February 2014

STEEL CONSTRUCTION
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4 FEBRUARY 2014
MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION (Volume 54, Number 2) ISSN (print) 0026-8445: ISSN (online) 1945-0737. Published monthly by the American Institute of Steel
Construction (AISC), One E. Wacker Dr., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601. Subscriptions: Within the U.S.single issues $6.00; 1 year, $44. Outside the U.S. (Canada
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DISCLAIMER: AISC does not approve, disapprove, or guarantee the validity or accuracy of any data, claim, or opinion appearing under a byline or obtained or
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February 2014
ON THE COVER: At the base of the tallest building in the U.S., p. 26. (Photo: WSP Cantor Seinuk)
steelwise
17

Tips to Take Your Team to the Top
BY MATTHEW D. BRADY, P.E., AND
CLIFF SCHWINGER, P.E.
There are countless ways to improve
constructability on your next project.
Here are 50 of them.
business issues
24

Up to Speed on LEED
BY JOHN CROSS, P.E., LEED AP
What you need to know about the new
version of the ubiquitous green building
rating system.
26
Rising to the Top
BY AHMAD RAHIMIAN, S.E., P.E., PH.D.,
AND YORAM EILON, P.E.
The most highly anticipated American
skyscraper in recent history, One World
Trade Center comes together in the context
of past tragedy, present demands and future
expectations for tall buildings.
32
Building up the Fort
BY ROBERT WAYNE STOCKS, P.E.,
ZACHARY KATES, P.E., AND KEVIN
MACLEOD
The new Army hospital at Fort Benning is
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first-
ever design-build hospital project.
40
Quick Thinking
BY WILLIAM KILLEEN, P.E.
Emergency steel spans reopen an Interstate
river crossing shortly after a bridge collapse.
44
Keep on Rolling
BY GEOFF WEISENBERGER
An inside look at a modern, high-tech
steelmaking operation.
52
Stability Matters
BY LAWRENCE G. GRIFFIS, P.E., AND
DONALD W. WHITE, PH.D.
A new AISC publication offers guidance
on the three options for stability analysis
and design.
56
To Toronto
BY TASHA WEISS
Canadas largest city is set to host this years
NASCC: The Steel Conference.
columns
features
departments
6 EDITORS NOTE
9 STEEL INTERCHANGE
12 STEEL QUIZ
60 NEWS & EVENTS
66 STRUCTURALLY SOUND
resources
64 MARKETPLACE
65 EMPLOYMENT
in every issue
44
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6 FEBRUARY 2014
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Editorial Contacts
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STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
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editors note
EVER SINCE WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE 2014 NASCC: THE STEEL CONFERENCE
WAS GOING TO BE HELD IN TORONTO AT THE END OF MARCH, I STARTED
HEARING COMMENTS WORRYING ABOUT THE WEATHER. Amazingly, a lot of these
complaints were from my same friends who boast about how the end of March is a great
time to visit Chicago; the cool days make walking around downtown a pleasure, etc.
As most of my friends know, my wife is
from Toronto, so Ive had daily weather reports
from that city for more than 20 years. And
typically the weather is just about the same as
Chicagosplus or minus a degree or two.
If youve never visited Toronto, buy
your ticket now. Not only will you have
the opportunity to attend the years best
conference, but youll also get to see one of
the top cities in North America. Because of
the quality of the restaurants, and because
we recognize that many attendees will have
never visited Toronto before, this year were
reserving Thursday as a free night for you to
explore the city. (If you want a sampling of
activities, start with www.seetorontonow.
com. And if you need more suggestions, drop
me an email!)
If youve previously attended a Steel
Conference, you know what to expect.
More than 100 technical sessions (structural
engineering, fabrication, bridges and
more). Theres a huge exhibition hall with
more than 200 companies. And, of course,
there are more than 3,500 professionals in
attendance (engineers, fabricators, detailers,
erectors, educators, transportation offcials,
contractors and everyone else involved in
the design or construction of steel-framed
buildings and bridges).
