On November 19, 2025, in a live awards ceremony held online, Don Allen, executive director of the Steel Framing Industry Association, announced the nine winners and four honorable mentions of the 2025 SFIA Industry Project and Product Awards. The SFIA Awards recognize excellence in the use of SFIA-certified cold-formed steel products, which have passed mechanical, coatings and dimensions tests. SFIA-certified steel represents the top tier in steel framing excellence.

 “Each year, the bar rises,” Allen said prior to the awards ceremony. “These projects prove what’s possible with SFIA-certified steel — precision, performance and innovation working together.”

For more information and to read SFIA's Excellence Awards 2025 write up, visit here.

2025 Winners

1. raSmith

Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino, East Hazel Crest, Ill.

 

A GRFG column wrap covers cold-formed steel (CFS) framing at Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino.
Photo courtesy of raSmith.

 Low-Rise Project: The architectural design for this project pushed the limits of what is possible to be framed with cold-formed steel (CFS), requiring creative engineering solutions. The interior finishes needed attention-grabbing features throughout. With that in mind, SFIA member raSmith designed CFS framing to support 30’+ floor-to-floor heights, large openings, radiused and sloping walls and soffits and multi-tiered column covers.

2. Negwer Materials Inc.

One River Run — Kindred Resort, Dillon, Colorado

 

Cold-formed steel supplied by Negwer Materials Inc., provided long spans at One River Run Kindred Resort.
Photo courtesy of Negwer Materials Inc.

 Mid-Rise Project: This project made efficient use of CFS, using 12-inch joists to achieve the vaulted ceiling designs while maintaining a lightweight structure. SFIA members Negwer Materials Inc., Mitek and ClarkDietrich sourced CFS trusses engineered to transfer diaphragm loads effectively and minimize the overall dead load on the building. The design achieved long, open spans without the need for heavier structural systems.

3. T.J. McCartney, Inc.

 Allston Labworks, Boston, Massachusetts

 

Numerous fly-by box jambs, prefabricated on site, span a few stories at Allston Labworks. T.J. McCartney installed them using installed with a tower crane.
Photo courtesy of T.J. McCartney.

 High-Rise Project: SFIA member T.J. McCartney Inc., made extensive use of BIM and laser layout systems during preconstruction to fulfill the design intent of Allston Labworks. The project made efficient use of cold-formed steel products to eliminate the need for heavy and more costly HSS support for the curtainwall. Numerous fly-by box jambs, prefabricated on site, spanned a few stories.

4. Industrialized Construction Solutions Inc.

 West Point II Apartments, Tucson, Ariz.

 

Industrialized Construction Solutions used CFS to build a 7-story structure without a concrete podium. Vertically aligned bearing walls removed the need for concrete and red-iron transfers.
Photo courtesy of ICS.

 Efficient Use of CFS Framing: SFIA member Industrialized Construction Solutions, Inc., helped leverage CFS to build a 7-story superstructure without a concrete podium. The project features vertically aligned bearing walls that eliminated concrete and red iron transfers. Built-up CFS stud packs were used in lieu of HSS for shear wall hold-downs and balcony support. Project savings: More than $1 million.

5. CEMCO

 Mullin Transportation Design Center, Pasadena, Calif.

 

The Mullin Transportation Design Center features CFS provided by SFIA member CEMCO, products that supported the project’s LEED certification goals.
Photo courtesy of CEMCO.

 Conversion from Another Material: The Mullin Transportation Design Center features cold-formed steel (CFS) products provided by SFIA member CEMCO. CFS maximized the strength-to-weight ratio, reducing the structural load on the original slab while allowing for architectural flexibility. CFS was selected in lieu of heavier structural framing for non-load bearing partitions, soffits and ceiling structures, which reduced material costs.

6. CEMCO

 The Populous Hotel Interior, Denver

 

The Populous Hotel features CFS products provided by SFIA member CEMCO. The interior has no straight, 90-degree angles.
Photo courtesy of CEMCO.

 Architectural Design Detail: The Populous Hotel features cold-formed steel products provided by SFIA member CEMCO. Cold-formed steel was used throughout the hotel’s interior, including the rooftop penthouse area. The interior has no straight, 90-degree angles. The project team value engineered the interior wall systems with CFS to provide strength, save costs and fulfill the architect’s design intent.

7. Industrialized Construction Solutions Inc.

 Sunset & Decatur Industrial Park Phase 1, Las Vegas

 

Industrialized Construction Solutions, Inc., produced load-bearing, prefabricated CFS panels for the exterior of six warehouses at the Sunset & Decatur Industrial Park in Las Vegas.
Photo courtesy of ICS.

