Building smarter: A revolution in metal construction

By Jesse Sanchez.

A new approach to construction design is letting contractors do more with less — faster, smarter and with a sleek digital twist.

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Megan Ellsworth sat down with Melissa Dunson to explore how Central States Manufacturing is pushing the envelope far beyond just metal roofing. At the center of the conversation is the company’s recent expansion into complete metal building packages and their innovative design tool that's putting creative power in the hands of contractors.

"We don't just manufacture, we do building packages and do estimating and we'll erect it, and we'll sell it to you if you want," said Melissa, senior manager of marketing services at Central States. This isn’t just about roofing anymore. Central States has grown its portfolio to offer a full suite of services across its branded divisions: Central States Manufacturing, Metal Central, Central States Building Works and Elevate Structures.

One of the most talked-about developments is the launch of Central States’ new 3D building designer — a user-friendly digital tool that lets contractors, designers and even curious homeowners configure full metal structures online. "You can drag and drop, you can add in tractors and horses for size comparisons," Melissa said. "You don’t have to really know anything about metal building to do it.”

The tool is part of the company’s Building Works division, which provides everything from design to delivery of pre-engineered metal building packages. These aren’t just industrial warehouses — applications range from office spaces and garages to religious and recreational facilities. Melissa shared, "It’s not just storage units. There’s light commercial and office usage, agricultural and residential shops.”

Another innovation is Elevate Structures, formerly Storage Structures, which Central States recently acquired. Elevate developed and patented the Alpha Framing system, a proprietary technology that enables steel building frames to be erected three times faster than traditional methods. Melissa stated, “In a world in which labor is so many times the bottleneck, being able to do this is really remarkable.”

Together, these services reflect a strategy focused on convenience, speed and customization — exactly what many contractors need in a time-crunched, cost-conscious market. Beyond the tech, Central States is maintaining a consistent core value: customer service. Melissa added, “All of it's in metal building products and all of it's about servicing the customer, whoever that customer is.”

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how these platforms are transforming the construction landscape, including how to get started with Central States' design tools and building packages!