Southern Truss | Ft. Pierce, FL 64,000 sq ft

Open Air Fabrication Plant

Industry: Southern Truss

Size: 255x250x16

Total Square Footage: 64,000

Location: Ft. Pierce, FL

Building System: I Beam

When Hurricane Milton struck Fort Pierce, Florida, on October 9, 2025, the devastation didn’t end with the storm. In its aftermath, a powerful tornado tore through the rural outskirts of Santa Rosa County, causing severe damage along its path. One of the hardest-hit businesses was Southern Truss, a leading supplier of prefabricated wood trusses for homebuilders across the region. Their 64,000-square-foot open-air steel facility, built in 2004, was completely destroyed, leaving only the concrete foundation behind.

The impact on operations was immediate and severe. Southern Truss lost more than $100,000 per day due to halted production and missed deliveries. With recovery on the line, time was critical. That’s when Coastal Steel Structures stepped in to help rebuild with speed, precision, and resilience. The result was not just a recovery, but a comeback. Southern Truss returned stronger than ever.

Our Approach and Solutions

Leveraging a National Manufacturing and Labor Network

Coastal tapped into its nationwide network of trusted steel manufacturers and certified erectors to secure materials quickly. These partnerships provided priority access to steel and fabrication slots, keeping the project on schedule despite market shortages.

Value Engineering and Precision Measurement

Using archived records, laser measurements, and client input, Coastal’s team re-engineered the structure for efficiency and code compliance. By optimizing the steel design and eliminating unnecessary overbuilding, the team delivered a stronger, smarter rebuild that met all operational needs.

Project Management-Led Permitting

To avoid bureaucratic slowdowns, Coastal’s project management team handled the entire permitting process. They worked directly with local officials to resolve code issues promptly and secured fast-track approvals, which kept construction moving smoothly.

Accurate Design and Footprint Replication

Advanced CAD modeling and laser mapping ensured that the new structure perfectly matched the original layout. This precision restored equipment paths, loading zones, and bay spacing exactly as before, minimizing downtime once operations resumed.

Transparent, Multi-Stakeholder Coordination

With multiple parties involved, Coastal maintained clear, structured communication, including daily updates, centralized progress tracking, and weekly check-ins. This consistent coordination eliminated confusion and kept every stakeholder aligned from start to finish.

Phased Construction Around Active Recovery Work