Which tops out faster, a steel core or a concrete core? A race between two buildings on a similar construction timeline in New York City showed a clear winner: the steel core. 66 Hudson Boulevard, also known as The Spiral, reached its 66-story 1,041-ft pinnacle on January 26, three weeks before its concrete-core neighbor, 50 Hudson Yards, topped out.

Level 10 Construction released a new video showing the mock-up installation of 200 Park Ave. in downtown San Jose, Calif. 

This 19-story office building, which will stand as the tallest building in San Jose, is the first in California to use SpeedCore, a system designed to cut down on construction time by erecting a sandwiched panel of steel plates that are subsequently filled with concrete.

The University of Wyoming and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) are teaming up to offer a free six-part live-lecture series, Steel Bridge Education Lectures: From Concept to Delivery, that covers designing, fabricating, and constructing steel bridges.

AISC has reached a historic milestone--2021 marks our 100th anniversary! To celebrate a century of steel, we're shining a spotlight on the legacy of our industry.

"While this is a great achievement, we're not content to simply look back at our achievements and the legacy we've created. Rather, we want to look ahead to the great legacy the steel industry and design community can continue to create for ourselves, our children, and future generations," stated Charlie Carter, AISC's president.

Hypertherm is seeking applications from secondary schools and colleges for its Spark Something Great educational grant program. And the winning schools will receive the newest generation of plasma cutting equipment and training.

The Spark Something Great program is designed to support the education of the next generation of welders and metal fabricators. Hypertherm plans to award 12 North American schools with Powermax45 XP plasma systems and in-person training in 2021.

James “Jim” O. Malley, SE, group director and senior principal of Degenkolb Engineers in San Francisco, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for his leadership in improving seismic design. His election follows more than 35 years of experience in structural engineering and design and contributing to more than 50 publications to date.

Do you want to expand your knowledge of welding from home? The American Welding Society (AWS) has launched the new video series AWS ARCademy, a crash course in welding geared toward new welders.

Showcase your use of steel joists by entering your projects for the 2021 Steel Joist Institute (SJI) Design Awards. 

Structures built within the past three years are eligible to win in four major categories: industrial application, non-industrial application, unique application, and, new to 2021, floor systems with standard or CJ-Series composite joists.

Leslie E. Robertson, whose career came to be defined by his work on the World Trade Center, died Thursday in San Mateo, Calif. following a diagnosis of blood cancer.

“We've lost a giant whose work will continue to speak volumes for generations to come,” Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD, AISC's president said.

AISC has selected three finalists for The Forge Prize, which celebrates emerging architects who create visionary designs that embrace steel as the primary structural component while exploring ways to increase project speed. The finalists will each work with a steel fabricator before presenting their final concepts to the judges during a live YouTube event in late March. 

It's a new year, and AISC Certification is changing with the times!

The program, which sets the quality level for structural steel fabricators and erectors, has made substantial improvements to its governing documents, starting with a name that better represents its current use: the Standard for Certification Programs (AISC 207-20).

Learn about the latest in the structural steel industry without leaving your living room! Registration is now open for NASCC: The Virtual Steel Conference 2021, which will take place online from April 12-16. Register now at aisc.org/nascc. 

Congratulations to the 12 leaders recognized with 2021 AISC awards! Our awards honor individuals who have made a significant 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.

The AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC 360) is available for its second public review through March 5, 2021. 

Steel is more than a dynamic physical material. Turns out it can also hold its own in the virtual realm! AISC is pleased to announce that NASCC: The Steel Conference is being held as a virtual event in 2021.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Innovation Initiative (AII) selected the steel press-brake-formed tub girder (PBTG) bridge system as a 2021 Focus Technology. AII will invest time and resources to accelerate the adoption of PBTG among AASHTO member associations, local agencies, and industry partners to improve U.S. infrastructure.

On November 11, a fire resulting from a semi-truck crash damaged the upper and lower decks of the Brent Spence Bridge between Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati. The 1960s era steel truss carries interstate traffic over the Ohio River. Sixteen steel stringers were procured, fabricated, and installed 18 days later allowing for a safe and speedy bridge repair.

AISC selected Matt Yarnold, PE, PhD, for the 2020 Milek Fellowship. His research project explores the behavior of hot rolled asymmetric steel I-beams.

Bo Dowswell, PE, PhD, 2020 T.R. Higgins lecturer, sat down with us (virtually) to discuss success, the fear of failure, and the long and winding path to his career. He also gives a 60-second version of his lecture, "Gusset Plates: The Evolution of Simplified Design Models" in the video.

Last week, AISC experts appeared on the Science Channel's Deadly Engineering show, commenting on the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake. 

The Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation recently announced the opening of the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge to Iowa-bound traffic. Motorists drove down the newly-opened route during their morning commutes on November 13. 

RealClearPolitics, a widely read publication in D.C. and New York, recently published an op-ed by former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh. Bayh's piece, "Biden's Plan to Build Back Better With American Steel," focuses on how the Biden administration will prioritize rebuilding America and creating new jobs.

Last week, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, David L. Bernhardt, designated Wrigley Field in Chicago as a National Historic Landmark. In 2015, more than 880 tons of steel, fabricated by AISC certified member Lenex Steel, were installed in the outfield to expand the bleachers and build new video boards.   

