The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) will celebrate its 50th anniversary in its home city of Chicago, where it will also hold its 10th World Congress, October 29 through November 2, 2019. As part of this event, CTBUH and the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) will host a one-day symposium on Thursday, October 31. 

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has published an update to the popular handbook Becoming Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, written by  F. Mary Williams and Carolyn Emerson. 

If you're going to put a multi-story pendulum in a building, you're obviously going to show it off. And what better way to do so than by putting it next to an eye-catching staircase -- steel-framed, of course! To continue reading this and other articles in the March 2019 edition of Modern Steel Construction magazine, click here.

Want a look into the creative minds of today's engineering students (and tomorrow's engineers)? Join us in the exhibit hall on Wednesday, April 3, at NASCC: The Steel Conference in St. Louis to view demos from some of this year's Student Steel Bridge Competition participants.  

The Steel Erectors Association of American (SEAA) is hosting this year's annual convention and trade show in Charlotte, N.C., April 24-26, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort and Spa.

AISC has recently honored more than 60 structural steel fabrication and erection companies with AISC Safety Awards for their excellent safety performance records in 2018. Awards are given in the categories of "Fabricator" and "Erector" and include the Safety Award of Honor—AISC's top safety award, presented for a perfect safety record of no disabling injuries—as well as the Safety Certificate of Merit and the Safety Certificate of Commendation.

Cives Steel Company, an AISC full member fabricator, recently purchased 25 acres of land in El Mirage, Ariz., with plans to establish a new fabrication facility.

NASCC: The Steel Conference is the premier educational event for steel design and construction professionals, with nearly 150 sessions and plenty of opportunities to earn professional development hour (PDH) credits. In fact, you can earn up to 17 PDHs (defined as one contact hour of instruction, presentation or study) plus an additional 12 PDHs if you participate in optional short courses. 

Skilled trade workers are difficult to find and this shortage is expected to continue rising. By 2025 an estimated two million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled. In a recent effort to work towards solving this problem, the Skilled Trades Coalition (STC) was formed.

The Steel Market Development Institute's (SMDI) Steel Bridge Task Force has named Ed Wasserman, senior engineer of bridge design and engineering at Modjeski and Masters, as the recipient of the 2019 Richard S. Fountain Award.

Eight leaders from across the structural steel design, construction and academic communities will be presented with prestigious awards by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) at the 2019  NASCC: The Steel Conference (April 3-5 in St. Louis). AISC awards honor significant individuals who have made a difference in the success of the fabricated structural steel industry. Whether it's for an innovative design, an insightful technical paper or a lifetime of outstanding service, an AISC award bestows prestige and well-deserved recognition upon its recipient.

With so many seminars running concurrently at NASCC: The Steel Conference, it can be tough to select the one that's right for you. So we've created tracks, based on topics and areas of focus, to help you find the seminars you're most interested in. 

AISC is seeking volunteers for the Student Steel Bridge Competition's Regional Events and National Finals. The SSBC has been one of AISC's most educational and impactful programs for college students for more than 30 years. And you can be a part of it!  

Want to learn more about steel joists? Register for the Steel Joist Institute's (SJI) 90-minute webinar, "Properly Specifying Steel Joists," taking place February 20.

The new Spectrum IV facility lives and breathes science, for the purpose of saving lives. The building serves as the new base of operations in San Diego for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global company that develops transformative medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases. 

Just a friendly reminder to join us on February 13 for a fascinating discussion about reconstruction following the 2010-2011 Canterbury, New Zealand, earthquakes.

Drumroll please… Announcing the 2019 IDEAS²  winners, showcasing the best structural steel projects this year! The Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program is conducted annually by AISC, and is the highest honor bestowed on building projects by the U.S. structural steel industry, recognizing excellence and innovation in the use of structural steel on building projects across the country.

What do you do when an anchor rod hole is misplaced? Or the columns aren't plumb? Don't you hate when that happens? More importantly, what can you do to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place?

