There have been many attempts to use different materials for the structural support systems of buildings over the years, but stainless steel is not one that I have come across before. The BROAD Group, based in China, recently highlights a multi-story, cantilevered building made entirely of stainless steel.
The company says that the building method is similar in cost to a more traditional concrete building and that the factory made panels allowed this particular building to be constructed at a rate of 3 floors per day. The secret sauce to them building with stainless steel is their BCore slab, which is a series of thin stainless steel tubes sandwiched between stainless steel plates to create the floor slabs.
Stainless Steel BCore Slab, via YouTube
According to the video description that BROAD posted on their YouTube video of the building, these stainless steel tubes are attached through a brazing process peaking at over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. They also claim that the stainless steel structures they create are 5 times stronger and 10 times lighter than structural steel and can withstand a 9.0 earthquake.
The cantilevers on the F Tower, which sits on BROAD’s headquarters campus in China, extend out as much as 55 feet.
For more details about the building’s design and construction, you can check out the video below:
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.