Steelcase Inc., the international leader in office furniture design and manufacture, in an effort to enhance worker safety hired JS Building Co. late last year to construct two tornado shelters at its North Alabama plant.

The two structures, located conveniently to all work areas, enclose a total of 8,500 square feet.  Designed to meet Category F 5 Tornado with wind speeds of 250 mph, the shelters’ construction utilized reinforced concrete for floors and roof slabs and 12” concrete and steel filled masonry wall.  The shelters were clad in metal siding to match the balance of the facility.