Vehiclular Storage Building - Structural System Preference

[32huynh]

Hello all,

We have a vehicular storage building, 135' x 99'. The building is 35' tall.

There is a requirement to have a clear span of 99' (no intermediate supports) for functionality purposes. In addition, x-bracing is not an option due to opening requirements. There is internal discussion between two systems:

1. Heavily reinforced CMU bearing walls with exterior brick. Roof framing would be structural joists.

2. Steel moment frame with exterior stud walls/brick. Roof framing would be structural joists.

Besides costs, is there one preference for one or the other and why?

Thanks for your input!

 

[JAE]

For 35 ft. tall I would study a steel frame, perhaps with masonry walls along the bottom for functional durability.
Then use braces on the sides without overhead doors.
With the sides with doors, use braces above the door headers and depend on column bending/moment frame action below.

You could use masonry for that height - perhaps a 12" block reinforced, but the lateral design along a series of large door openings might be tough to deal with.

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[spieng89]

As JAE noted, for a 35 ft. tall structure steel framing is probably your most economical solution given the spans you need as well. You can utilize portal frames instead of X-bracing. Tilt up concrete panel construction is an option as well

 

[32huynh]

Thank you to both for the quick replies!

 

[JedClampett]

I hate to bring it up, but I bet that Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB) suppliers could do this pretty economically, as long as you could put up with them doing the whole design, except the things they don't feel like doing.