Commercial Steel Buildings for Wide Open Spaces
Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material, so steel clear span buildings allow much wider, unobstructed interior areas for commercial building projects.
How Open Floor Space Enhances Commercial Clear Span Buildings
This ability to span long distances without interior support columns is called “clear span.”
Clear span metal buildings support their own weight without the need to “prop up” the framing with load-bearing interior walls.
RHINO prefabricated steel buildings are capable of spanning up to 150’ wide on a standard quote. Open spans up to 300’ are possible with a custom order.
Design Flexibility for Commercial Steel Buildings
Not only does this clear span ability work well for commercial operations, which necessitate large open areas, it also permits greater interior design flexibility.
For example, even though an office building might not require open and unobstructed space, the clear span capabilities of steel framing make designing the floorplan much simpler.
Changing the floorplan later is also much easier with prefab commercial metal buildings. You do not have to contend with support columns in your way, nor worry about moving a load-bearing wall that weakens the building’s integrity.
Clear span steel buildings work especially well for the commercial building owner who plans to rent space.
As the tenants change, the floor plan must adapt to their requirements. Changing clear span structures to suit an incoming tenant’s desires is less complicated without support columns or load-bearing walls to consider.
In addition, the sheer size of many commercial applications demands steel clear span buildings.
Large, unimpeded space works well for commercial buildings like:
- Auto dealerships
- Churches
- Fire stations
- Fitness centers
- Health care facilities
- Larger restaurants
- Libraries
- Manufacturing facilities
- Recreational buildings
- Retail centers
- Sports arenas
- Strip malls
- Theaters
- Warehouses
Aircraft hangars definitely require the open space of pre-engineered clear span metal buildings.
Agricultural buildings for large farming equipment, commercial indoor horse riding arenas, and sports arenas also rely on the strength of steel to provide unobstructed floor space.
With commercial steel buildings that do not require a clear span interior, it is generally more economical to choose a modular frame with minimal support columns.
The RHINO Difference in Commercial Metal Buildings
RHINO’s steel building specialists deliver expert guidance in choosing the framing style best for your commercial application and budget. Call now to discuss your project in detail.
For a free estimate, call 940.383.9566.
(Updated 11-12-2021. Originally published 4-19-2013.)