Southern Steel Engineers provided connection and stair and rail design for the 80,000 sqft student center at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. The new facility serves as a central hub for campus life, combining academic, social, and event spaces under one structurally efficient design.

Connection Scope
The connection design scope included standard and non-standard shear connections, moment and axial beam connections, seismic vertical bracing, and hollow structural section (HSS) beam connections.

A key component of the project involved the design of special concentrically braced frames (SCBF). To meet SCBF requirements, SSE provided specific details for each bracing connection, including yield lines on gusset plates, and Styrofoam fillers on each side of the gussets.

Stair and Rail Scope
The steel stair and rail scope included one monumental stair, four additional stair systems, and stainless-steel stair railings throughout the facility.

The monumental stair featured W27x94 stringers spanning up to 45 feet, with concrete-filled metal pan infill to provide strength and architectural presence. Three multistory stairs were also designed with concrete-filled metal pan infill, while a corridor access stair, up to 12 feet wide, was supported by a center stringer for enhanced stability and clean aesthetics.