Call for entries now open for 2016 IDEAS2 Awards

Chicago — Architectural and engineering firms, structural steel companies, general contractors and owners are encouraged to enter their steel-framed building projects in the 2016 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS²) Awards competition. Conducted annually by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), these prestigious awards recognize outstanding achievement in engineering and architecture on structural steel projects across the country. In existence for more than half a century, the award is the highest honor bestowed on building projects by the structural steel industry in the U.S.

"Each year, the IDEAS² Awards recognize and award all members of the project's team involved with the structural framing system and demonstrate that innovation and creativity can be found on building projects of every size and description," said Roger E. Ferch, P.E., AISC's president. "Steel continues to provide excellent solutions for the entire design and construction team, from architects, engineers and developers to fabricators, erectors, and general contractors."

The IDEAS² Awards honor National and Merit award winners in three categories, based on constructed value: projects less than $15 million; projects $15 million to $75 million; and projects greater than $75 million. This year, a special category for Steel Sculptures has been added to the contest. In addition, a Presidential Award of Excellence in Engineering may be bestowed on a project from any of the categories at the judges' discretion.

Projects entered in the competition are judged by a panel of design and construction industry professionals on their use of structural steel from both an architectural and structural engineering perspective, with an emphasis on:

• creative solutions to project's program requirements;
• applications of innovative design approaches in areas such as connections, gravity systems, lateral load resisting systems, fire protection and blast;
• aesthetic and visual impact of the project;
• innovative use of architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS);
• technical or architectural advances in the use of the steel; and
• use of innovative design and construction methods.

Projects selected for recognition will be announced at the 2016 NASCC: The Steel Conference in Orlando, Fla., April 13-15. Awards are presented by AISC to the submitting firms and their fellow project team members at the individual project sites during the year, and all winning projects will be featured in Modern Steel Construction magazine.

To be eligible, projects entered in the competition must have completion dates between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015. A significant portion of the framing system of the building project must be wide-flange or hollow structural steel sections (HSS). Pedestrian bridges entered in the competition must be an intrinsic part of a building and not stand-alone structures. Any member of the project team may enter a project in the awards program.

For more information about the IDEAS² Awards and to submit a project entry, visit www.aisc.org/ideas2. The entry deadline is December 4, 2015.