PEMB Lessons Learned: A Colorado Architect's Perspective on Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings
At our Colorado architecture firm, we're weeks away from completing our first Pre-Engineered Metal Building — and it feels like exactly the right moment to document what we learned. This project tested us, and challenging projects are the most worth sharing. Whether you're an owner, contractor, or fellow architect in Colorado or anywhere else considering a PEMB or prefab system, these lessons are for you.
It feels rushed and slow at the same time
As architects, we developed a rough program and layout, which the owner used to solicit bids from PEMB suppliers. Once a supplier was selected, their engineering process began — and took several months. During that stretch, we were largely waiting, dependent on their timeline. When their portion finally arrived, it felt like a scramble to bring our A/E drawings up to speed. The experience has a vacuum-like quality: long silences followed by sudden urgency.
One hard rule we learned: nothing should be finalized until the erection drawings are complete. Those drawings establish the final sizing of all structural members, and any coordination done before that point risks being undone.
Ask for a final 3d model or at least CAD files for coordination
When selecting your PEMB contractor, ask early whether they provide Revit or CAD files of the final engineered design. Without them, coordinating final clearances between the bent frame structure and elements like doors, lighting, or finish details becomes nearly impossible.
We were fortunate to receive a Revit file — but it came with a significant disclaimer that the engineering drawings take precedence and the model wasn't guaranteed to be fully accurate. Those 80-page engineering drawing sets are dense with typical details and PEMB industry-specific notation that make architectural coordination genuinely difficult. Get the files anyway, but go in with realistic expectations.
Customization is very difficult, and not advised
PEMBs are engineered to be efficient, simple, and fast. Their economics depend on it. Any deviation from standard details or defaults introduces friction that quickly outweighs the benefit. When something feels off, schedule a coordination meeting and work it out explicitly — don't assume it will resolve itself.
The pace of these buildings is calibrated for straightforward programs. Subtle design details get lost. More importantly, the cost advantage comes directly from the engineering efficiency — add complications, and you erode the very thing that made the PEMB attractive in the first place.
These Buildings May Not Be Suited for "People Space"
PEMBs excel at industrial uses: warehouses, garages, fabrication shops. Once you introduce occupied, conditioned space — especially relevant in Colorado's climate extremes, from summer heat to harsh mountain winters — the requirements for windows, egress, insulation, and air-tightness quickly exceed what the standard system is designed to deliver. You're working against the grain.
A more practical approach: use the PEMB as a garage or storage wing attached to a conventionally constructed building. You get the efficiency of the metal structure where it works best, and the flexibility of standard construction where people actually spend time.
They do save a ton of money
Ultimately, even with all the lessons learned along the way - these buildings probably are half the cost of a custom built structure. The difference is that with the custom built structure you can get exactly what you want. But there's certainly a time and place for PEMB. They are great for large, industrial spaces where the finish details are not that important. With a little effort, you can get a lot of bang for your buck. Additionally, metal buildings are quite sustainable since most American steel has a large amount of recyled content.
The MBMA Is an Excellent Resource
The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) offers strong technical support and was genuinely valuable in resolving several critical details on this project — details they actually publish on their website. I was able to reach knowledgeable individuals who provided guidance throughout. If you're working on a PEMB project, reach out to them early.
Finding Creativity Within the Constraints
One of the unexpected rewards of this project was discovering how much creative opportunity exists within the PEMB framework — if you know where to look. Rather than fighting the building's inherent industrial character, we leaned into it. With a large blank canvas of metal facade to work with, we introduced bold signage and custom graphics that gave the structure a strong visual identity. The result is something that feels at home in its agrarian, utilitarian context while clearly being something more considered and intentional. The building has generated real buzz in the community, which is everything you hope for on a project like this. We're proud of what this one became, and we're eager to bring that same thinking to future PEMB work.
