A design concept that turns unused space in dense urban neighborhoods into new communities has taken the top award in the American Institute of Steel Construction’s 2025 Forge Prize.

Architect Ho-gyeum Kim of CZS tapped into the potential for rear yards of single-family homes to meet New York's housing demands. A modular system based on the average rowhouse lot width could bring duplex units with semi-private outdoor areas. Kim partnered with Ralph Barone of Barone Steel in Brooklyn, N.Y. to optimize the design.

"It shows how structural steel is critical to unlocking buildable space in dense urban settings within New York and further afield," said juror Matthew Marani, special sections editor for Architectural Record.

A draft of the next edition of the AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC 341) is now available for public review and comment.

The next edition of AISC 341 will supersede the 2022 version and is anticipated to be published as a 2027 edition.

The new draft includes updates to the seismic width-to-thickness limits for braces and columns, revised design requirements for special truss moment frames, and changes to the detailing requirements for base connections of composite plate shear wall systems.

Hannah Kessler, a PhD student at Georgia Tech, has an exciting year ahead of her.

Kessler is the 2025 recipient of the AISC Education Foundation’s Reidar Bjorhovde Outstanding Young Professional Award. She intends to become a structural engineering faculty member after completing her PhD this spring. Kessler holds a bachelor’s and master of science in civil engineering from Clemson University.

"In addition to Hannah's impressive record of academics, leadership, teaching, and research, Hannah has already taken on an active and impactful role as a mentor to others," said Director of Foundation Programs Maria Mnookin. "Through this award, we are excited to connect Hannah to opportunities, resources, and mentors to further propel her forward in her career as an academic in the steel industry."

David L. Hirschfeld, the former president of Hirschfeld Industries, died February 28 at the age of 88. Under Hirschfeld's leadership, the eponymous firm, which was acquired by W&W | AFCO Steel in 2018, grew to 16 facilities with 1,300 employees and more than 3 million sq. ft. under roof in 2002, when he retired.

"David was bigger than life--you knew when he was in the room," said Karl Frank, PE, PhD, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin and the former chief engineer at Hirschfeld Industries. "Upon returning from Texas Tech to the family business, he grew it from a small welding shop to one of the largest steel bridge fabricators in the country. When I asked how he did it, he said he bid each job bigger than the last one."

Five organizations representing the American steel industry today wrote to President Trump to express strong support for restoring 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and eliminating the exclusion process for that tariff program.

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA) today sent a joint letter to the president reiterating the steel industry’s support for steel tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and for "the elimination of the steel Section 232 exclusion process that has been exploited as a loophole by foreign producers seeking to avoid tariffs."

Six women from AISC-member fabricators and erectors are being recognized by the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) as part of its 2025 Steel Strong Women in Construction campaign. They are among 17 total honorees, and all will be recognized during the SEAA Convention and Trade Show May 6-9 in Pittsburgh.

Accomplished bridge engineer Frank Russo, PE, PhD, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Steel Bridge Task Force’s Richard S. Fountain Award, which recognizes leadership in steel bridge research and outstanding efforts to advance AASHTO specifications.

"Frank's contributions to steel bridge engineering have been nothing short of extraordinary," said Dan Snyder, vice president of construction for the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). "His advancements in forensic investigations, design provisions, and girder standards have improved the way we approach bridge design and construction. His dedication to education and mentorship--through the development of curricula and his extensive teaching of National Highway Institute courses--has strengthened the knowledge base of the industry and shaped countless engineers."

Project teams across the country continue to push the boundaries with structural steel--and it can be hard to keep up. We’ve made it easy: focus on these five.

They’re this year’s winners of the structural steel industry’s highest design honor: the Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (or IDEAS²) Awards, presented by the American Institute of Steel Construction.

"Innovative breakthroughs happen at intersections--be they meetings of minds, changes in a structure’s needs, or a challenge to build something that will make people stop and take notice," said AISC Senior Vice President Scott Melnick. "Each of these projects found themselves at the right intersection with the right team at the right time."

