What sets our Cold-Formed Steel Engineering team apart
raSmith’s Cold-Formed Steel Engineering Group delivers framing designs and shop drawings that keep projects moving through responsive turnaround and precise, constructible detailing. As one of the largest and most experienced cold-formed steel engineering teams in the U.S., we support architects, developers, builders, and contractors with designs that improve constructability, reduce coordination issues, and streamline installation. From early concept through construction, our specialists provide the production capacity and technical depth to meet aggressive schedules with confidence. Our cold-formed steel solutions are tailored to each project's structural complexity, budget, and schedule.
raSmith offers specialized expertise in cold-formed steel engineering (also referred to as light gauge steel engineering), providing services to industry partners across the United States. As a leading cold-formed steel engineering team, we support projects nationwide and continue to expand our reach into new markets. Our work includes conventional structural system design, cold-formed steel framing design, and finish systems design.
Our team brings decades of experience in cold-formed steel engineering, strengthened by the 2018 acquisition of Matsen Ford Design Associates—a respected leader in the field since 1987. Many of our current staff members joined raSmith through Matsen Ford, contributing deep technical knowledge and a strong legacy of innovation in this specialized market.
This expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including residential, sports, retail, educational, healthcare, mixed-use, industrial, senior living, and hospitality projects. Our competitive pricing and responsive service are valued and recognized by our clients nationwide.
Cold-Formed Steel Services
raSmith's cold-formed steeel engineering team provides the following services. For projects that also require conventional structural design, see our structural engineering services.
Multi-story load bearing
Exterior curtain wall framing
Pre-fabricated wall panel design
Raised platform framing
Interior framing
Exterior façade renovations
Pre-finished panel design
Blast design
Why Use raSmith as Your Cold-Formed Steel Framing Engineer?
raSmith's design expertise in cold-formed steel framing enables us to deliver efficient, economical solutions tailored to each project. Our steel engineering services support every phase, from preliminary member sizing through construction, helping keep projects on schedule and moving forward with confidence
- Lump-sum, competitive pricing.
- Preliminary member sizing to support bid estimates.
- Typical turnaround of two to three weeks (please contact us for current lead times).
- Responsive support and fast turnaround when questions arise during design and construction.
- Design solutions adjusted to accommodate project-specific preferences.
- On-call engineering support throughout design and construction until project completion.
- Independent cold-formed steel engineering (not tied to proprietary products), helping reduce overall project costs.
- High-quality, detailed, installer-friendly shop drawings.
- Minimized use of proprietary connector requirements.
- Extensive experience across a wide range of building types.
- Licensed design professionals supporting projects throughout the United States.
Sample cold-formed steel detail and shop drawings
What Is Cold-Formed Steel Framing?
Lightweight, cold-formed steel members (typically “C” shapes) are assembled in various combinations to provide efficient, versatile, structurally sound framing systems for load-bearing walls, curtain walls, partitions, floors, and roofs. They have been used to provide the entire support for buildings up to 12 stories high, and are routinely used as secondary structural systems for heavy steel or concrete structural frames. Cold‑formed steel offers opportunities for material cost savings, reduced structural requirements, and faster construction across buildings of any type, shape, or size.
They are easily insulated for energy conservation, provide an incombustible support for fire-rated construction, accommodate almost any exterior or interior facing, and are highly suited to pre-assembly into panels.
Prefabrication and Panelization
Prefabrication and panelization lead to improved quality control and construction speed. Framing contractors prefabricate wall and floor framing assemblies in advance in their shops or in fabrication facilities set up at or near the job site. Specifically designed assembly fixtures assure accurate dimensioning and alignment as well as place all operations at convenient working height for fast, efficient production.
As erection proceeds, the framing for a large floor or wall section is positioned, plumbed, and attached as a unit in a fraction of the time required for conventional stick-by-stick construction. Erection of steel on steel before floors are poured can avoid the delays in waiting for concrete pouring and curing.
Lightweight cold-formed steel framing can provide the entire structural support for midrise buildings of several stories, including designs with provisions to meet stringent high seismic loading requirements. This type of construction is also readily adaptable to curves, recesses, and other architectural treatments.
In curtain wall applications, sheathing and facing materials are frequently pre-applied to the framing assemblies. As these panels are installed, both framing and enclosure are accomplished in one operation. Properly framed door and window openings are included. Three-dimensional panels may be fabricated for column enclosures and other dramatic architectural features.
Cold-Formed Steel Framing Benefits: Simple, Safe, And Strong
Cold-formed steel framing offers architects, builders, and specifiers a range of features and benefits that all contribute to shorter construction times, lower material costs, safer structures, and faster revenue generation. Steel is strong, safe, durable, versatile, and cost-effective. Steel has the exceptional environmental advantage of being highly recycled and infinitely recyclable. Steel is tough and does not rot, spall, split, or absorb moisture, and is resistant to pests, unlike other building materials. From an aesthetic or architectural viewpoint, steel structures can easily deliver creative design options and excellent value. (Provided with permission from the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA).)
raSmith's Cold-Formed Steel Expertise
Steel Framing Industry Association Case Studies
raSmith has contributed to several case studies prepared by the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA). These case studies offer real-world examples of how cold-formed steel has been critical to the success of these projects:
- The Trade Milwaukee (SFIA/BuildSteel Feature)
- Cleveland Clinicm Cleveland, OH
- Wheaton Courthouse Square Case Study, Wheaton, IL
- City Green Case Study, Milwaukee, WI
- Convent Hill Case Study, Milwaukee, WI
Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute Design Excellence Awards
raSmith has received several Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) Design Excellence Awards for projects throughout the United States.
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH - 2025 (Third place - commercial)
- Office Building @Ovation, Newport, KY - 2023 (First place - commercial)
- Advocate Aurora Health Care - Lake Villa Clinic, Lake Villa, IL - 2023 (Third place - municipal/services)
- Starbucks (Staten Island), Staten Island, NY - 2023 (Second place - commercial)
- The Rosie, Chicago, IL - 2023 (Second place - residential/hospitality)
- Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, KY - 2022 (First place - municipal/services)
- SOS Children’s Village Roosevelt Community Center, Chicago, IL - 2021 (First place - residential/hospitality)
- Hub State Street, West Lafayette, IN - 2020 (First place - residential/hospitality)
- Stew Leonard’s, Paramus, NJ - 2020 (First place - commercial)
- The Rose Hotel, Chicago, IL - 2019 (First place - residential/hospitality)
- Dream Nashville Hotel, Nashville, TN - 2019 (Second place - residential/hospitality)
- Apple Store – Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL - 2019 (Third place - commercial)
- 1600 West Loop South Ballroom Ceiling, Houston, TX - 2018 (First place - commercial)
- The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, Gainesville, FL - 2017 (First place - municipal)
Professional Association Involvement in the Cold-Formed Steel Industry
raSmith’s cold-formed steel engineering group leaders Jeff Derra and Pat Hainault have been active in the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) and Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) for the better part of their careers. Pat Hainault currently serves on the CFSEI Executive Council.
Pat Hainault is a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Jeff Derra is a member of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI).
