College Dorms

WNYcarpenter

This question has been nagging me for a couple months.

I live above our local junior college. They're building two Dorms each approx. 80 units per building. Excavation started in July and it's been fun watching it go up.

What has me curious is both structures are entirely framed with wood. I'm ignorant about commercial construction and codes, so I assumed most or all structures were steel and masonry, especially college dorms!

Instinctively, I'd think you'd want more than a wooden building to house 500 eighteen to twenty yr olds....what factors are involved in planning...Cost of materials, maybe wood can have as much integrity in a fire, details...?? What if any xtra steps are taken to meet commercial fire codes....doesn't seem like steel doors and 5/8" drywall is enough to prevent a catastrophic disaster.

I was honestly suprised when I saw the floor, roof, and wall systems were not steel.