It's time to unveil the biggest and the best SDS2 projects from around the globe and the winners of the 2024 Solid Steel Awards. This competition showcases not just incredible projects, but the creativity and precision of those who use SDS2 to push the boundaries of what's possible in steel detailing.
Our customers have turned complex challenges into stunning achievements. Here’s a closer look at this year’s impressive winners.
CUSTOMER'S CHOICE
BlueOval™ City Battery Plant by Mold-Tek Technologies Inc.
With 47,000 tons of steel spanning 3.1 million square feet, the Ford Motor Company's massive BlueOval™ City battery plant in Stanton, Tennessee, is one of the biggest steel structures we've ever see entered in the SDS2 Solid Steel Awards.
Due to the substantial volume of steel, the involvement of 17 fabricators, and the expedited schedule, the project was divided into seven separate models, with work happening around the clock for the first four months. The team at Mold-Tek detailed over 700 trusses, along with many SFRS members, braced framing, and fire proofed steel with intumescent paint. Working on such a massive project, Mold-Tek used SDS2's automation and time-saving features wherever they could, noting especially the connection design capabilities, a seamless ABM, automated piecemarking, and the use of macros and reports.
COMMERCIAL - SMALL TONNAGE
GRAND PRIZE
Heritage Trail West by Exactomators, Inc.
The Heritage Trail West project involved fabricating an oval-shaped spiral structure supporting a concrete walkway in Round Rock, Texas. As Jason Gonz, president of Exactomators, Inc., noted, "There might be one beam in this whole project that wasn't on some sort of slope." Architecturally exposed structural steel and specialized Cast Connex connections requiring special 1 3/4" thick gusset plates further complicated the project. Despite previous setbacks with other fabricators, the Exactomators, Inc. team successfully utilized SDS2 for 3D modeling, importing custom connectors, and exporting precise design calculations. The final project weighed in at 62 tons.
SECOND PLACE
Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs by DGS Technical Services
This renovation project for an existing church involved a lot of coordination with the fabricator and general contractor, especially for installing the HSS dome. Final design wasn’t complete until the beginning of fabrication, when they decided to lower the roof by two feet. The detailers went through several iterations on the HSS dome connections, finally deciding to have them fit tight and welded in the field, which required them to export the rollout pattern for the shop and get the correct step files, so both could be used to verify a proper fit. The renovation involved 300 tons of steel. It was originally submitted by X-Steel Detailing, now a part of DGS Technical Services.
COMMERCIAL - LARGE TONNAGE
GRAND PRIZE
MIT Music Hall by Beauce Atlas
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology commissioned a new music hall dedicated to its diverse musical programs. Despite appearing like three simple cubes connected by a centralized lobby, the project features complex connections and structural elements. A Performance Lab features an intricate roof to support lighting and sound equipment while the lobby is comprised of three conical archways. The team relied on SDS2 to design simple connections, while the more complicated connections for the arches and moment connections, as well as connection elements for rigging, were provided by an engineer. The project weighed in at 986 tons.
SECOND PLACE
Portage La Prairie District General Hospital by Abesco, LTD
The new 269,000 square-foot hospital in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, posed several structural challenges. Notably, the front entrance canopy features rolled and sloping levels, requiring hidden bolted connections to maintain aesthetic integrity while accommodating galvanizing constraints. Similarly, the circle entrance on the north side of the building utilized multiple radii and exposed steel with discreet bolted connections. SDS2 facilitated efficient detailing and connection replication across eight models, enabling seamless coordination and increased efficiency on site.
INDUSTRIAL
GRAND PRIZE
REG Biorefinery Expansion by Arteras, Inc.
The Renewable Energy Group is a leading North American biodiesel producer. This renovation and expansion project in Geismar, Louisiana, will allow biodiesel production to increase from 90 to 340 million gallons annually. This expansion consisted of 24 different modules and several unique features, including two sulfur recovery units, each requiring shop-attached structures weighing nearly 10 tons, as well as chutes which were divided into three parts. The use of SDS2 helped with erection planning, compliance with PIP standards for miscellaneous steel, and the integration of multiple paint systems by inputting paint codes in the member routing options.
SECOND PLACE
Shearwater - New Berth by LINQ, LLC
The Shearwater-New Berth marine structure consists of a variety of unique features including a vehicle access ramp, floating lead, transition apron, platforms, concrete pontoon, and pipe strut. Managing details like a 100-foot ramp and specialized connections for floating leads, all while adhering to galvanizing constraints and complex geometries, was critical. Utilizing SDS2 streamlined connection design and allowed for the creation of precise plate assemblies and other unique features for this highly versatile environment.
FINALISTS
Congratulations to all winners and finalists, along with all the other outstanding contenders who submitted projects. We can't wait to see what you submit next year!
About the SDS2 Solid Steel Awards
The SDS2 Solid Steel Awards showcase the most creative, technical, and impressive steel detailing projects being completed in SDS2 from around the world in all sectors of structural steel. SDS2 users submit their work in one of three categories: Commercial - Large Tonnage; Commercial - Small Tonnage; and Industrial. Finalists and winners in each category are selected anonymously by a panel of SDS2 judges, while the ultimate Customer's Choice winner is chosen by public vote.
To learn more about the process, submission criteria, and more, visit sds2.com/solid-steel-awards.