By the middle of the 20th century, the increased production, availability, and lower cost of steel quickly brought about a rise in the popularity of this durable metal as a primary building material. There are a multitude of advantages to a steel buildings as compared to traditional wooden structures.

Wood ages and weather conditions can slowly degrade the very fabric that holds the building together. Fluctuations of temperature and humidity can warp a wooden structure and slowly loosen the joints where the various parts are joined together. It is only in improperly constructed steel buildings that water can find entrance and subject the material to rusting. Steel is not subjected to such warping and the bolts and fasteners that hold the structure together do not come loose over time.

The amount of time needed to construct a steel building is much less than that of a wooden building. Steel is not subject to termites or wood eating insects. Even at the end of the useful life of a steel building, the vast majority of the parts can be reused, as time does not lessen the structural integrity of the metal. In a wooden structure, very little of the building material can be recovered.

Besides the initial savings on construction labor time, the steel is cheaper than wood and the various other components that make up a more traditional building. There is no loss of functionality as steel can be formed into any type of structure as wood and some forms, especially those buildings that require large open interior spaces, are more stable and durable than anything. With steel you do not necessarily need internal support beams rising from the ground to hold up the roof.

Fire is always a present concern in a wooden structure. Steel does not burn and even an accident that may damage items inside the building will leave the steel structure intact for quicker repair and replacement. The biggest disadvantage to steel in building construction is that it does conduct heat much faster than wooden buildings. However, in wider spaces between steel support structures are easier to install insulation materials in to offset this problem for interior heating and air conditioning.