Framing lally column inside partition wall

Question

I'm finishing a room in my basement and want to frame a partition wall underneath the support beam. I've looked at the threads below to confirm that it is OK to frame a partition wall underneath the beam. There's a 3.5" lally column that's 7' away from the concrete wall and I want it inside the partition wall rather than at the corner. The beam is 5.75" thick, the lally column is ~3/4" from the edge of the beam. The beam is not vertically level. Either the finished inside wall will be flush with the beam, or the studs will be flush with the beam (and I'll attach drywall to the studs & the beam), or the beam will just be protruding inside the room. What do you suggest? I'm prioritizing functionality over aesthetics.

Added image to illustrate gap between drywall & beam (after stud is flush with the beam). This is an exaggeration - the beam isn't vertically straight when I place a level against it.

How do I drywall a corner with a lally column?

Attaching wall frame and soffit to a load supporting beam

Answer 1

It's a partition wall - not load-bearing, just dividing space.

So, functionally, the less space it takes up, the better. You did say you were prioritizing function. The only thing more functionally efficient than a really thin wall is a set of built-in shelving serving as a partition where the "thickness" of the wall is mostly shelf space, and the space lost is only the back of the shelves and whatever space goes in boxing around the column and the verticals of the shelves. If, of course, you have things that need shelf space. Empty shelf space you'll never use is not efficient.

2x4 at the most, possibly even 2x3 with extra attention paid to protecting cables in the wall, or else run the electrical for the required outlets on the surface, or wires in conduit whether in the wall or on the surface. 2x4 makes passing the column easy with the drywall, 2x3 involves tapering (not the same as taping, not a typo) and mudding as the drywall goes by the column as the column will stick out beyond the 2x3s.