In January, Nucor Steel Louisiana started production at its new direct reduced iron (DRI) plant in Convent, La. The $750 million, reduced iron plant is the first phase of a planned $3.4 billion complex that could employ 1,250 people while producing an expected 2.5 million tons of steel and steel feed stock each year.
As part of the project, Laplace, La.-based Regal Construction LLC was the design-builder for the iron plant’s 14,000-square-foot administrative building, 10,000-square-foot multipurpose building, and 7,500-square-foot laboratory and control room building. All steel products contained in the support buildings were manufactured using steel produced solely by Nucor and its sister companies, including the pre-engineered metal buildings provided by Gulf States Manufacturers, based in Starkville, Miss. In addition to the steel structure, additional Nucor steel products included all metal stud framing, metal doors and frames, lockers, HVAC ductwork, sprinkler piping, water heaters, light fixtures and electrical gear.
The administration building includes 32 offices, three conference rooms, first aid and treatment rooms and the main information technology room. The multipurpose building has a 200-seat training room, dining facilities, and locker rooms with showers to accommodate 150 Nucor personnel. Offices, three labs and the main plant control room make up the laboratory and control room building.
Gulf States supplied 77 tons of steel for the administration building, 57 tons of steel for the multipurpose building and 70 tons of steel for the laboratory and control room. In addition to the metal building structure, Gulf States supplied its standing seam Roof-LokPlus panels and Wall-Lok concealed fastener metal wall panels. Both systems feature a 70 percent Kynar resin paint system. The building also has a brick veneer and large missile-resistant storefront aluminum windows and doors. Kawneer Co. Inc., Norcross, Ga., supplied the aluminum entrances and storefront windows, while Assa Abloy, New Haven, Conn., supplied its HM doors and frames.
The pre-engineered metal buildings were set on heavily steeled reinforced rigid foundations. The structures were designed for Category 4 hurricane protection with winds up to 142-mph, along with shelter-in-place designation.
“It was a very rewarding to build for a client that has long served us as their valued customer,” says Marc Bourgeois, president of Regal Construction. “We were also honored to construct a facility that will have such a significant impact on our state’s economy for years to come.”
Support Buildings for Nucor Steel Louisiana, Convent, La.
Award: Eagle Award in the Pre-Engineered Building-All Contract Amounts category of Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Excellence in Construction Awards
Owner: Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC, Convent
Architect: Scairono-Martinez Architects, New Orleans
Design-builder: Regal Construction LLC, Laplace, La.
Installer: R. K. Wallace Construction, Jayess, Miss.
Aluminum entrances/storefront windows: Kawneer Co. Inc., Norcross, Ga., www.kawneer.com
Doors and frames: Assa Abloy, New Haven, Conn.,
www.assaabloy.com
Metal building system: Gulf States Manufacturers, a Nucor company, Starkville, Miss., www.gsmnucor.com