 Sustainable Project: This industrial warehouse complex was conceived as an energy-efficient alternative to tilt-up concrete construction. SFIA member Industrialized Construction Solutions, Inc., produced load-bearing, prefabricated cold-formed steel panels, some as tall as 35 feet. The panels allowed for a continuous insulated envelope using exterior rigid and cavity batt insulation — delivering superior energy efficiency.

8. KHS&S Contractors

 Dark Universe at Epic Universe in Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Fla.

 

SFIA member KHS&S Contractors used CFS connectors, headers, jambs and more at the Dark Universe at Epic Universe theme park.
Photo courtesy of KHS&S Contractors.

 Judges Choice: This unique theme park encompasses 6 connected structures. Collectively, they create a movie-like overlap of roof lines, “sinking” walls and chimneys and unique angles. SFIA members KHS&S Contractors, ClarkDietrich, Simpson Strong-Tie and Foundation Building Materials made efficient use of cold-formed steel (CFS) connectors, bridging/blocking, headers, jambs and other support applications. CFS played a key role in supporting many long-span ceilings and MEP systems.

9. StepStuds

 Horizontal Base Studs LLC

 

StepStuds were invented by a carpenter who, while making a flood repair, realized he could dramatically reduce flood repair costs.
Photo courtesy of StepStuds.

 Innovative Product: StepStuds from SFIA member Horizontal Base Studs, LLC, lifts gypsum board off the floor to keep it dry during most water intrusions and floods. StepStuds are simple to install — 36 seconds per 8′ piece — at floor level around the perimeter of a room. The product requires just one screw per vertical stud. StepStuds, U.S. Patent #11,702,850, has created a new category of metal studs that has never existed before.

2025 Honorable Mentions

1. CEMCO

 UCSC Student Housing, Santa Cruz, Calif.

 

CEMCO CFS catches the evening light at a UCSC housing project, where crews framed 30 buildings and two community centers in three months.
Photo courtesy of CEMCO.

 Low-Rise Project:  Crews used a mix of CFS and light-gauge framing from SFIA member CEMCO to frame 30 residential buildings and two community centers in just three months. With 130 workers and four cranes, the metal framing contractor beat the schedule despite frequent Santa Cruz rain. The team panelized the project, framing all walls off site, trucking them in and craning them into place.

2. raSmith

 The Trade Hotel, Milwaukee

 

Cold-formed steel framing played a starring role in The Trade Milwaukee, where raSmith tackled custom window systems, stacked atrium spans and more.
Photo courtesy of raSmith.

 Mid-Rise Project: This project made efficient use of CFS. SFIA members raSmith, ClarkDietrich and Simpson Strong-Tie tailored the framing design to accommodate varying floor-to-floor heights, including extra-tall levels for professional athletes. Each level was engineered to optimize material use and structural performance. Where possible, structural steel was avoided in favor of CFS. The design team communicated efficiencies through approver notes.

3. ClarkDietrich

 24th & Rio Grande Housing, Austin, Texas

 

This Austin housing project used prefabricated, CFS panels, designed to ensure secure attachment to the building.
Photo courtesy of ClarkDietrich.

 High-Rise Project: This housing project features cold-formed steel (CFS) products provided by SFIA members ClarkDietrich, The Steel Network and L&W Supply. It features prefabricated panels and a drift track attachment method. Crews stacked the panels efficiently to create a robust and seamless outer skin for the building. Prefabrication reduced time and costs, while minimizing on-site labor and material waste.

4. Maxan Interior Systems

 Westerly 2 — South Tower Canopy, Etobicoke, Ontario

 

Using CFS studs, Maxan Interior Systems, DASS Metal and MTE Consultants created sweeping canopy shapes. Image provided by Maxan.
 Image: Maxan

 Architectural Design Detail: This project employed standard cold-formed steel (CFS) studs to create dynamic, free-flowing architectural shapes. SFIA members Maxan Interior Systems, DASS Metal and MTE Consultants made meticulous calculations to ensure the structure transferred loads back to the foundational concrete and the underlying steel stud “rib” framework. The design fulfilled all aesthetic aspirations.

SFIA Awards Judging Criteria

 A panel of industry representatives judged all 2025 SFIA Industry Project and Product Awards entries based on the following criteria:

• Design Quality, such as the efficient and sustainable use of cold-formed steel (CFS) products
• Installation Complexity, including conflict resolution, timeframe challenges, etc.
• Manufacturing Complexity, including custom orders, panelization, special material sourcing and more
• Overall Job Quality, including the quality of alignments, finishes and other attention to detail
• Conversion from Alternative Framing Material, reflecting how steel framing lowered a structure’s weight, or added stories, or helped lower the project’s builders’ risk insurance, etc.

 The 2025 SFIA Awards focus on CFS manufacturing, construction and product innovation. The awards program is a complement to the Design Excellence and Creative Detail awards presented by the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute, SFIA’s sister organization.

To view Allen's live presentation of the awards ceremony, visit here.