SCOTT MELNICK
EDITOR
If you have a smartphone, you can
download the free NASCC app at either the
Apple App store or the Google Play store. The
app allows you to browse the schedule and
make your own calendar of sessions to attend.
You can start with a session on BIMsteel,
welding inspection or foor vibrations on
joist-framed foors. You can check out the
session on stability bracing or effective BRBF
design. You can learn about direct analysis,
torsion and K-factors. You can attend stability
sessions, bridge sessions or technology
sessions. Attendees can earn 18.5 PDHs.
Make sure you visit www.aisc.org/nascc to
check out all the sessions and to register.
I hope to see you in Toronto, March 26-
28! Bring an umbrella (just to be safe), and
dont forget to pack your walking shoes too.
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Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 9
Thermal Cutting
We are purchasing a plasma table for our fabrication facil-
ity. Is plasma permitted to be used to create holes for
bolts and anchor rods?
Thermally cut holes for bolted connections in buildings are
explicitly allowed in the AISC Specification. See Section M2.5,
which states:
Bolt holes shall comply with the provisions of the RCSC
Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts,
hereafter referred to as the RCSC Specification, Section 3.3
except that thermally cut holes are permitted with a surface
roughness profile not exceeding 1,000 in. (25 m) as
defined in ASME B46.1. Gouges shall not exceed a depth of
1
16 in. (2 mm). Water jet cut holes are also permitted.
The glossary to the Specification then defines thermally
cut as being cut with gas, plasma or laser (see page 16.1-liv
of the 2010 AISC Specification).
So, assuming that the plasma equipment in question can
produce holes of the necessary quality, it is permittedand
indeed plasma equipment is becoming extremely common due
to the efficiencies they can provide.
You may also find Section M2.2 of the AISC Specification
to be useful, as it discusses thermal cutting for purposes
other than bolt holes (the Commentary to Chapter M is also
useful in a general sense). The above applies to buildings and
building-like structures.
Note: If you are working on bridges, then thermally cut
holes may be prohibited by the owner.
Martin Anderson
Group A & B Bolts
The tables in the 14th Edition of the AISC Steel Construc-
tion Manual refer to Group A and Group B bolts. What is
the definition of Group A and Group B bolts?
This terminology is pursuant to Section J3.1 of the 2010 AISC
Specification, and the groups correspond to material strength.
Per J3.1, Group A is composed of those materials that have
a tensile strength similar to ASTM A325, and includes ASTM
A325/A325M, F1852, A354 Grade BC and A449. Group B
is composed of those materials that have a tensile strength
similar to ASTM A490, and is composed of ASTM A490/
A490M, F2280 and A354 Grade BD.
Section J3.1 itself can be found on page 16.1-118, with some
relevant Commentary on the matter starting on page 16.1-400.
This change was made to simplify references to those
strength groups (for example, when discussing connections it
is convenient to distinguish between Group A and Group B as
they have different strengths; it similarly simplifies discussions
of minimum bolt pretension).
Martin Anderson
Stability Design and the ELM
In AISC 360 Table C-C1.1 Comparison of Basic Stabil-
ity Requirements with Specific Provisions, in reference
to the effective length method, it states, regarding basic
requirements (3), (4) and (5): All these effects are con-
sidered by using KL from a sidesway buckling analysis in
the member strength. Can you explain how using KL
addresses each of these items? In addition, on a current
project, I noticed that the K-factor from an eigenvalue
buckling analysis is almost equal to that given by the
alignment charts. Does this mean that an eigenvalue anal-
ysis considers basic requirements (3), (4) and (5)?
First, the K-factor you get from an eigenvalue analysis is an
elastic K-factor, so it does not account for any inelastic effects
(4), it is not able to account for out-of-straightness (3) and it
does not address uncertainty (5). Now, let me go through the
six items that Table C-C1.1 says are addressed by using KL
from a sidesway buckling analysis:
1) Member imperfections on structure response. You
must do a second-order analysis in each method. This
is the P- or member effect and its influence on the
sway effect. Eigenvalue does not do this.
2) Member imperfections on structure strength. The
column strength equations in AISC 360 Chapter E are
based on initial out-of-straightness of the member, thus
there is nothing more for the engineer to do in either
method.
