Avondale HSS Data Center Project

The Avondale Data Center project was a highly coordinated structural steel project where connection detailing played a critical role in meeting both performance and constructability requirements. Designed as an industrial-scale data facility, the structure incorporates a steel framing system integrated with an exterior screenwall. The bracing connections demanded careful consideration due to galvanization requirements and erection constraints. The combination of HSS members, field-driven installation preferences, and exposure conditions introduced a level of connection complexity that exceeded standard design approaches.

About the Project

This data center is part of a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure network, supporting high-demand data processing and storage operations. The structural system consists primarily of steel framing, working in coordination with tilt-up concrete panels, with the steel scope delivered by Southern Steel Engineers.

A defining feature of the project is the exterior screenwall, where steel bracing systems provide both structural stability and architectural enclosure. These bracing elements are composed largely of hollow structural sections (HSS), requiring precise connection detailing to accommodate axial, shear, and torsional demands. In addition, all exposed steel was specified as galvanized, introducing durability requirements that directly influenced connection design.

From the outset, this wasn’t a typical steel connection problem. The combination of HSS bracing, exposure requirements, and architectural integration meant every detail had to be carefully executed.

Engineering Challenges

The primary engineering challenge centered on the design of non-standard HSS bracing connections at the exterior screenwall. These connections were required to transfer a combination of forces including axial loads, shear forces, and moments, while maintaining compatibility with the overall structural system and architectural intent.

Galvanization introduced a critical detailing constraint. To ensure proper performance and longevity, enclosed steel sections required drainage and venting provisions, leading to the inclusion of weep holes and drain openings in cap plates, splice plates, and HSS members. These features had to be incorporated without weakening the connection or complicating fabrication.

At the same time, there was a strong preference for maximizing field-bolted connections. This requirement significantly influenced the connection strategy, pushing the design toward bolted assemblies and away from fully shop-welded solutions. For HSS members where fit-up and alignment are inherently more sensitive, this added a layer of complexity in both design and erection.

Traditional design methods would have required extensive manual checks and iterative calculations to validate each variation of these connections, particularly given the number of similar yet distinct conditions across the project.

Trying to rationalize these connections with traditional methods would have taken a significant amount of time, especially with all the small but important variations between details.”

Solutions and Results

To address these challenges, the engineering team at Southern Steel Engineers utilized IDEA StatiCa Connection to model and verify the performance of the HSS bracing connections under realistic loading conditions.

IDEA StatiCa enabled detailed analysis of stress distribution across gusset plates, splice plates, end plates, and HSS members, capturing the interaction between axial forces, shear, and moment effects. This allowed the team to move beyond simplified assumptions and directly evaluate how each connection behaved under load.

Our software also supported rapid iteration of connection configurations, which was essential for aligning structural requirements with fabrication preferences and field installation constraints. The team was able to refine details such as bolted splice arrangements, plate thicknesses, and connection geometry while maintaining compliance with design codes.

Drainage requirements (including weep holes in cap plates and splice plates) were incorporated directly into the connection models to ensured that durability considerations associated with galvanization were fully integrated into the structural verification process.

“Being able to model these connections and immediately understand their behavior under load allowed us to move much faster and make informed decisions without overdesigning.”

Results and Impact

By leveraging IDEA StatiCa Connection, Southern Steel Engineers developed a consistent, efficient approach to managing a series of complex and highly specific connection conditions.

The workflow significantly improved design efficiency by reducing the need for repetitive manual calculations and enabling faster validation of multiple connection variants. This allowed the team to respond more effectively to project demands while maintaining a high level of technical accuracy.

The final connection designs successfully balanced structural performance with constructability. Field bolting was maximized in accordance with client preferences, reducing on-site welding and improving erection efficiency. At the same time, galvanization requirements were fully addressed through integrated drainage detailing, supporting long-term durability.

Most importantly, the use of advanced connection analysis provided a high level of confidence in the final designs, ensuring code compliance while avoiding unnecessary conservatism.

The Avondale Data Center' targeted use of advanced connection design tools enabled the engineers to resolve complex constraints while delivering efficient, constructible, and reliable structural solutions.