Vicki O'Leary became an ironworker in 1985 at age 21 and after being offered a job by a Chicago apprenticeship coordinator, she embarked on a 20-year construction trade career. "I'm not going to pretend it was easy, because it wasn't," says O'Leary, who worked on projects from O'Hare International Airport to McCormick Place convention center, always seeking opportunities to learn.

The Structural Stability Research Council's (SSRC) annual Stability Conference will again be held in conjunction with NASCC: The Steel Conference, as it has been since 2001. In addition to 13 sessions featuring more than 30 papers, the conference includes the 2018 Beedle Award (honoring the late Lynn S. Beedle) and MAJR (McGuire Award for Junior Researchers, established to recognize promising young researchers in structural stability) Medal presentations.

Look up! It's a bird, it's a plane! No, it's a drone, coming to a steel bridge near you.

The bridge-building challenge has been thrown down and accepted by hundreds of engineering students across the country. Regional competitions--17 in all, involving around 2,500 students on approximately 200 school bridge teams--will soon be under way for this year's annual Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC), sponsored by AISC. Forty teams, comprised of the top few finishers from the regional competitions, will move on to the 2019 National Finals.

Join us on February 13 for a fascinating discussion about reconstruction following the 2010-2011 Canterbury, New Zealand, earthquakes. Much of the Christchurch central business district was demolished, and a new city has emerged in its place.

The National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) is collaborating with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a nonprofit organization that builds footbridges in isolated communities across the world, to travel to Bolivia April 13-28, 2019. This is NSBA's third volunteer trip with B2P; the first two trips went to Panama. The new bridge will provide access to healthcare and schools and will allow also local residents to get their goods to market.

Don't forget to sign up for first AISC Night School course of 2019. "Connection Design: Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned" tackles everything you need to know about steel connection details. Taught by five of our industry's foremost experts, this course will provide instruction on the connection design process and the latest design methods.  

The growing field of women welders will be represented during two Women Who Weld workshops at NASCC: The Steel Conference in St. Louis from April 3-5. These half-day introductory workshops are for women interested in learning the basics of MIG welding.

High-rise construction has the potential to become more cost-effective and time-efficient thanks to the SpeedCore system. SpeedCore is a revolutionary new method of composite structural-steel framing, aiming to replace the common reinforced concrete core in steel office-tower construction. 

The 2019 NASCC: The Steel Conference, taking place in St. Louis April 3-5, will feature two sessions about how the SpeedCore system was put into practice. Come check them out!

As we settle in on the new year, our webinar series is heating up. Join us on January 24 for a live webinar, "Bridge Focus: Fabricators' Insights on Clear Communication of Design Requirements." Bradley J. Dillman, PE, vice president of engineering for High Steel Structures (an NSBA member and certified fabricator), will host.

It's time to start tackling your continuing education goals for the year! And AISC can help you start racking up your PDH credits.

The World Steel Bridge Symposium (WSBS) brings together bridge design engineers, construction professionals, academics, transportation officials, fabricators and erectors to discuss and learn innovative practices for enhancing steel bridge design, fabrication and construction techniques.

The Stage One deadline for submitting a design proposal for The Forge Prize is this Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Interested parties are invited to develop an imaginative design that bolsters steel as the 21st century building material of choice. 

The brand-new office building at 1515 W. Webster Avenue in Chicago kicks off a major development for the city. The 207,000-sq.-ft, four-story edifice will serve as the Midwest headquarters for logistics company C.H. Robinson. Located on the North Branch of the Chicago River a few miles north of the city's Loop business district, it is the first building to be constructed as part of the ambitious Lincoln Yards project. 

Werner H. Quasebarth, retired CEO of Atlas Machine and Iron Works, Inc. and former AISC Chairman (1985-1987) and Director (1977-1998), died on December 26, 2018, at the age of 87. He was dedicated to an active life of service through his leadership in industry and community organizations.

