The steel work continues with some interesting views of how geometry is leveraged in the skeleton of the building. The building is rated to 115 mph wind load which puts it in the range of a category 3 hurricane. (I hope to never test that fact.) To achieve the strength and still require no internal structure – aka the building is defined as “clear span” – the side columns are tapered, there will be in-wall cross bracing, and the end-walls receive angled bracing. For anyone who is not familiar with tapered walls, the small end is at the bottom.

The steel crew has been busy (despite all the rain). By the end of today, all of the pillars will be in place and they have already installed all of the perlins across the roof beams.

The big task today is installing all of the drop beams and adjustable supports. In the second picture, you will see seven short beams extending down from the roof line. These are braced by tubular steel supports.

The supports are actually a tube within a tube. Once the building is squared and plum, they will check the drop beams for plum and then weld the inner tube to the outer tube to create a custom length support beam. In a few weeks, the large one-piece door will arrive and fill in the end of the building.