Are you a contractor who needs steel detailing services to create shop drawings? My name is Brian M. Curran, and since 2007 I’ve been providing steel shop drawing services to contractors, fabricators, and erectors. I’m based in NYC, but I take on projects for clients across the U.S.
Steel Detailing Shop Drawings
Every week I create erection and fabrication shop drawings for different projects. Below, I’ll describe a few sample projects.
Steel Shop Drawing Sample #1
The first project I’ll share is a steel tower that I detailed for the Simmons Foods facility located in Southwest City, MO. The constructed tower is pictured above, and below is an image of the contract drawings that were provided to me at the start of the project.
For this project, I created the structural steel shop drawings for the entire tower, including steel framing, stairs, and handrails. Here is a photo taken at the start of the steel erection process.
There were many bolted moment connections on this job. Below is a picture of the Iron Workers using a lift to assemble one of the tower leg bolted connections.
Here is a close-up of another bolted connection, which required trimming of the flange on a w-section framing member.
The tower stood 153′-2″ tall. It served not only as a stair tower but also as structural support for ammonia piping. That piping, along with the ammonia tank, can be seen in the image below.
For this tower I created both the erection drawings and the piece details. Below is an image of the model I created In Tekla®.
If you click the image, it will open a PDF version of the erection drawings.
The piece and fabrication details were released in a separate package after the architect of record approved the erection drawings.
This project was extremely rewarding to be a part of, as the fabricator communicated closely with me and provided all the fantastic photos you’ve seen.
Steel Shop Drawing Sample #2
The next project I’ll share is another stair project, but much smaller. I chose to include it because I get many calls for steel stair projects. This project was also rewarding, although I do not have construction photos to share.
For this project, I created steel stair shop drawings for a flight and a half of stairs serving a residential house located in New York. I also modeled this structure in Tekla®.
If you click on the image below, you’ll see a PDF version of the general assembly drawings, which include the stairs, handrails, and a bill of materials.
And like the other project I shared, the fabrication drawings for this project were issued for approval after the AOR approved the assembly drawings.
How I Turn Plans Into Shop Drawings
Every steel structure starts with an architect’s drawings. But before the steel goes up, those plans need to be turned into accurate shop drawings that fabricators and erectors can actually build from. That’s where I come in, as you’ve seen from the two sample projects I shared.
For years I’ve been creating shop drawings contractors can trust. I make sure every beam, column, and connection is clear and includes everything necessary for proper fabrication and erection. I coordinate the details and deliver drawings that match field conditions.
My Team
All of my projects are completed by me or one of my two steel detailers. One has 20 years of experience, the other 7. Together, we finish shop drawings for projects across the country every week. It’s a small, efficient operation, and I stay directly involved with every project.
Why Contractors Work With Me
If you’ve ever worked with a detailing company that doesn’t return calls or misses deadlines, you know how frustrating that can be. I don’t run my business that way. I answer the phone, reply to emails, and keep my clients updated as drawings progress. Contractors want to know what’s going on, so I keep them posted on the status of their drawings.
My Drafting Services
I create structural steel shop drawings for a variety of projects, including erection drawings and piece details, also known as general assembly drawings and fabrication drawings. I focus on miscellaneous steel, small buildings, stairs, railings, ladders, catwalks, mezzanines, pipe supports, and other support structures.
My experience spans commercial, residential, and industrial work, including single family homes, industrial plants, subway tunnels, and wastewater treatment facilities. Depending on the project, I use Tekla, AutoCAD, or Revit.
Most of my clients are general contractors who want consistent quality, clear drawings, and dependable turnaround times. That is exactly what I provide.
Contact
If you need steel detailing, call me. Whether you just want to talk about your project or you’re ready to start today, I’ll take your call. Call me now at 718.441.3968, text me now at 646.504.5230, or email me now at brian@draftingservices.com.