ISSUE 18
THE COOPER CHRONICLES 2025/26 - Q1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
SEPTEMBER 2025 - NOVEMBER 2025
COOPER CORNER 05 03 02 01
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
INDUSTRY UPDATES
COMPANY GROWTH HIGHLIGHT
Community Involvement A Time to Reflect
PROJECT
PROGRESS
DISTRIBUTION CENTER SHELBYVILLE, TN
DATA CENTER PROJECT
DISTRIBUTION CENTER MINNESOTA
VIRGINIA
In Rockville, Virginia, our team has been hard at work at another major distribution center. Coming in at 3.2 million square feet , this +10k ton project took precise fabrication and planning. We have completed more than 88k fabrication hours and delivered nearly 9k pieces of structural steel on site while maintaining an impressive 99.61% conformity rate. HIGHLIGHT DISTRIBUTION PLANT
CODY
JOSH
KELLAM SENIOR PRECON. ESTIMATOR
CHESTER
PROJECT MANAGER
06
04 HALLIE
YEARS AT COOPER STEEL
YEARS AT COOPER STEEL
BONE PROJECT COORDINATOR
02
YEARS AT COOPER STEEL
01 THE COOPER CHRONICLES | Q1 2025/26
INDUSTRY
UPDATES
MILL LEAD TIMES TARGET 10-WEEK ROLLING SCHEDULE
FABRICATOR BACKLOGS EXTEND THROUGH 2026
Demand remains strong with backlogs extending through 2026, indicating confidence in long-term project activity.
Mills are working to provide a consistent flow of material to the market, targeting a 10-week rolling cycle.
STRONG DEMAND DRIVES EARLIER ROLLING CLOSURES
KEY GROWTH SECTOR FUEL DEMAND
High demand and lower stock on the mill floor are leading to rolling schedules closing out earlier than anticipated, indicating tight immediate supply.
Data centers, distribution facilities, and entertainment venues like convention centers and stadiums are primary drivers of current and projected steel demand.
SERVICE CENTERS EXPERIENCE INVENTORY GAPS
Service centers are busy, but have inconsistent inventory levels, suggesting challenges in maintaining a balanced supply.
WHERE YOU CAN CURRENTLY FIND US
STEEL FIRM IN THE U.S.A BY ENGINEERING- NEWS RECORD
We are thrilled to share that we’ve been ranked the #4 steel firm and #80 specialty contractor in the U.S. in Engineering News-Record’s Top 600 Specialty Contractors for 2025! This honor would not be possible without our incredible customers, strong partners, and fearless team whose trust and dedication continues to reinforce our ability to deliver unparalleled products and services!
36 CITIES STATES 15
02 Q1 2025/26 | THE COOPER CHRONICLES
APPROACH COOPER DESIGN - BUILD
“
We’re excited to offer this innovative service to our clients, giving them the ability not only to accelerate structural design and significantly reduce lead times for both steel and concrete, but also to achieve substantial cost savings in the right situations. We’ve already seen its impact across multiple projects, enabling our customers to move forward with greater schedule confidence and predictability. In today’s environment, speed to market is everything and this approach has consistently proven to outperform conventional design methods.
“
EVP, BUSINESS UNIT LEADER 13 YEARS AT COOPER STEEL JIMMY PIERCE
APPROACH OVERVIEW
We’re supporting fast-tracked project schedules through our Cooper Steel Design-Build Approach, which eliminates barriers that slow traditional schedules such as repetitive modeling and complex communication channels. This cutting-edge approach promotes consolidation and integration between the structural engineer of record and steel detailer to ensure the structural analysis and detailing happens simultaneously. When the Cooper Steel Design-Build approach is employed, changes and queries can be immediately addressed and incorporated, resulting in a timelier construction administration phase, enhanced model coordination between all partners of the process, and increased confidence in cost estimates.
Early coordination and integrated design reduce the likelihood of costly revisions. FEWER CHANGE ORDERS More complete and accurate designs lead to fewer fixes required on-site. LESS FIELD REWORK Design and trade partners can continue using their current processes without adjustments. NO WORKFLOW DISRUPTION Design team working directly with steel mills and fabrication shops to get the most economic value for the design. VALUE ENGINEERING
Eliminating review and approval steps enables materials to arrive at the jobsite at least eight weeks earlier than from Notice to Proceed when compared to traditional delivery methods. FASTER TIMELINES Client preferences for both concrete and steel are incorporated early in the design process. INTEGRATED DESIGN CHOICES Piece marks are coordinated between panel book match sheets and fabrication drawings for smoother installation. IMPROVED DRAWING ALIGNMENT All connections are checked against actual loads to prevent undersized or inadequate members. NO DELEGATED DESGIN DISCREPANCIES
03 THE COOPER CHRONICLES | Q1 2025/26
RIBBON CUTTING FABRICATION SHOP #2
We were thrilled to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of our new Shelbyville fabrication facility surrounded by our team, partners, retirees, community members, local and state leaders, and more. This milestone marks more than a new building. It reflects our continued growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Equipped with cutting-edge technology , including a Peddinghaus BDL1250 Beamline and Saws, a Peddiblast Shot Blast Machine, and soon, a Zeman SBA Compact Assembly Robot, this shop positions us to take on larger members and assemblies . Further, the addition features 30-ton capacity crane runways and over 20 feet of hook height, meaning we’re expanding the scale and complexity of what we can build.