Nucor Corporation (an AISC member producer) has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art plate mill in the Midwest; the exact location is yet to be determined. Nucor's Board of Directors has approved an investment of $1.35 billion to build the mill, which is expected to be fully operational in 2022 and will be capable of producing 1.2 million tons per year of steel plate products, for structural use. The project is expected to create approximately 400 full-time jobs.

NASCC: The Steel Conference 2019 takes place April 3-5 in St. Louis and offers nearly 150 sessions of topics ranging from properly specifying welds to connection design to tackling the skilled trade shortage. This year's conference also features three extraordinary keynote speakers -- one on each day of the conference.

The first AISC Night School course of 2019, "Connection Design: Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned," tackles everything you need to know about steel connection details. Taught by five of our industry's foremost experts, this course will provide instruction on the connection design process and the latest design methods.  

AISC proudly welcomes Edward Seglias, Partner at Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC, as general counsel. Seglias replaces David Ratterman, who retired at the end of last year after serving as AISC's General Counsel for 30 years. Bringing more than 25 years of experience, Seglias is a highly regarded trial lawyer, noted for his wealth of experience in construction disputes. Additionally, he is a sought-after lecturer on the subjects of bidding law, delay claims, scope claims and project management, and has created an array of seminars for various trade organizations. 

The first quarter 2019 issue of AISC's Engineering Journal is now available at www.aisc.org/ej. You can view, download and print the current edition.

Registration is now open for NASCC: The Steel Conference. The sooner you register, the more you save! Registration starts at $420 and will increase on a weekly basis, so be sure to register now for the best price. If you're involved in the design or construction of steel buildings or bridges, The Steel Conference is the premier opportunity to immerse yourself in the latest design concepts, construction techniques and cutting-edge research while engaging with thousands of industry professionals. 

Mark your calendars! Registration for the 2019 NASCC: The Steel Conference opens on January 2! Want to save $120 on registration? Then be sure to register by January 6! 

AISC has partnered with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) to establish a new opportunity for emerging architects to submit proposals for visionary designs that embrace steel as the primary structural component. The Stage One deadline for submitting a design proposal is January 16, 2019.

The American Welding Society (AWS) has announced its inaugural Inspection Conference, taking place January 21 through 23, 2020, where a variety of experts will join forces on a comprehensive array of topics common to corrosion engineering, nondestructive testing, steel construction, and welding inspection. In addition, inspection professionals may now submit their abstracts for consideration. 

We at AISC and Modern Steel Construction wish you a joyous and warm holiday season and a safe and healthy new year. We would also like to express our gratitude to everyone in the American structural steel design community and construction industry for another successful year.

Bridge engineering firm, Modjeski and Masters, announced the opening of its newest office in Austin, Texas - its first office in the Lone Star State in the company's 125-year history.

Do you design or build steel bridges? If so, you can kick off 2019 with a webinar focused on the importance of communication in bridge projects. Mark your calendar for the January 24 webinar "Bridge Focus: Fabricators' Insights on Clear Communication of Design Requirements" - Registration is now open!

Lincoln Electric announced that it has acquired Inovatech Engineering Corporation, a maker of advanced robotic plasma cutting solutions for structural steel applications, and related assets.

Drum roll, please...The 2019 NASCC: The Steel Conference advance program is now available at www.aisc.org/nascc! Also watch for it in your mailbox in the December issue of Modern Steel Construction! 

Over the last six months, Alex Morales, AISC's structural steel specialist for the Houston market, led a campaign to help teach local AEC firms about the sustainability of structural steel. To make things fun and engaging, Alex created a friendly competition amongst the firms.

Amit Varma, PhD., a leader in large-scale research and design method development, was recently ratified as Purdue University's Karl H. Kettelhut Professor in Civil Engineering.

Michel Bruneau, Ph.D., a leading expert on earthquake-resistant design and retrofit of steel buildings and bridges, has been named a SUNY Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty rank in the State University of New York (SUNY) system.