A pedestrian bridge that draws inspiration from a Möbius strip. A plan to turn neglected rear yards into thriving communities. A system that diverts the scrap metal stream to help vertical gardens thrive.

These three projects are finalists for the American Institute of Steel Construction's 2025 Forge Prize. One of these projects will win $10,000.

But which one? No one knows yet--including the judges. They'll make their decision during final presentations streamed live on YouTube from noon to 2 p.m. Central on March 18!

A draft of the next edition of the AISC Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC 313) is now available for public review and comment.

The next edition of AISC 313 will supersede the 2021 version. AISC anticipates finalizing it later this year.

The latest draft standardizes terminology to match the AISC Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC 370). Additional editorial improvements clarify tolerances.

There can be plenty of surprises when renovating an existing building.

The American Institute of Steel Construction is making life easier with a brand-new one-shop stop for anyone working on a steel building: Design Guide 16, Assessment and Repair of Structural Steel in Existing Buildings.

It’s where experts have gathered insights on common considerations for initial assessments as well as methods for detailed inspection, evaluation, and nondestructive examination.

The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) will host its 52nd Convention and Trade Show from May 6 to 9 in Pittsburgh, Pa., at The Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino. The event will bring together industry professionals for networking, education, and exciting excursions.

“Our annual convention is an unmatched opportunity for networking, learning, and industry engagement for steel construction business owners and managers,” SEAA executive director Pete Gum said. “We encourage members to register early, as hotel space is limited and high demand is expected with major events happening in Pittsburgh.”

A draft of the next edition of the AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC 360) is now available for public review and comment.

The next edition of AISC 360 will supersede the 2022 version and is anticipated to be published as a 2027 edition.

Among other proposed changes, this draft updates the Chapter F requirements for flexural members with noncompact and slender elements, expands Appendix 5 pertaining to existing structures, and adds an appendix for determining strength by testing.

The World Steel Bridge Symposium (WSBS) is back at this year’s NASCC: The Steel Conference in Louisville, Ky., from April 2–4. This year’s program features a fantastic lineup of expert insights on the latest innovations and projects everyone is talking about, including: 

• Competitive short-span steel railway bridges (a prototype is currently in testing)
• Rehabilitation techniques for steel bridges
• Innovations in steel network tied arch bridges
• Steel bridge sustainability
• Design, fabrication, and construction perspectives on the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (the 2024 NSBA Bridge of the Year)

A narrative photography exhibit that shines a spotlight on the skilled workers powering the built landscape along Florida’s Gulf Coast is now open, attracting nearly 100 local architects, engineers, fabricators, and other AEC professionals to its unveiling Tuesday.

Visions in Steel: The People Who Bring Designs to Life, on display at the Center for Architecture & Design, Tampa Bay through March 11, tells the unique stories of 10 featured welders, quality control inspectors, and other fabrication professionals through written profiles and photographs.

Tuesday’s opening reception, a collaborative effort between the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Tampa Bay chapter, drew in AIA Tampa Bay members and leaders from the three featured companies (GMF Steel Group, Morrow Steel, and Precision Build), as well as several of the exhibit’s subjects and their families.

When Megan Patton was working toward her chemistry degree at the University of Alabama, she didn’t picture herself overseeing processing operations at a steel fabrication shop. In her mind, future Megan wore a lab coat and goggles--not steel-toed boots.

“I originally wanted to go into food science,” Patton says. “You know the Lay’s potato chip flavors that nobody keeps asking for? Yeah, I wanted to do that.”

The 24-year-old Naperville, Ill., native first came across GMF Steel Group at a career fair, where she was drawn to the breadth of opportunities steel fabrication offered--and a chance to stay in the South.

Ten years ago, Francisco Rodriguez put on a suit and tie, knocked on the recruitment and development manager’s door at Tampa Tank, and said “I need a job.” It was the day after his high school graduation.

