Pre-manufactured load bearing walls for a multi-story building

A multi-story building, comprising:

• a pre-manufactured floor-ceiling panel;
• and
• a pre-manufactured load bearing wall that includes:
• a plurality of parallel vertical metal studs;
• a first track affixed to an upper end of the studs
• a second track affixed to a lower end of the studs;
• a first vertical support member at a first edge of the wall;
• a second vertical support member at a second edge of the wall;
• a metal plate that runs between the first and second edges of the wall, and affixed to the first and second vertical support members and to the first track, wherein the plate is configured to support a horizontal section of a first angle of the floor-ceiling panel such that the floor-ceiling panel is hung from the load bearing wall;
• a horizontal member that runs between the first and second edges of the wall, that is affixed to the second track, and that extends laterally away from the second track, wherein the horizontal member is configured to be affixed to a second angle of the floor-ceiling panel to provide a load path for a lateral load;
• and
• a stiffener device located at a top end of each of the first and second vertical support members, wherein the stiffener device is configured to provide rigidity for a joint between the first and second vertical support members and corresponding vertical support members respectively positioned serially above the first and second vertical support members.

A method to manufacture a load bearing wall for a multi-story building, the method comprising:

• affixing a first track to an upper end of a plurality of parallel vertical metal studs;
• affixing a second track to a lower end of the studs;
• affixing a first vertical support member to a first outer stud at a first edge of the wall;
• affixing a second vertical support member to a second outer stud at a second edge of the wall;
• affixing a metal plate, which runs between the first and second edges of the wall, to the first and second vertical support members and to the first track, wherein the plate is configured to support a horizontal section of a first angle of a floor-ceiling panel such that the floor-ceiling panel is hung from the load bearing wall;
• affixing a horizontal member, which runs between the first and second edges of the wall, to the second track such that the horizontal member extends laterally away from the second track, wherein the horizontal member is configured to be affixed to a second angle of the floor-ceiling panel to provide a load path for a lateral load;
• and
• placing a stiffener device at a top end of each of the first and second vertical support members, wherein the stiffener device is configured to provide rigidity for a joint between the first and second vertical support members and corresponding vertical support members respectively positioned serially above the first and second vertical support members.