AISC presented a 2018 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS²) Award to project team members of the United States Air Force Academy's Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) in Colorado Springs, Colo., last week.

AISC has partnered with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) to establish a new opportunity for emerging design professionals to be recognized for their innovative designs. The Forge Prize recognizes innovation in the use of steel. The prize invites designers to submit proposals for visionary designs that embrace steel as the primary structural component. It is intended to engage designers in developing imaginative designs that bolster steel as the 21st century building material of choice through a two-stage design challenge, culminating with a public announcement event of winners in Summer 2019.

AISC and the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) are exhibiting in booth 415/514 at the 2018 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago, tomorrow through Friday. 

The International Code Council, ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society released the 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) last week. The IgCC is part of the Code Council’s family of comprehensive, coordinated and modern model codes -- including the International Building Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code and International Fire Code -- used around the world.

The Steel Joist Institute (SJI) is presenting part two of its two-part webinar, "Evaluation and Modification of Open Web Steel Joists and Joist Girders," on Wednesday, November 21 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. Attendees are not required to have watched part one to participate.

The 2019 Pacific Structural Steel Conference (PSSC '19) is accepting abstracts for papers to be presented at the conference at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan, November 9-11, 2019. Now in its 12th year, PSSC brings together industry experts from around the world to promote cooperation, communication and technical information in the field of steel construction. AISC is a co-organizer of the conference.

From managing your insurance risks to leveraging technology to increase profits, AISC's Early Involvement and Marketing Workshop offers practical information you can use to improve your bottom line. 

Thank you to all of our SteelDay hosts, attendees and industry partners for making the 10th annual SteelDay a huge success! Check out the photo gallery of just some of the many highlights.

Happy Halloween! Are you hungry for information on designing and building with steel? AISC offers all kinds of free information and resources as part of our mission to serve and advance the industry. Here's a sampling of just some of our many free goodies!

The 2019 Dodge Construction Outlook report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2019 will be $808 billion, staying essentially even with the $807 billion estimated for this year. Deceleration in total construction growth is expected to continue, reflecting a mixed pattern by project type.

Many have the perception that acoustics qualities of steel structures are not as robust as those of other major building materials. AISC is hosting a webinar, "Design Guide 30: Sound Isolation and Noise in Steel Buildings," on November 13 from 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET that will shed light on the superior acoustical qualities that can be achieved in steel structures, as described in AISC’s Design Guide 30. 

Infrastructure investment is a popular topic this election season, making its way onto the ballot in several states around the country, including California, Connecticut and Missouri. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is encouraging voters to join in improving our country's D+ infrastructure grade (C+ for the bridges sector) and take action on infrastructure-related ballot measures in their state.

The Steel Tube Institute (STI) is hosting a webinar, “Debunking the Myths of HSS Costs,” next Thursday, November 1, from 11 a.m. to noon CT.

The world premiere of the documentary film, Leaning Out, the story of the acclaimed structural engineer Leslie E. Robertson, took place during the 2018 Architecture & Design Film Festival in New York City last week. AISC was a co-producer of the film and was represented at the event. An exclusive pre-screening of the film was also held as part of SteelDay last month.

The 2019 winner of the $15,000 AISC T.R. Higgins Award is Ronald D. Ziemian, a professor at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa. Ziemian is recognized worldwide for his expertise in structural stability and his uncanny ability to take an incredibly complex topic and make it understandable to everyone from undergraduates to experienced structural engineers. 

An infographic by High Steel Structures, LLC (an AISC/NSBA member and AISC certified fabricator) showcases the company’s work on the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which replaces the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River north of New York City. The 3.1-mile-long, $3.98 billion crossing is the largest active bridge project in the nation and a testament to the work and capabilities of America’s steel fabricators, mills and constructors.

AISC is accepting applications for the David B. Ratterman Fast Start Scholarships for the 2018-19 academic year. For the eighth straight year, the program will provide financial aid to college students whose parents are employed by an AISC full member company. A total of $60,000 will be awarded this year, and applications will  be accepted through December 1.

AISC and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) are pleased to announce the 19th annual Steel Design Student Competition for the 2018-19 academic year. The competition encourages architecture students from across North America to explore the many functional and aesthetic uses for steel in design and construction. A total of $14,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winning students and their faculty sponsors.

Join AISC’s webinar "The Use of NDT in the Rehabilitation of Major Steel Bridges: Two Case Studies" on Monday, October 22, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET for an in-depth look at the rehabilitation of two major steel bridges: the Sherman Minton Bridge in Louisville, Ky., and the Delaware River Bridge in Bristol, Pa. These case studies will show how large steel bridges can be quickly assessed and returned to service using a combination of tools.