When he walked to his welding station for the first time, the 18-year-old Rodriguez, with years of work experience under his belt already, was the sole provider for his family.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation's (ARDOT) first design-build project, the I-30 Corridor Reconstruction Project (30-Crossing), reached substantial completion months ahead of schedule in December. It was originally projected to wrap up in summer 2025.

A crucial part of ARDOT’s Connecting Arkansas Program, 30-Crossing replaced a 3,360-ft steel bridge over the Arkansas River, upgraded other bridges on Interstate 30, and widened I-30 through Little Rock and North Little Rock.

Annie Guerra has been a welder for 20 years, and she can count on one hand how many women she has worked with throughout her career.

It doesn’t surprise her. The work is gritty and strenuous, and two decades in, the 43-year-old Guerra still feels like she’s proving herself every day. But when you tune out the noise and focus on the craft, you find a career that’s uniquely beautiful and rewarding, she says.

“I had never in a million years thought I would be a welder,” Guerra says. “But as an immigrant, you have to do basically whatever you can to adapt and figure it out. Jobs are on every corner, but the opportunity to make a career and do the same job for your entire life…it’s like being a doctor or lawyer, right? The opportunity was right in front of me, and I didn’t think twice—the money is decent, and the work is interesting.”

An inferno from an oil tanker compromised a bridge over Interstate 95 near downtown Norwalk, Conn., last May, ensnarling a significant transportation artery in closures and detours. The steel bridge industry’s swift response, though, limited highway disruptions to mere days and put a replacement bridge in motion almost immediately after the fire.

That replacement bridge, which carries Fairfield Avenue over I-95, reopened exactly seven months after the incident. It’s the latest example of the steel bridge industry’s collaboration and capacity to mobilize quickly in emergency repair and replacement situations.

“Every partner on this project overperformed the ambitious deadlines we set in May,” said Garrett Eucalitto, Connecticut Department of Transportation commissioner. “This is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates what we can get done for the traveling public when federal, state, and local partners share a common purpose.”

Edward "Eddie" Williams, one of the nation's most recognized and respected structural steel fabricators, died on January 13 at age 90. Williams was one of the founders of the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) and was known for hundreds of notable and challenging projects such as the UNC Dean Dome and the Carolina Panthers Stadium.

A draft of the next edition of the AISC Standard for Certification Programs (AISC 207) is now available for public review and comment.

The next edition of AISC 207 will supersede the 2023 version and is anticipated to be finalized and released later this year.

The updated standard will notably exclude safety program requirements in recognition of the evolution of safety standardization and practices in the industry over the past several decades. The updated standard also harmonizes terminology with the AISC Code of Standard Practice, among other improvements.

What if steel could be preheated to a lower temperature for welding, creating a safer working environment, cutting costs and emissions, and improving efficiency?

The University of California, San Diego’s Machel Morrison, PhD aims to find out--and the American Institute of Steel Construction is helping him do so with a four-year, $300,000 Milek Fellowship.

“This research may lead to lower preheat requirements for some of the most common steel shapes and plate--which would have huge benefits,” said AISC Director of Research Devin Huber, PE, PhD. “This is precisely the kind of forward-thinking research that keeps structural steel at the forefront of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.”

Registration is now open for a one-of-a-kind event for any architect who designs in steel--anyone who’s looking for ingenious solutions to tough challenges, need-to-know designs, and the innovations that will define a greener, safer, more beautiful future.

Architecture in Steel, incorporated into NASCC: The Steel Conference, takes place April 2 in Louisville, Ky., and architects can save more than $500 off the regular registration price.

Architecture in Steel combines insightful education sessions--and up to 12 hours of AIA continuing education credit--with networking that’s just not possible anywhere else.

NASCC: The Steel Conference, the must-attend event for anyone involved in the design or construction of steel buildings and bridges, is coming to Louisville, Ky. in April--and registration is now open! 

