Continuing Education


Steel Talks

Is your professional organization, fabricator group or office looking for information about the latest trends, techniques, and information on steel design and construction? AISC offers a FREE service that provides speakers on a variety of practical steel topics shown below. Steel Talks can be the sole presentation at a meeting or part of a previously planned event. AISC can even help market your event to help increase attendance! Our goal is to help you however we can--let us know what you want and we'll do our best to meet your needs.

The talks are 60 minutes. AISC will provide one Steel Talk per meeting.

If you are interested in scheduling a Steel Talk for your organization, please fill out the Steel Talks Request Form.

Steel Talk Topics

1. AESS: Categorized by Design

Architects want architecturally exposed structural steel on projects to meet their expectations for appearance, budget, quality and structural integrity. The category system implemented in the AISC Code of Standard Practice effectively communicates expectations and should be utilized on any AESS project. Participants in this program will learn how and when to implement the AESS Category Method to effectively communicate the desired appearance for architecturally exposed structural steel in a format that contractors can understand.

1.0 LU | HSW 
1.0 PDH

2. Innovations in Steel

Fabricated structural steel is the material that you’ve always wanted to have at your disposal for that special project or client. This program will demonstrate how recent steel industry innovations allow engineers and architects to easily express their design concepts and overcome client serviceability concerns. As a partner in the procurement and delivery process, steel can provide strategic ideas for cost-effective and time-saving project performance. Attendees will gain the knowledge to understand and incorporate low floor-to-floor height systems and long span solutions for economies of construction, appreciate the current supply chain and market conditions impacting the construction industry, apply Building Information Modeling (BIM) and improved shop drawing review methods for use on their next project, incorporate innovative connection methods and modular systems in future challenges, and have an understanding of how best to apply the requirements of AESS and current sustainability concerns.

1.0 LU | HSW 
1.0 PDH

3. Why to Design Steel-Framed Parking Structures

In today’s market where land is scarce, parking structures are becoming a necessary element to developments and campus designs. With projects today facing more and more questions and challenges requiring expert advice, we’re helping owners and designers realize that steel-framed parking structures have a clear advantage in economy and durability. Whether it’s choosing between current use of the parking structures, or adaptability for future use, specifying a building material that meets financial goals without sacrificing the entire project’s design intent is the challenge.

1.0 LU | HSW
1.0 PDH

4. Structural Steel: An Industry Overview and Economic Forecast

This course will cover the economic conditions in the US and how it relates to the overall health of the construction industry. It will discuss different measurements and indices that are used to gauge where the market is headed and how it will affect construction activity. It will also discuss the evolving mix of the construction market in terms of what is getting built and the materials being used.

1.0 LU 
1.0 PDH

5. Transformation of Steel: A Primer in Sustainability

For today's design leaders, choosing the right structural system doesn't just include efficiency and cost, but also must consider an understanding and analysis of sustainability goals. We'll focus today on how modern domestic steel is produced, what makes it the most sustainable structural material, the supply chain and steel availability, EPDs and sustainability commitments, and how design choices (such as lateral systems, cambering, composite design, and fire protection) can help reduce environmental impacts. We'll also leave you with information on tools, ranging from mill-specific EPDs to design aids on hybrid design, you can use to help you with design decisions.

1.0 LU | HSW
1.0 PDH 

6. Lateral System Innovation for Today's Construction Challenges

SpeedCore is a non-proprietary system of concrete-filled composite plate shear walls (CF-CPSW). The system replaces reinforced concrete core construction in multi-story buildings with the advantage of construction speed standing out as the most significant project benefit. The steel plate composite wall system leverages the stiffness of concrete and the speed and accuracy of steel for a superior lateral system. The history of composite construction is briefly reviewed with an emphasis on the use of the composite wall system in nuclear facilities. The innovative shift from industrial to commercial construction will be detailed with a specific discussion of the Rainier Square Tower project designed by Magnusson Klemencic. Basic design principles of the SpeedCore system used for Rainier Square are discussed with reference to the design resources currently available. Research on the SpeedCore system investigating structural and fire protection optimization are shared within the context of the future of the system and its innovative impact on the design and construction industries.

1.0 LU | HSW 
1.0 PDH

7. 2016 AISC Standards

This presentation highlights some of the important changes in the 2016 AISC 360 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, ranging from updated material standards to new shear strength provisions.  It also explores the changes in the 2016 AISC Code of Standard Practice, including two of the most significant: the generalization of the AISC Code of Standard Practice to include use of models, either in place of drawings or in combination with them; and an expansion of architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) requirements to provide multiple levels of finish.  The process of developing and adopting these standards is also discussed.

1.0 LU | HSW
1.0 PDH 

8. Harnessing the Power of AISC Design Guides

Structural Engineers are called upon to tackle tough analytical problems every day and AISC has many resources available to make that job a little bit easier. This one-hour presentation will familiarize you with the outstanding technical resources available in the AISC Design Guide Series. The session will include a general overview of the entire AISC Design Guide Series, paying particular attention to the newest Design Guides that cover: structural stainless steel (DG 27), design considerations for camber (DG 36), hybrid steel frames with wood floors (DG 37), SpeedCore systems for steel structures (DG 38), and end-plate moment connections (DG 39).

1.0 PDH

9. Steel Solutions Center FAQs

Averaging over 200 inquires each week, the Steel Solution Center can readily identify trends in the inquiries received. The Steel Solution Center works closely with the Engineering and Research Department and the Committee on Technical Assistance to develop Frequently Asked Questions to address these topics. These questions are published on the website each quarter, providing valuable resources to the design and construction industry. This one-hour seminar focuses on the most commonly asked questions from this resource, including such topics as the 2010 AISC Specification, the 2010 Seismic Provisions, and high-strength bolting.

1.0 PDH

If you have questions about designing in steel, visit the AISC Steel Solutions Center.