3) Effect of stiffness reduction on response. In
determining the effective length factor you must take
stiffness reduction into account. You can do this with
the stiffness reduction factor when using the alignment
chart. This has been in the AISC Manual for a very long
time. Eigenvalue does not do this.
4) Effect of stiffness reduction on strength. In
determining strength, inelastic buckling is already taken
into account in the column strength equations in AISC
360 Chapter E. There is nothing more for the engineer
to do.
5) Effect of uncertainty on response. This already is
taken into consideration in the stiffness reduction factor
for effective length. Eigenvalue does not do this.
6) Effect of uncertainty on strength. This is already
accounted for the resistance or safety factors.
The fact that your eigenvalue solutions closely match the
alignment chart is likely because your model matches the
assumptions used in developing the chart. I find it hard to believe
this is always the case for your structures as we almost always
violate some of these assumptionsgravity-only columns,
inelastic behavior, all columns buckling at same time, etc.
Heath Mitchell, S.E., P.E.
(with assistance from Louis F. Geschwindner, P.E., Ph.D.)
steel
interchange
If youve ever asked yourself Why? about something related to
structural steel design or construction, Modern Steel Constructions
monthly Steel Interchange column is for you! Send your
questions or comments to solutions@aisc.org.
10 FEBRUARY 2014
Special Inspection
I cannot seem to find the Special Inspection tables for
structural steel in the 2012 International Building Code.
Where are they located?
Those tables are no longer in the IBC. They are now located
as chapters within the relevant AISC standards. For special
inspection of structural steel other than seismic lateral force
resisting systems, 2012 IBC Section 1705.2.1 states:
1705.2.1 Structural steel. Special inspection for
structural steel shall be in accordance with the quality
assurance inspection requirements of AISC 360.
You will find these special inspection (QA) requirements in
AISC 360 Chapter N. For special inspection of seismic lateral
force resisting systems, 2012 IBC Section 1705.11.1 states:
1705.11.1 Structural steel. Special inspection for
structural steel shall be in accordance with the quality
assurance requirements of AISC 341.
Exception: Special inspections of structural steel in structures
assigned to Seismic Design Category C that are not specifically
detailed for seismic resistance, with a response modification
coefficient, R, of 3 or less, excluding cantilever column systems.
You will find these special inspection requirements in AISC
341 Chapter J. These are in addition to the special inspection
requirements in AISC 360-10 Chapter N.
All AISC specifications noted above are available as free
downloads at www.aisc.org/epubs.
Heath Mitchell, S.E., P.E.
Capacity of Existing Welds
I am trying to determine the capacity of existing welds.
Can I do this using NDT methods?
No. There are no nondestructive testing methods that can be used
to determine the strength of the weld metal or the base metal. To
determine the strength you generally have to break something.
NDT is used to determine the quality and geometric
characteristics of welds. If the weld is a CJP groove weld,
then ultrasonic testing or radiographic testing could be used
to investigate the quality of the weld. These methods could
also be used to determine if a groove weld is a PJP groove
weld rather than a CJP groove weld. However, the quality of
a PJP groove weld or fillet weld generally cannot be easily
or accurately determined through these tests. The size of a
fillet weld can be easily determined through visual inspection.
Visual inspection can also reveal any issues at or near the
surface of the weld.
Appendix 5 Section 5.2.5 of the AISC Specification (a free
download at www.aisc.org/2010spec) states:
Where structural performance is dependent on
existing welded connections, representative samples
of weld metal shall be obtained. Chemical analysis and
mechanical tests shall be made to characterize the weld
metal. A determination shall be made of the magnitude
and consequences of imperfections. If the requirements of
AWS D1.1/D1.1M are not met, the engineer of record shall
determine if remedial actions are required.
The tests described are destructive tests. You must take
representative samples of weld metal and physically test them.
Larry S. Muir, P.E.
Filling Weld Access Holes
If weld access holes are required to be filled, how should
this be accomplished? Is filling them with weld metal
appropriate?
