Pre-engineered Metal Buildings

When steel manufacturers and fabricators developed standardized structural systems that could be engineered, fabricated, and shipped efficiently, reducing both labor and construction time compared to conventional steel or masonry buildings, the age of the pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) was born. Though they existed prior to WWII, they gained immense popularity after the war, improving over the last eight decades to become a solid building material option for both industrial and commercial projects.

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Is a PEMB right for my project?

In addition to offering cost and time savings in many cases, PEMBs are a good fit when clients need floor space uninterrupted by load bearing walls or columns. This PEMB "clearspan" is broken into 3 levels based on need for open space. Small clearspan (30-80 feet) works well for a variety of businesses like auto services, retail, showrooms, and small warehousing, and it is often the most economical use of the PEMB structure. Large (80-120 feet) works well for many warehousing operations or medium-sized manufacturing facilities, adding high bays for large truck doors to facilitate easy loading and transport. Massive (120-300+ feet) is often utilized for airplane hangers, gymnasiums, large manufacturing outfits and industrial needs. Many businesses that have a mixed-use need, for example, office + showroom + warehouse, or meeting space + sports space + office, find that the PEMB structure is a natural fit because it can offer a wide variety of customization in one footprint.

Expanding a PEMB

Need to add a warehouse space to boost product storage or add an extra bay to accommodate more deliveries? PEMBs are extremely customizable and can grow with your business. In many cases, they are easier to expand than convention steel buildings, making planning for future additions an added benefit to building pre-engineered. If you know you will eventually need to grow your building, expandable endwalls can be used from the start to make those later additions easier to facilitate. Sections of length or width can typically be added to an existing PEMB, assuming the existing structure is in good repair. Adding height is doable but can be a little trickier. Adding a freestanding mezzanine can often be a good solution to help better utilize the interior space of a PEMB when adding to the footprint isn't feasible.

Enhancing the look of a PEMB

Gone are the days when PEMBs were big, plain rectangles with little design aesthetic. With the addition of siding options like sleek insulated metal panels and accents like stone, brick or glass, a simple PEMB can gain a lot of curb appeal. Varying the rooflines and ceiling heights can also create a lot more visual interest. For example, our North Hills Church project featured 45' ceilings in the foyer and 30' ceilings in the sanctuary along with EIFS and stone veneer for the exterior to help create a more architectural look. The sections of the building were highly customized to the church's needs, with the dramatic height of the foyer/lobby leading into the expansive auditorium with a large clearspan, coupled with a much lower ceiling height for the side entrance and connector building.

A reputation built on PEMBs

When Roebuck Buildings opened in 1949, pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMBs) were becoming an economical and popular option for commercial and industrial construction. We quickly became known for our PEMB expertise in the Southeast, taking advantage of the post-WWII demand for rapid industrial and commercial expansion. In the 1950s and 60s, most of our PEMB jobs were in industrial settings, but as we moved into the 1970s, computer-aided engineering advancements, architectural facades and more detailed roof systems began to make the PEMB structure more suitable for retail, churches, schools and more, and our business expanded accordingly. Since the turn of this century, PEMB technology has made even more strides, now meeting extended energy, wind and seismic codes and offering more detailed architectural options such as mezzanines, insulated metal panel exteriors and attractive facade options. With nearly 80 years of experience in building PEMBs for a wide variety of clients from warehouses to fire stations to airport hangars, we are among the best in the area.