You know that architecture and engineering go hand-in-hand.

This section provides information about the process of designing with structural steel. Ultimately, of course, your engineering specialists and other consultants will join the team, but these resources should help you begin the process of selecting preliminary structural systems and member depths.

Guide for Architects

Looking for the right place to start? Find practical information and inspiration for designing with structural steel in AISC's Guide for Architects.

Acoustics, Sound Isolation, and Noise Control

Learn how to achieve appropriate acoustical performance for steel-framed buildings, including estimating noise levels and efficiently detailing specific sound-isolating assemblies.

AIA/AISC Design Collaboration

Discover how design assist can help you and the rest of the project team deliver a project on a defined schedule and budget while minimizing costs and disruptions resulting from team misalignments.

Detailing Considerations

Explore the synergy between various building enclosure systems (or skins) and the many available steel framing systems you may choose for a project.

Lateral Systems

Compare multiple types of lateral systems and their architectural implications to determine which one best fits your design.

Loads

Determine which natural forces affect a structure, and begin to plan how the structure will transfer each type of load to the ground.

Preliminary Beam, Girder, and Column Size Tables

Get a sense of the approximate required column sizes and beam/girder depths that might ultimately be required for your project.

Structural Steel Dimensioning Tool

AISC's Structural Steel Dimensioning Tool is your interactive one-stop shop, either at your desk or on the go, for detailing dimensions for all rolled sections. This tool quickly displays detailing dimensions for all rolled sections in the Steel Construction Manual.

Who Makes What Shape?

Use our database of available structural steel shapes from major steel producers and mills in the U.S. to determine the general availability of specific shapes.

Other Engineering Tools

Visit steeltools.org for a variety of spreadsheets you can use for bracing, load calculation, beam and column analysis, and more.