Getting the Most Out of Your Metal Building

Oct 20, 2025

When it comes to making the most of your facility, you need to maximize usable space. And that goal begins in the planning phase. Before a single line is drawn in design, set yourself up for success by choosing a building material unrivaled for creating the most usable space possible. The clear-span construction, modular layouts and addition-friendly designs that are iconic to metal building systems offer a wealth of options from Day One.

The choice is clear (span)

As is often the case with industrial and manufacturing buildings, floor space is crucial. The strength of metal building systems, simply put, are unmatched and provide incredible advantages for creating expansive interiors. Compared with every other method of construction, metal building systems offer superior clear-spanning capabilities, due to the inherent strength of steel and years spent perfecting the engineering practices of these large structures. While it may be more economical and common to use interior columns in buildings 200 feet or wider, Vulcan’s engineers have designed buildings with clear-span widths up to 300 feet.

Designing the building, however, is only half of the equation. Manufacturing a frame large enough to support a 300-foot-wide span is another major task. Vulcan has experience manufacturing frames in depths of over six feet using top-of-the-line equipment. With an engrained safety culture, we have years of experience manufacturing these enormous tapered frames. Additionally, Vulcan can design and deliver your metal building with bar joists, giving you the option to increase bay spacings by up to 60 feet, removing columns in the design to provide even more floor space for operations.
The space-saving features of metal buildings make them perfect for projects like airplane hangars, manufacturing facilities and indoor athletic facilities such as the Elberta High School gym, seen here with a full court and room for spectators!

Reaping the benefits of jack beams

Jack beams are large support beams that run between the sidewall or interior columns of a metal building and are used to remove columns. To achieve wide openings within a wall—typically needed in manufacturing facilities that transport long beams in and out of a facility—jack beams help to remove sidewall columns. They can also be used to remove interior columns, which not only increases usable floor space, but also reduces the amount of foundations required, translating into cost savings.

Growing with your company

No matter the initial design, metal buildings offer the flexibility to expand the footprint of an existing building. Expandable end-walls, paired with fast manufacturing and construction timelines, make a building addition significantly quicker than with traditional construction methods. Metal buildings are strong structures designed to last for generations. With some foresight, your metal building can grow along with your operations, well into the future.

Whatever the purpose of your building, the design must fit your needs. A metal building gives you a wide array of options for mapping out usable space, housing complex operations under one roof, and future-proofing your facility for continued growth. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, the Vulcan Steel team is ready to partner with you to make the most of your space and bring your vision to life. Contact us today!