Steel erection starts with a delivery calendar, not a crane. Shop drawings, mill orders, fabrication slots and trucking all have to line up before the first column is set, and a late shipment of base plates or a missing bracing member idles the crane at a cost that dwarfs the part. We plan erection backward from the date the roof has to be closed, and we confirm each fabrication milestone against that date, not against a promise.
Structural steel suits Front Range industrial work where a building needs wide bays, heavy loads, crane runways, mezzanines or process structures. A food and beverage plant, a metal fabricator and a machining facility all need framing that can carry equipment as well as a roof. We schedule and inspect the erection of the columns, beams, joists, deck and bracing, and coordinate the connection work and special inspection that make the frame structurally complete.
Brewing is a good example of how demanding the work gets. Molson Coors broke ground in October 2020 on a multi-hundred-million-dollar overhaul of its brewery in Golden, adding fermenting, aging and filtration capacity on a schedule that ran into 2024. Process buildings of that kind carry vessels, piping and platforms that load the frame in ways a simple warehouse never does.
What erection includes
Erection scope begins with verifying the foundations: the location, elevation and projection of every anchor bolt, and the grout or leveling nuts at each base plate. Errors found here are cheap to correct, and errors found after columns arrive are not. We survey the anchor bolts, report deviations to the engineer and agree on corrections before steel is released to the field.
From there the sequence is columns, beams, joists, bracing, deck and, as required, edge angles, openings and embeds for other trades. Columns are plumbed and the frame is braced as it goes up, then final bolting and welding follow plumbing. Metal deck is installed and secured, and the roof is ready for insulation and membrane. The base conditions come from drilled pier foundations or spread footings, and we coordinate with the foundation crew on pier top elevations.
Erection we manage closely
Managing the erection closely gives us control over crane time, bolting crews and safety. We schedule ironworking trade partners who know the connection types, the field-welding procedures and the sequence for stability. When a detail does not fit, the foreman who raised the steel can talk to the detailer directly, which shortens the delay. Our supervision covers rigging plans, pick weights and the placement of cranes on mats designed for the load.
Field welding follows qualified procedures with welders certified for the work, and bolted connections are tightened and inspected to the specified method. Special inspectors verify the work, and we keep records for the turnover package. For standard mezzanines and platforms that join the frame, our mezzanines, catwalks and platforms scope is managed by the same team, so the interface is controlled.
Fall protection, stability and wind
Steel erection is one of the highest-risk activities on an industrial project, and federal rules set specific requirements for fall protection, column stability, walking and working surfaces and crane operations. We write a site-specific erection plan before work starts, covering connection methods, bracing, decking and controlled decking zones, and we hold the plan until the crew has reviewed it. Anchor bolt checks, column anchorage and stability bracing are verified before the first beam is attached.
Weather changes the plan on the Front Range. Wind limits crane lifts, and cold weather affects bolts, welds and surfaces. The Lakewood city handout lists wind Exposure C and a 30 psf ground snow load among its design loads, numbers the engineer carries into the frame design and that we respect while the frame is still unbraced. We monitor forecasts, stop picks at the crane's wind limit and secure loose material at the end of each shift.
Mill orders, fabrication and the winter window
The long-lead item is rarely the steel itself; it is the connection of design, detailing and fabrication. Shop drawings must be submitted, reviewed and released for fabrication, and each cycle adds weeks. We bring the detailer to the table during design-build or preconstruction and release anchor bolts and base plates early, so foundations proceed while the rest of the steel is being fabricated. This follows the same logic as our long-lead procurement management approach.
Winter erection is possible with planning. Ice and snow on steel are safety hazards, and cold affects weld preheat and bolt tension. We clear surfaces, adjust procedures and control the erection sequence to keep stability margins. In snow country the design loads change with elevation. Glenwood Springs sets a minimum ground snow load of 50 psf within city limits, scaling with finish floor elevation, so the frame we erect there is heavier than the same plan on the plains.
Buildings that use a steel frame
Steel is common in manufacturing plants, flex buildings with offices and process areas, and facilities with crane runways. Tenants who need the flexibility to rearrange equipment often prefer a steel frame because it can be modified later. Our work on flex and light industrial buildings shows how steel gives owners column grids and clear heights that work for multiple users.
Process and food plants also use steel for platforms, pipe racks and equipment supports. Those structures need coordination with the equipment vendor's load data and clearance. Our food and beverage experience emphasizes washdown, corrosion protection and sanitary detailing. Coatings, galvanizing and connection details are selected for the environment, not just for cost.
What changes the steel price
Tonnage, complexity and connection type drive the price, and so does timing. Steel prices move with the market, and a quote has a validity period. We lock pricing as early as the design allows. Complicated geometry, heavy members and a high number of unique connections increase detailing and fabrication cost, and simple repeat details cost less. Our preconstruction group tests alternate framing schemes against budget to find savings without compromising function.
Erection costs include crane time, labor and equipment, which depend on site access, building height and the lift plan. Cold weather and wind add cost through lost days. We show those risks as allowances rather than hiding them in contingency. If the project needs a high bay with a crane, see high-bay crane-ready buildings for the structural additions that follow.
Release anchor bolts and base plates first
Share the structural drawings and the target roof-close date and we will return an erection plan, a fabrication milestone list and a crane strategy. Contact Industrial Contractors of Colorado to start.
Common Questions
How early should steel be released for fabrication?
As soon as the structural design is stable enough for the detailer to start. Anchor bolts and base plates go first so foundations can proceed. The rest follows, with shop drawing review cycles planned into the schedule. Waiting for permit approval can cost weeks that a conditional release would save.
What happens if anchor bolts are out of position?
We survey them before erection and report deviations to the engineer. Small errors can be fixed with approved methods, such as slotted base plates or field modifications. Large errors need engineering review and sometimes rework. This is why we check bolts before columns arrive.
Can steel be erected in winter?
Yes, with preparation. We clear ice and snow, adjust procedures for cold-weather welding and bolting, and watch the wind. Winter work moves more slowly, and the schedule should reflect.
Who provides special inspection?
The owner or engineer retains an independent special inspector, and we coordinate access and notice. The inspector observes bolting, welding and other required items, and the reports are part of the permit record.
Do you coordinate with the roofing and deck trades?
Yes. Deck installation, edge angles and roof openings are coordinated so the roofer can begin as soon as the deck is secured. Early planning avoids conflicts between the frame and rooftop equipment.