On May 22nd, a select group of developers and private contractors from around the state traveled to Durham for an Open House at the Carolina Steel Construction (CSC) plant. Formed by a partnership    between UDI CDC and Initiative Capital, CSC specializes in the design and manufacture of panelized steel framing for both  residential and commercial applications.

The event included an information session highlighting opportunities in light gauge steel framing, a tour of the facilities and a panel discussion. Throughout the day, factory technicians ran demonstrations inside the plant and even assembled a small steel structure in the parking lot to show the product’s efficiency and ease of assembly.

With the highest strength to weight ratio of any building material on the market, steel has become the standard in both industrial and commercial construction over the past two decades. Non-corrosive, fire resistant, termite-proof, mold-free and 100% recyclable, steel is a higher quality product than wood across the board. CSC has recognized the opportunities that steel represents for the residential market and, in addition, is bringing the benefits of steel to the affordable housing arena.

Kim Godon, a contractor with Brick Capital CDC in Sanford, spoke of her experience with CSC’s residential steel framing product. Thus far, she has competed two CSC houses and has four more on order. Godon has a background in industrial construction and agreed to accept the job on the condition that the houses be framed in steel.

“Lumber used for housing gets wet, it’s cut too early, it expands, it contracts, it rots, it catches on fire,” Godon said. “But when building with metal, particularly the CSC panelized steel system, there is no guess work. The product arrives with the exact dimensions and all the necessary pieces, and within three days the house is completely dried in.”  (cont. on pg 3)