twice as expensive as steel. In addition, because rigid I-Beam steel buildings bolt together easily, quite a few churches and temples with larger attendance might choose to assemble their own structures. Churchgoers with a construction background can also get together to assemble a new steel building and further save on labor costs.

Contemporary uses of steel buildings do not stop there. They are being used for municipal buildings and self-storage units, as well as recreational structures. No matter the complexity of your building’s design, or its intended purpose, you should consider the benefits of steel for your next construction project.