50
JOBS CREATED
80,000 18,000
SQ. FT. ADDED
TONNAGE CAPACITY PER YEAR
20+
Thank you to our internal team and contractors who worked tirelessly throughout the duration of this project to ensure success. To see a full list of companies who worked on this project with us, visit our social media .
COMPANIES SUPPORTED
65 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Started in 1960 by Kenneth Cooper, Cooper Steel’s foundation for success could undoubtedly be found in the Cooper family’s faith first, followed by hard work and incredible resolve to see the business flourish. What began as one man determined to provide more for his family by moonlighting with nothing more than a welding machine and an International Truck nicknamed, “Tomator,” quickly became a full-time business . By 1965, Kenneth’s wife, Faye, joined him, followed shortly after by their sons, Gary and Barry, before making hires for employees who would become more like family. Their team pressed forward, building relationships, learning, and growing to where we are today: fabricating and erecting steel throughout the United States, standing nearly 700 employees strong.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey and supported our growth. We wouldn’t be here without you, and look forward to continuing to build strong together for generations to come! We’re celebrating 65 years of business , building strong structures, relationships, and people. At the heart of our growth is our employees who have shaped our history, molded our culture, and continue to carry us into the future. Each person has their own unique story to tell, and we’re grateful to have had some of our longest standing teammates share their experiences with Cooper in honor of our anniversary.
04 Q1 2025/26 | THE COOPER CHRONICLES
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
We were proud to celebrate the completion of SCHS’s newly upgraded stadium in October during Cooper Steel Night, which honored our CEO and Chairman of the Board, Gary Cooper, and the Cooper family’s longstanding commitment to strengthening Bedford County. Stadium renovations provided by Cooper Steel were completed earlier this year – just in time for SCHS’s first home football game against rival Independence High School. The upgrades to the multi-use stadium include more than 200,000 square feet of professional-grade turf , which was selected for its cooling and injury-prevention technology. New jumbotrons, locker rooms, audio, ticketing facilities, and restrooms were also part of the development. We are actively working on additional upgrades around campus as part of a larger, phased improvement project for SCHS’s athletics facilities, including the same turf installation for the softball and baseball fields . We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue to invest in our students and build a stronger community. COOPER STEEL NIGHT AT SCHS
In September, we kicked off our second annual Twelve/Twelve Legacy Program for the 2025-26 school year at Cooper Steel Arena. The program launched in 2023 aiming to foster educational success, personal growth, and a positive culture among students by pairing local high school and elementary school students for 12-month partnerships. High school students from 14 different organizations and four separate high schools are participating in the program this year , which qualifies their organizations for grants and provides them with a sense of accountability and responsibility to the younger students. They along with school faculty, administrators, and leadership team members from Cooper Steel attended the event to commemorate the investments they are making back into Bedford County. Attendees enjoyed a catered lunch and program, including a keynote address from motivational speaker and former University of Tennessee football player, Inky Johnson . To read more about the event and the Twelve/Twelve Legacy Program, visit our blog. SECOND-ANNUAL TWELVE / TWELVE LEGACY PROGRAM KICKOFF
05 THE COOPER CHRONICLES | Q1 2025/26
A TIME
TO REFLECT
DETAILER SUMMIT In October, we had the honor of hosting our detailing partners for our biannual Detailer Summit. The summit began at Geodis Park, where we enjoyed connecting with new and familiar faces over lunch, presentations, and discussion – strengthening relationships that will help us to learn, collaborate, and grow together. We also had the opportunity to host our partners at our Shelbyville campus, where attendees could tour our newest fabrication shop , which enables us to take on larger, more complex projects that will support growth and innovation for both our internal team and partners. Thank you to everyone who traveled near and far to join us for a fantastic week that will no doubt help us continue to Build Strong together!
NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK
Thank you to our Cooper Steel trucking crews and partner drivers, who keep our industry moving. Without you, fulfilling our mission of safely delivering superior steel products with uncompromising integrity for every customer would not be possible. T his past year alone, Cooper Steel truck drivers have driven more than 400,000 miles, delivering over 380 loads of steel across nine states . We are grateful for your impact year-round, and glad to honor your contributions each September for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
INNOVATRIX BATTERY GIGAFACTORY SUMMIT We attended the Innovatrix International Battery Gigafactory Summit in Nashville, where our team members had the pleasure of sharing more about our work and expertise in battery and manufacturing projects. It was a great opportunity to make new connections, gain timely industry insights, and continue investing in industry relationships.
06 Q1 2025/26 | THE COOPER CHRONICLES 06
SHELBYVILLE
NASHVILLE
FLORENCE
CHILDERSBURG
MONROE
503 N Hillcrest Dr. Shelbyville, TN 37160
1005 17th Ave S, Suite 300 Nashville, TN 37212
500 Meijer Dr., Suite 100 Florence, KY 41042
767 First Rd., Childersburg, AL 35044
275 Francis Ave., Monroe, VA 5600
(931) 684-7962
(615) 321-5222
(859) 980-0180
(256) 346-9003
(434) 319-5600
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