“NASCC: The Steel Conference is the only place to talk with the professionals who work on a given product, from the design process to steel erection,” said Scott Melnick, senior vice president of the American Institute of Steel Construction and the conference’s main organizer. “Year after year, participants tell us that they made valuable connections they can’t have made anywhere else--and that attending the Steel Conference helped them do their jobs better.

Right now, architecture students across the country are designing projects they want to bring to life in the real world--and a jury of experts will decide which of them will receive a grant to do just that!

The University of Kansas/Studio 804’s Dan Rockhill, California Polytechnic State University’s Dale Cifford, and Hillsdale Fabricators’s Tony Diebold will evaluate proposals from faculty and faculty-sponsored students. The projects in question can range from full-scale inhabitable builds to prototypes to furniture. Entries for 2025 grants are due January 13, 2025.

Designers looking for a one-stop shop for sustainable design will soon have a fantastic resource--written by true experts.

The American Institute of Steel Construction has selected a team led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to draft its newest design guide. Experts from Skanska USA Buildings, Inc. and Nucor Steel Corporation as well as Northeastern University's Jerome F. Hajjar, PE, PhD, round out the list of authors.

Barry Barger, an AISC Special Achievement Award winner and five-decade fabrication industry veteran, died November 21 at age 79.

Barger spent 40 years at Southern Iron Works, Inc. in Springfield, Va., and retired as the company’s senior vice president of operations. He began his career at Fred S. Gichner Iron Works and moved to Jarvis Steel Company before taking a job at Southern Iron Works. He was a prominent figure in the steel industry and sat on several AISC committees, including stints as vice chair of the Committee on Manuals and Textbooks and the Committee on the Code of Standard Practice. He earned his AISC Special Achievement award in 2002 for his role in developing the 2000 AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges.

What drives innovation in today's structural steel industry? The people who dedicate their time to making a difference.

The American Institute of Steel Construction will recognize 12 of them for their extraordinary contributions at NASCC: The Steel Conference next year.

"Designing, fabricating, and building with structural steel are team sports--and they work best in tandem," said AISC President Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD. "Our industry remains innovative thanks to MVPs from classrooms to executive boardrooms. It is an honor to recognize some of the people who shape our industry."

Professor Emeritus Karl H. Frank, PE, PhD, became a legend during his 36 years at the University of Texas at Austin--and his impact continues today.

That’s just one reason the American Institute of Steel Construction is proud to present him its most prestigious honor for educators: the 2025 Geerhard Haaijer Award for Excellence in Education – an award only presented nine times previously since 1999.

Over the course of his career, Frank has made enormous contributions to structural stability, durability of steel structures, connections, fabrication, added stay cables, and inspection.

The American Institute of Steel Construction has updated the industry’s go-to reference for all things seismic design.

The fourth edition AISC Seismic Design Manual expands upon the guidance in the third edition and incorporates the 2022 AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings, the 2022 AISC Specification for Structural Buildings, and recent design guides.

It’s now available in both digital and print formats.

Parke MacDowell, AIA, sits at the intersection of architectural practice and fabrication--right where people who design innovative structures meet the people who know how to put them together in the real world.

Also at that intersection? The American Institute of Steel Construction’s Forge Prize, which challenges emerging architects, educators, and graduate students to dream big and envision how structural steel will help people live, play, and work in the future.

In the second phase of the competition, three finalists will work hand-in-hand with a steel fabricator to refine their concepts. The winning design will take home a $15,000 cash prize and bask in an industry spotlight.

A steel bridge originally intended only for research in a lab remained strong enough through testing to become a viable real-world structure. In late October, it was officially set in place for an unforeseen second life.

