IDEAS² - Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel  

Sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction, this program recognizes those projects where structural steel has been utilized in an innovative manner. The innovative use of structural steel may be in:

• the accomplishment of the building's program
• the expression of architectural intent
• the application of innovative design approaches to the structural system
• the utilization of productivity enhancing construction methods

Project Basis
The design and construction industry is growing in recognition of the value of coordination, collaboration and teamwork in the successful accomplishment of a project's program. In active support of this trend, AISC has brought together previously separate architectural and structural engineering award programs that focused on a single aspect of the building project into a single program designed to recognize excellence and innovation in the use of structural steel on a comprehensive, project basis. Awards will be made to the project recognizing and awarding all members of the project's team involved with the structural framing system: architectural firm, structural engineering firm of record, general contractor, detailer, fabricator, erector as well as the project owner. Specialty consultants and contractors will be recognized at the discretion of the architect and structural engineer of record. Any member of the project team may submit a project for consideration. Joint submittals from project teams are encouraged.

Eligibilility
Projects entered in AISC's 2012 competition must have been completed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011.  A significant portion of the framing system of the project must be wide-flange or hollow structural steel sections. 

Awards
A panel of design and construction industry professionals will judge the entries in three categories according to constructed value in US dollars:

• Less than $15 million
• $15 million to $75 million
• Greater than $75 million

National and Merit awards and the Presidential Award of Excellence for structural engineering and architectural expression are bestowed at the judges' discretion. Projects selected for recognition will be announced at the 2012 North American Steel Construction Conference in Dallas in April. Awards are presented by AISC to the submitting firms and their fellow project team members at the individual project sites during the summer. Winning projects will be featured in Modern Steel Construction magazine.

Online Submission Form: click here to access our online entry form.

Questions?
Email Larry Flynn flynn@aisc.org or Maria Blood blood@aisc.org