Is it possible to frame a wall in the basement underneath the center support beam? floating perhaps?

Sure it is.

I did. Had to cut down the theater entry door and frame 4" to fit though....

yes

Yeppers. Either glue and/or bolt the top sill to beam.

I don't know of any reason why you'd need to float the wall. I agree with Cathan -- attach the top plate of the new wall to the bottom of the beam.

I don't know of any reason why you'd need to float the wall. I agree with Cathan -- attach the top plate of the new wall to the bottom of the beam.

Only reason is if he was decoupling all of his walls. In that case you can use RSIC clips to decouple them.

thanks for the answers, thats the plan

Only reason is if he was decoupling all of his walls. In that case you can use RSIC clips to decouple them.

Exactly what I did. See attachment.

WOW! That sort of steel drilling isn't for the feint of heart! :o

WOW! That sort of steel drilling isn't for the feint of heart! :o

No doubt. It completely sucked when I drilled mine. It nearly killed me to drill those few holes.

I'm getting the feeling I've been left out of the club... But I replaced a 24' section of steel I beam with a 1/2 ton replacement. Does that count?

Sure does. Especially if you had to install new footers.

www.tedwhite.homestead.com

I'm sure wrestling around a 1/2 ton of steel was more of a chore than drilling a few holes. Actually it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. New drill and new bit helped. It was pretty easy. Hmmm, I hope my steel beam isn't faulty :D

Andy

I bolted my studs right under and also added a 2x2 at the top in order to attach drywall to at the top.

This is what I did for mine:

http://jaycarnley.com/images/I-beam%20drywall%20solution%20and%20Plumbing.JPG

www.tedwhite.homestead.com (http://www.tedwhite.homestead.com)

First time I've seen your build. If it's all right with the OP, I'd like to go off topic for a minute and ask you a question... How do you isolate the conduit that goes to your projector? I had planned on running a conduit from my projector to the equipment room, but didn't know how to isolate it.

Thanks,
CJ

Great question. First, don't attach the conduit to any of the original framing. In my case I have a second set of joists (floating ceiling) and attached everything to that. If I were to have used clips and hat track, I would have tied the conduit to the hat track with wire in some fashion.

Second, once the cable is run, seal the end(s) with some removable caulk. You can find this at HD or Lowes. It seals but is soft and when you have to access the conduit again in a few years, this removable material will crumble away completely.

Third, seal around the outside of the conduit where it penetrates the drywall.

The beam is wood, so i guess i'm lucky there.

Great question. First, don't attach the conduit to any of the original framing. In my case I have a second set of joists (floating ceiling) and attached everything to that. If I were to have used clips and hat track, I would have tied the conduit to the hat track with wire in some fashion.

Second, once the cable is run, seal the end(s) with some removable caulk. You can find this at HD or Lowes. It seals but is soft and when you have to access the conduit again in a few years, this removable material will crumble away completely.

Third, seal around the outside of the conduit where it penetrates the drywall.

Will do.

Thanks!
CJ