AISC Structural Steel Specialists, Jacinda Collins (NYC market) and David Fennell (Seattle market) toured the construction site of 425 Park Avenue in New York City’s Midtown Manhattan this week. The steel-framed skyscraper will rise to 47 stories with a height of around 900 ft and is the first office tower to be developed on Park Avenue in 50 years. The project is expected to be completed at the end of next year.

Despite the widespread use of curved structural steel members, detailed guidance relative to U.S. design practice is scarce. AISC’s new Design Guide 33: Curved Member Design brings all of the latest information on curved members into a single document that is compatible with the 2016 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.

The Steel Joist Institute is presenting part one of its two-part webinar "Evaluation and Modification of Open Web Steel Joists and Joist Girders" next Wednesday, October 17, from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session.

The second edition of AISC Design Guide 21: Welded Connections – A Primer for Engineers (DG 21) is now available. This new edition of the guide, authored by structural welding guru Duane K. Miller, PE, ScD, The Lincoln Electric Co., provides an updated overview of all kinds of topics related to structural welding, including selection of weld types, weld design, metallurgy, weld repair, weld procedure specifications, quality, inspection, economy and safety.

For more than a decade, AISC has proudly proclaimed, "There’s Always a Solution in Steel!" Recently, AISC introduced a new tagline: "Smarter. Stronger. Steel." At the same time, the organization has rolled out a new, cleaner look to its printed materials, including modernized, simplified versions of AISC logos for full, associate and professional members.

AISC presented a 2018 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS²) Award to project team members of Seattle Public Utilities' new North Transfer Station Rebuild/Tipping and Transfer Building, as part of SteelDay last week. 

The fourth quarter 2018 issue of AISC’s Engineering Journal is now available at www.aisc.org/ej. You can view, download and print the current digital edition.

The big day is here! Today is the 10th annual SteelDay, a national celebration of the U.S. structural steel industry. We hope you enjoy all of the fun, learning and celebrating!

Not only are construction firms having trouble filling hourly worker positions, but according to a recent Forbes article, manufacturers in the U.S. are also having a hard time recruiting women specifically to fill the growing demand for machinists, welders, computer-controlled machine operators and other key positions.

A new report on developments in the analysis of steel bridge system redundant members is now available for free download.

What is the new 3rd Edition Seismic Manual without an accompanying playlist for working on?

The Steel Erectors Association of America recently joined other industry stakeholders in publicly supporting seven policy recommendations to make the United States the world leader in workforce development.

AISC is assembling a new committee to develop and approve a new standard on the design, fabrication, erection and quality of structural stainless steel (excluding cold-formed stainless steel). 

The AISC Steel Solutions Center is hosting a trivia party and you’re invited!

There's just over one week left to enter your impressive steel-framed building projects in AISC's 2019 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS²) Awards competition! 

Having a hard time filling hourly positions? So are 80% of construction firms, according to an industry-wide survey from Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student chapter of Engineers Without Borders, a nonprofit that designs infrastructures across the world in disenfranchised communities, is currently working on a project in Malawi.

Designers and fabricators can now access the most comprehensive information for performance-based seismic design with the 3rd Edition AISC Seismic Design Manual, now available at www.aisc.org/publications.

Join Brian Raff, AISC’s director of government affairs, at his speaking engagements across the U.S. this fall!

Within days of Hurricane Maria’s destruction of Puerto Rico, Acrow Bridge (AISC full member), started surveying and preparing to reconstruct 14 bridges across the island.

Sixteen exceptional student design projects have been recognized as winners in the 19th annual Steel Design Student Competition for the 2017-2018 academic year. 

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of SteelDay, the steel industry’s annual celebration of the steel design community and construction industry!

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 1 at 12-noon, the History Channel debuts a new series called “Project Impossible” which features High Steel Structures LLC’s (AISC member fabricator) work on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

The UC Davis Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art in Davis, Calif., has earned national recognition in the 2018 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS²). In honor of this achievement, members of the project team were presented with awards from AISC during a ceremony that took place at the building on Wednesday.

Beginning on September 10, AISC will begin hosting a new webinar series called “Seismic Design in Steel—Concepts and Examples.”

There’s one month left to enter AISC’s 2019 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS²) Awards competition!

Each year, the Rules Committee creates a new mock scenario and set of rules for the Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC), keeping the competition challenging and exciting for the student teams.

"Insatiable appetite to learn coupled with the fear of failure," says Ron Klemencic, PE, SE, chairman and CEO of Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), on his motivation to innovate.

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of SteelDay, the steel industry’s annual celebration of the steel design community and construction industry!