Owner: Central Steel

Location: Pelham, AL

Project Size: 8,000 SF

Awards: AIA Alabama 2022 Merit Award

A two-story replacement building to allow for future growth and foster a better work environment with the addition of a patio, bath house, and locker.

Central Steel’s original building office was destroyed by a fire, and the business was setup in temporary facilities. The site was difficult due to the operational warehouse building to the north, limited parking reduced to the east by the temporary office, and existing city street and utilities (overhead power and telephone lines) extending beyond the site to the west. BPA was tasked with designing a two-story replacement building to allow for future growth and foster a better work environment with the addition of a patio, bath house, and locker.

The existing slope of the site to the west limited the building pad as well and required careful study from a rain and storm water perspective, as there were existing businesses at a lower elevation.

The building façade was constructed using Central Steel’s own self-weathering cold-rolled steel panels manufactured from 22-gauge ASTM A606-4 self-weathering steel. The client’s intent was to use their own manufactured steel on the exterior and throughout the building to promote the diverse uses of their steel products. Central Steel continues to use their office building to build their personal brand and create promotional material. The exterior has been weathered naturally over time and the patina serves as a barrier to the environment and future corrosion. The utilization of Central Steel’s own products wrapping the façade, allowed for the design to highlight the work within the structure.