The town of Kent, N.Y., set a 40-ft-long steel bridge as a pedestrian crossing over a small section of Lake Carmel on October 31, solidifying its reuse after serving its purpose as a custom-built research test structure at the University at Buffalo. The bridge has 6-ft girder spacing, is supported by W27x84 sections, and is outfitted with buckling-restrained braces (BRBs)--all as part of a project to test the seismic resilience BRBs could provide in a bridge.

This October, SteelDays drew fabricators, students, and steel enthusiasts nationwide to experience careers in fabrication, compete for welding scholarships, and immerse themselves in the energy of the American structural steel industry. Were you among them?

In case you missed out on something cool, check out the highlights--and watch out for similar events in your area next year!

Journalists have a keen eye for innovation--and Architectural Record Special Sections Editor Matthew Marani has a bird’s-eye perspective of architecture trends.

Those insights will prove invaluable when he serves as one of three jurors who will decide which Forge Prize design concept wins $15,000!

“Matthew Marani has spent years examining the cutting edge of architecture,” said AISC Director of Architecture Nima Balasubramanian, AIA, NOMA. “We are all looking forward to his expert perspective on the visionary concepts that the Forge Prize jury will consider!”

The American Institute of Steel Construction’s Forge Prize is looking for groundbreaking ideas--and Emily Baker is particularly well qualified to help find them.

Baker is an inventor, fabricator, architect, and associate professor of architecture at the University of Arkansas, and now, she’ll be one of three jurors for the 2025 Forge Prize.

She also won the 2024 Forge Prize with a landmark trail head that showcases her Spin-Valence system, a revolutionary steel space frame that is both beautiful and functional. Spin-Valence allows a single sheet thickness of steel material to vastly increase its depth producing a structural space frame through the use of a kirigami strategy of cutting and folding.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are urging the Biden administration to close loopholes in the Section 232 steel tariff program that is designed to ensure a level playing field for America’s structural steel production and fabrication industries.

The American Institute of Steel Construction stands with their call to expand the scope of the Section 232 steel tariff program. Ensuring a fair and competitive market for U.S. steel translates to increased production capacity--and it protects American jobs and the families and communities that rely on them.

Ronnie Medlock, PE, of High Steel Structures, LLC, has been selected to receive the American Institute of Steel Construction's 2025 T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award for his contributions to the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Welding Reference Manual.

“Simply put, Ronnie Medlock is an icon within the bridge fabrication and construction world, and the impact of his contributions to the standards that guide the industry cannot be overstated. Ronnie Medlock has changed the way bridges are fabricated and constructed in the U.S.,” said AISC Vice President of Engineering and Research Christopher H. Raebel, SE, PE, PhD.

Nucor Corporation Vice President and General Manager Zach Moon has been elected to the American Institute of Steel Construction’s Board of Directors.

“We're pleased to have Zach as the newest member of our Board of Directors,” said AISC President Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD. “His background and experience make him a great fit, and he'll enhance the breadth and depth of the group.”

The average New York Times reader might have found the September 4th article “Climate change can cause bridges to ‘fall apart like tinkertoys’, experts say” deeply disturbing--after all, the assertions within it are genuinely alarming.

The good news for readers and the traveling public is that that article is largely inaccurate and grossly oversimplifies and overstates the impact that climate can have on steel bridges.

A draft of the next edition of the AISC Prequalified Connections for Special and Intermediate Steel Moment Frames for Seismic Applications (AISC 358) is now available for public review and comment.

The next edition of AISC 358, currently slated for a 2027 release, will supersede ANSI/AISC 358-22.

Officials want to add a bridge over the Skunk River Water Trail to better connect the park’s walking trails without disturbing a mid-river haven for wildlife, and they’ve turned to students at colleges and universities to make it happen!

The situation is hypothetical, but the ingenuity and skill are real. The American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Civil Engineers have released the rules for this year’s Student Steel Bridge Competition, which gives the next generation of structural and civil engineers a challenge like this one every year.

