Building construction

Claim 1

A wall construction comprising a panel assembly having an inner metal panel, an outer metal panel and an interposed intermediate thermally insulating panel, said inner panel having a plurality of horizontally dIsposed integrally formed rearwardly directed hollow reinforcing ribs, said inner and outer panels disposed in spaced relationship with respect to each other, portions of said inner panel disposed between said hollow reinforcing ribs disposed in contact with the rear surface of said thermally insulating panel, portions of said outer panel disposed in contact with the forward surface of said thermally insulating panel, said panel assembly having opposite vertical marginal edges secured to hollow load bearing columns, each said hollow column formed from a pair of generally channel shaped column forming sections having substantially the same cross sectional configuration, joining means securing one said vertical marginal edge of said panel assembly to one said column forming section, each said column forming section having a base and two spaced upstanding sidewalls formed integrally therewith and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto, each said sidewall having a portion adjacent its free end disposed transversely inwardly with respect to the portion of said sidewall disposed adjacent said base, said column forming sections having a web-like base of substantially uniform thickness, said sidewalls having a uniform thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said base throughout their length, apart from fastener receiving openings which pass therethrough, said sidewalls having a generally Z-shaped configuration with a first section disposed at the edge of said base, a second section spaced transversely inwardly with respect to said first section disposed adjacent the free end of said sidewall and a third section disposed substantially parallel to said base connecting said first and second sections, said column forming sections disposed with their channel openings facing each other and said transversely inwardly disposed portions of said sidewalls disposed in surface to surface contact, and fastener means extending into said contacting sidewall portions securing said channel forming sections to each other and having head portions received within recesses defined by said second and third sections of said sidewalls, whereby a pair of hollow generally rectangular columns having recesses in a pair of opposed walls receiving fastening means therein secure said panel assembly therebetween with relative closing movement between said columns resisted by said integrally reinforced inner panel.