Dive Brief:

• The metal-building industry stresses that the buildings it makes do need to limit design because a variety of finish materials can be incorporated.
• Metal roofs have been improved to increase solar reflectivity and are strong enough to support solar equipment.
• Construction time is faster with bolt-together construction and all materials coming from a single supplier.

Dive Insight:

The industry is out to show that it can beat the reputation of producing boring buildings that are heavy on function and short on design. The ability to make interiors feel open with light from skylights and clerestory windows is a big part of the pitch, along with the availability of factory-cast insulated concrete wall panels with ratings from R-16 to R-32.