In the June 2009 issue of MSC (www.modernsteel.com), the
article In the Moment by Victor Shneur offers the following
advice:
Do not fill weld access holes with weld material for
cosmetic or corrosion-protection reasons. In addition
to the cost, it creates undesirable triaxial stresses. Using
mastic materials is preferable to welding.
Weld access holes exist not only to facilitate welding, but
also to limit the undesirable triaxial stresses, Shneur explains.
The only pros to filling weld access holes are likely to be based
in cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. The cons to filling them with
weld metal include changes in the assumed stress distribution,
increased cost and the cracking that weld access holes are used,
in some applications, to prevent. Also, when filling by welding,
unless done using a qualified procedure shown to develop the
strength of the base metal, the resulting strength and behavior
of the material within the filled hole may be dubious.
Larry S. Muir, P.E.
steel interchange
Larry Muir is director of technical assistance and Martin Anderson is solutions center
specialist at AISC. Heath Mitchell is a consultant to AISC.
Steel Interchange is a forum to exchange useful and practical professional ideas and
information on all phases of steel building and bridge construction. Opinions and
suggestions are welcome on any subject covered in this magazine.
The opinions expressed in Steel Interchange do not necessarily represent an official position of
the American Institute of Steel Construction and have not been reviewed. It is recognized that the
design of structures is within the scope and expertise of a competent licensed structural engineer,
architect or other licensed professional for the application of principles to a particular structure.
If you have a question or problem that your fellow readers might help you solve, please
forward it to us. At the same time, feel free to respond to any of the questions that you
have read here. Contact Steel Interchange via AISCs Steel Solutions Center:
1 E Wacker Dr., Ste. 700, Chicago, IL 60601
tel: 866.ASK.AISC fax: 312.803.4709
solutions@aisc.org
The complete collection of Steel Interchange questions and answers is available online.
Find questions and answers related to just about any topic by using our full-text search
capability. Visit Steel Interchange online at www.modernsteel.com.
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12 FEBRUARY 2014
The answers to this months Steel Quiz can be found in AISC Design
Guide 27 as well as on the AISC and Modern Steel Construction websites
(www.aisc.org and www.modernsteel.com). And for more on DG 27, see
A New Guide for Stainless in the December 2013 issue.
1 How much does the coefficient of
thermal expansion for austenitic
stainless steel differ from that for
carbon steel?
a) 10% higher
b) 20% lower
c) 30% higher
d) 40% lower
TURN TO PAGE 14 FOR ANSWERS
2 True or False: Stainless steels for
structural applications are generally
austenitic.
3 True or Fal se: When wel di ng
stainless steel, the welder does
not need to be qualified to weld
stainless if they are qualified to weld
carbon steel.
4 The properties of cast stainless steels
differ from their rolled versions. For
example, austenitic stainless steel
castings may be slightly _________.
a) Deformed
b) Blue in color
c) Magnetic
5 True or False: There is not a specific
welding code for welding carbon
steel to stainless steel.
6 The L designation in the material
(such as 304L, 316L, etc.) stands for
___________.
a) Low-carbon
b) Lite (contains less nickel)
c) Less ductile
d) Low-chromium
7 True or False: When designing with
stainless steels, the material test
report yield and tensile strengths are
used.
8 True or False: Austenitic stainless
steel s can exhi bi t hi gh-i mpact
toughness.
9 Pl ast i c anal ysi s of f r ames i s
__________ stainless steel.
a) not applicable to
b) applicable to
10True or Fal se: Even stai nl ess
steels may be subject to various
forms of corrosion under certain
circumstances.
steel
quiz
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HIGH QUALITY
FABRICATION
DATA
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14 FEBRUARY 2014
ANSWERS steel quiz
1 c) The coefficient of thermal expansion for austenitic
stainless steels is about 30% higher than that for carbon
steel. Where carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel
are used together, the effects of differential thermal
expansion coefficients should be considered in design.
2 True. Structural applications that use stainless steel
require a combination of good strength, corrosion
resistance, formability (this includes the ability to
make tighter bends), field and shop weldability and
elongation. The austenitic stainless steels provide these
combined qualities.