To solve it, they must design a bridge, analyze and optimize their design, then fabricate it in steel so it can be constructed and tested in real life. They’ll go head-to-head with other teams at 20 regional competitions in spring 2025; the top contenders will meet at Iowa State University for the national finals May 30-31, 2025.

There’s a vital new resource available for anyone who designs steel railroad bridges, thanks to a collaboration between the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and the National Steel Bridge Alliance.

The document, “Guidelines for the Design of Steel Railroad Bridges for Constructability and Fabrication,” describes special considerations for railroad bridges in the areas of design, girders, boxes, trusses, floor systems, decks and walkways, bolting, corrosion protection systems, and construction.

It complements the recommendations given in AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering, Chapter 15--Steel Structures, providing guidance and best practices that can lead to rail bridges that are more economical to fabricate, construct, and maintain.

The nation’s leading expert on the vibration design of buildings, Thomas M. Murray, PhD, died August 29 at the age of 84.

Murray, an emeritus professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., was well known for his expertise on steel connections, floor system serviceability, pre-engineered building design, and light-gauge design, but his place among the highest pantheon of steel researchers was secured by his foundational work on vibration design, including his plainly titled paper “Building Floor Vibrations,” for which he won the American Institute of Steel Construction’s 1991 T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award.

Murray was also one of the authors of AISC Design Guide 11: Vibrations of Steel-Framed Structural Systems Due to Human Activity, which is one of AISC’s most widely accessed technical resources, and a perennially popular lecturer on the subject.

The AISC Education Foundation is helping 55 students across the U.S. make their higher education dreams a reality, awarding more than $200,000 in scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year.

These scholarships support juniors, seniors, and master’s-level students in civil engineering, architectural engineering, construction engineering, materials/metallurgical engineering, construction management, and architecture programs in the U.S.

“Our scholarships are the AISC Education Foundation's biggest investment in the next generation of our industry,” said AISC Director of Foundation Programs Maria Mnookin. “It's easy to be excited about that investment when we see these students' high academic caliber coupled with their passion for structural steel. Our collective future looks very bright, and we are thrilled to recognize these very deserving recipients.”

Almost a quarter of a billion people around the world can't safely access critical resources like healthcare, education, or employment due to an impassable river. For thousands of them living in rural southern Rwanda, a brand-new steel footbridge is already changing lives and creating opportunities.

In May, 11 industry volunteers led by the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) partnered with local crews to construct an 85-meter footbridge near Muhanga, Rwanda. This effort is in partnership with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), an initiative to build footbridges that help rural communities overcome isolation and, in turn, poverty.

Do you have a visionary idea that pushes the boundary of what's possible? The Forge Prize from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), challenges architects, educators, and students to create design concepts that embrace innovations in steel as the primary structural material--and $25,000 in prizes.

The Forge Prize, co-administered by AISC’s brand-new Architecture Center and AISC University Relations, challenges emerging architects, architecture educators, and architecture students to create design concepts that embrace innovations in steel as a primary structural material--with up to $15,000 on the line.

A draft of the next edition of the AISC Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC 370) is now available for public review and comment.

The next edition of AISC 370 will supersede the 2021 version and is anticipated to be finalized in 2025.

The Steel Design Student Competition--with $20,000 in cash prizes and a spotlight on student work--is back for the 25th time!

Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the program is intended to challenge undergraduate and graduate students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. Winning designs are featured on both ACSA and AISC’s websites as well as displayed to 6,000+ architects, engineers, steel fabricators, and the rest of the AEC industry at NASCC: The Steel Conference (April 2 to 4, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.).

Right now, up-and-coming researchers across the country are discovering tomorrow’s innovations.

They keep steel on the cutting edge, and AISC wants to make a remarkable researcher the 2025 Milek Fellow.

Since 2004, AISC has given a promising non-tenured university faculty member the AISC Milek Fellowship (formerly the AISC Faculty Fellowship), a four-year award where the per-year funding level has grown from $30,000 when the program started some 20 years ago to $75,000 starting with the 2024 award.