Media Relations:
Laurie Gaynor
R.F. Stearns
503-723-5972
laurie@rfstearns.com

STEARNS PROVIDES CURATIVE SOLUTIONS THROUGH THE USE OF SMARTBEAM® TECHNOLOGY FOR PROVIDENCE MEDICAL CENTER

Medford, OR, April 20, 2007 –The new free-standing, 207,000 square foot parking garage for Providence Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, represents another example of R.F. Stearns’ ability to call upon their design creativity, structural steel expertise, management capabilities, systems integration and team-building to meet their customer’s budgetary and scheduling needs.

Due to Stearns experience with SmartBeam® structural steel systems, they were invited by Andersen/S&B James - A Joint Venture, to provide a similar steel scenario they had previously performed on another parking garage project. Working in collaboration with Equilibrium Engineers, Stearns assisted with the coordination of the SmartBeam® system and conventional structural steel elements through their detailing technology and steel project management.  Stearns furnished and coordinated the installation of the entire steel structure, metal floor deck, stairs and railings and the vehicle barrier cable system used throughout this 4-story, 608-stall parking garage.  Jim Sarka, Project Manager of R.F. Stearns stated, “Through our past experience with steel parking garages, we were able to provide value to Andersen/S&B James – A Joint Venture, throughout the design and construction processes. We effectively executed the structural steel systems along with satisfying our customer’s schedule and budgetary requirements.”

An additional unique aspect of the project was the architecturally-exposed entrance canopies made up of large tube steel frames. The canopies were detailed and coordinated with Stearns’ structural steel shop drawings and shipped in single large pieces to the field.  Erection aids were provided to assist with the installation of these items.

Recognizing Stearns’ contributions to the project, Kris Anderson, Project Manager of Andersen/S&B James – A Joint Adventure affirmed, “Stearns facilitated the project team in developing the erection zones for the project and provided value-engineering input on how the building fit-up in the erection schedule. Stearns’ recommendation for the use of SmartBeam was a key role in the steel selection process, which provided significant cost and weight savings opposed to going with a concrete structure. Their input was of great value to the construction team, and I would highly recommend Stearns for future projects.”

Stearns’ ability to provide complete system integration utilizing long-span SmartBeams, and their value and expertise to the project team helped make this performance-driven project a success.

In addition to providing complete Division 5 services for steel construction, Stearns is the exclusive provider of innovative, long-span SmartBeam® technology and light-gauge steel framing systems throughout the Western United States. 

To learn more about R.F. Stearns’ design/build capabilities, SmartBeam® or light-gauge steel framing applications, we invite you to contact us at our West Linn, OR headquarters, 503-723-5959, or visit our website at www.rfstearns.com

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