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released a guide to keeping workers safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

The new AISC Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC 313) is available for public review until December 11, 2020.

AISC has awarded its 2021 T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award to Amit H. Varma, Karl H. Kettelhut Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of the Bowen Laboratory of Large-Scale CE Research at Purdue University's Lyles School of Civil Engineering.

Varma will present "SpeedCore and Steel-Concrete Composite Construction: The Best of Both Worlds" as a keynote speaker during NASCC: The Steel Conference, which is scheduled to take place April 14-16, 2021, in Louisville. 

It's Throwback Thursday and we're throwing it back to the second session of Night School 18:  Steel Construction: The Manufacturing of Steel Shapes. During this session, Jim Schoen and Shane Vernon, PE, both of Nucor-Yamato Steel, provide a basic overview of the modern steelmaking process involved in the production of W, MC, C, M, L, S, and piling shapes. 

The Steel Tube Institute (STI) is hosting a webinar on concrete-filled HSS members on November 11. Learn about the advantages of this type of member, which include fire resistance, construction efficiency, and buckling resistance. 

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) will present a session on press-brake formed tub girders at the 2020 International Bridge Conference on October 22. 

Curious about castings? This fall, Cast Connex is hosting a live virtual program examining forged steel connections used to resist forces in megastructures, scaled castings and complex connections, how steel castings are specified, and much more. 

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) recently sent a letter to the New York Times in response to inaccurate claims regarding the sustainability of wood in construction. The letter addressing the article, "As Concerns Over Climate Change Rise, More Developers Turn to Wood," was not published. 

It's Throwback Thursday and we're throwing it back to the very first session of Night School 18:  Steel Construction: From the Mill to Topping Out. During this session, Andrew Twarek, SE, PE, of Ruby+Associates, Inc. Structural Engineers, introduces us to the steel construction process and the various contributors who are responsible for creating a structural steel building. 

The AISC Education Foundation and its industry partners will award $161,000 to students in architecture, engineering, and construction fields for the 2020-2021 academic year.

AISC is looking for the next generation of American landmarks constructed with structural steel. Have a project that fits the bill? Submit your entry by next Thursday! 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on students, with many internships and in-person experiences being canceled or delayed. That's why AISC has teamed up with RePicture for their STEM Resume-Builder Program this fall.

AISC is introducing a new conference designed for today's hectic pace of life. The Flash Steel Conference will take place October 20-22.

The virtual event will feature 20 half-hour sessions whose impact far exceeds the time commitment. Participants can earn up to 10.0 PDHs.

In celebration of SteelDay, which took place Friday, September 25, AASHTO is offering 20% off publications in the Bridge and Structures section of their online store, now through Friday, October 9, 2020. 

AISC recognizes Emily Baker, AIA, with an Early Career Faculty Award for providing her students with hands-on experience in steel design and fabrication. 

This summer, AISC teamed up with RePicture, a virtual community where students learn about STEM careers and real-world projects while researching structural steel-related engineering, architecture, and construction topics. Participating students were given the opportunity to show off what they learned for a chance to win awards across a variety of categories. Check out our winners from weeks five and six of the program below. 

AISC recognizes Julie Fogarty, PE, PhD, with an Early Career Faculty Award for her research regarding the behavior of deep, slender steel columns, which could have a significant impact on design practices in highly seismic regions.

AISC recognizes Negar Elhami-Khorasani, PhD, with an Early Career Faculty Award for her research on fire and elevated temperatures on steel structures and her commitment to teaching, journal manuscript reviews, and K-12 outreach.

This summer, AISC teamed up with RePicture, a virtual community where students learn about STEM careers and real-world projects while researching structural steel-related engineering, architecture, and construction topics. Participating students were given the opportunity to show off what they learned for a chance to win awards across a variety of categories. Check out our winners from weeks three and four of the program now. 

Brush up on your steel bridge knowledge this September. The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA), the University of Wyoming, and the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) are offering a free live-lecture series, "Steel Bridge Education Lectures: From Concept to Delivery." 

AISC proudly honors Amit H. Varma, PhD, with a Special Achievement Award for his groundbreaking work in developing and promoting SpeedCore, specifically through his research and lab tests on tall shear walls.

AISC has teamed up with RePicture, a virtual community where students learn about STEM careers and real-world projects while researching structural steel-related engineering, architecture, and construction topics. View the winning projects from weeks one and two of the program now. 

Picasso may use a paintbrush, but these women prefer a welding torch when it comes to art.

AISC proudly honors Ron Klemencic, PE, SE, Hon. AIA, with a Special Achievement Award for leading the development of SpeedCore with AISC, MKA engineers, steel fabricators, and university researchers.

It's Throwback Thursday and we're throwing it back to the 2015 NASCC: The Steel Conference in Nashville, Tenn. During this conference, Clifford Schwinger of The Harman Group presented an insightful session called "The Art of Structural Drafting--Tips for Producing High-Quality Structural Drawings." 

AISC proudly honors Rex I. Lewis with a Special Achievement Award for the creation of a welding competition and scholarship program at Laramie County Community College that serves as an inspiration for other industry programs.