We’re pleased to announce that Professor Amit Varma is joining the FastFloor C team as a key contributor, focusing on advancing the fire performance aspect of the innovative FastFloor system. This develop, enabled by generous support from AISC and the Pankow Foundation marks a significant advancement in the development of FastFloor.
The FastFloor concept reimagines traditional floor construction. By shop-fabricating large, all-steel floor panels inspired by shipbuilding techniques, FastFloor allows for rapid erection in the field. The system notably cuts out cast-in-place concrete and reduces construction time by up to 30%.
Recent work—funded in part by the Pankow Foundation and orchestrated under AISC’s visionary “Need for Speed” program—pushed FastFloor into Phase 2 completion in late 2024, establishing basic structural units, and detailed work on gravity performance as well as acoustic and vibration performance. Ongoing Phase 3 work has extended structural analysis, vibration testing, and further work on connections and gravity performance.
FastFloor’s development benefits from a vibrant collaboration across academia and industry. A robust Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) comprising organizations such as AISC, Nucor, Sherwin-Williams, Schuff Steel, and many others provides essential guidance and support to ensure the system’s practicality and success.
Professor Varma’s extensive expertise in fire research and ability to bridge technological innovation with real-world practice—most recently demonstrated through his work on SpeedCore—will be invaluable as FastFloor C moves into its next stage. Jerry Hajjar, the principal investigator (PI) of FastFloor C, has collaborated closely with Professor Varma for years. He, the entire team, and our sponsors are elated to bring him on board. Amit’s presence not only strengthens our technical capabilities but also inspires confidence that our system will meet the highest standards of safety and performance.
We invite you to explore more about FastFloor C and the broader SDII initiative on www.steeli.org —together, we’re building the future of steel floor systems!