3 False. Stainless weld metals run differently than carbon
or low-alloy steel weld metals. The welder should be
qualified by welding using a stainless wire of the same
F number that they will use in production. AWS D1.6
provides qualification information for both the welder
and the welding procedure.
4 c) Magnetic. Austenite is soft, ductile and nonmagnetic,
while ferrite is harder, less ductile and magnetic. Austenitic
stainless steel castings may contain higher levels of
ferrite than rolled products, increasing magnetism. The
additional ferrite also contributes to increased strength,
increased resistance to stress corrosion cracking, less severe
consequences of intergranular corrosion, and increased
resistance to cracking during welding and casting
(see www.stainlessfoundry.com/magnetic.asp).
5 True. Welding carbon steel to carbon steel has one set
of requirements, which are covered by the AWS D1.1
welding code. Welding stainless steel to stainless steel
has a separate set of requirements, which are covered
in the AWS D1.6 welding code. No AWS document
covers the mixing of products directly; however, there
is some discussion of this topic in the Commentary to
AWS D1.6.
6 a) The L in the designation indicates a low-carbon
version with reduced risk of sensitization (of chromium
carbide precipitation) and of intergranular corrosion in
heat affected zones of welds.
7 False. It is recommended that the specified minimum
yield stress, F
y
, and the specified minimum tensile
strength, F
u
, be taken as the minimum values specified in
the relevant ASTM standard, just as with carbon steels.
8 True: Even at low temperatures, austenitic stainless
steels behave well. Often, they are used for cryogenic
applications and can demonstrate impact toughness well
above 74 ft-lb (100 J) at 320 F (196 C).
9 a) Pl asti c anal ysi s of frames i s not appl i cabl e to
stainless steel due to a lack of research in this area.
10 True. However, good design and proper stainless steel
selection provides suitable performance.
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Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 17
WE HEAR THE WORD CONSTRUCTABILITY all
the timebut what does it mean?
Simply put, constructability is the ease with which a struc-
ture can be built. Constructable designs are more economical
structures because they provide options and fexibility before
work has progressed and the die is cast.
The concept of constructability includes four main principles:
Simplicity = Economy
Least weight does not always = Least cost
Fewer pieces = Greater economy
Effcient connection design = Reduced cost
Since the best, most constructable solutions for a project often
depend on local construction practices and contractor preferences,
the recommendations of the construction teamincluding the
fabricator and erectorcan improve effciency and economy and
add value to your project early on and along the way. Below are 50
tips, seperated by category, that can enhance the construcability of
your next project. (Note: These tips are from the seminar 50 Tips
for Designing Constructable and Economical Steel Buildings,
presented at the 2011 and 2013 NASCC: The Steel Conference.)
Connections
Tip 1: Design connections per the requirements of the
building code and AISC 360 (and AISC 341 if it is applicable).
Tip 2: If delegating connection design work to an engineer
working for the fabricator, do so properly with Option 3 in Sec-
tion 3.1.2 in AISC 303-10, the AISC Code of Standard Practice.
Tip 3: And also, show the reactions, moments and axial forc-
es from Tip 1 when using Tip 2.
Tip 4: Provide load combinations and directions of reac-
tions, moments and forces (Figure 1) at joints so the engineer
doing connection design can satisfy statics (always a plus!).
Tip 5: Provide suffcient information on the drawings to
minimize uncertainty among bidders. Section 3 in the AISC
Code of Standard Practice lists the typical information needed to
get responsive and comparable bids.
Tip 6: Understand that fabricator preferences differ regard-
ing preferred connection details; some like shear tabs, others
like all-bolted single or double angles, etc.
Tip 7: Dont delegate design of reinforcing around beam web
openings. Ei-
ther eliminate
the need for it
or specify it on
the design draw-
ings. See AISC
Design Guide 2:
Steel and Com-
posite Beams with
Web Openings for
more guidance
(Figure 2).
Tip 8: Dont del-
egate design of plate
girder welds (Figure 3).
Tip 9: Think about
how the connections
will be confgured and
detailed, even when
using Option 3 in the
AISC Code of Standard
Practice.
TIPS TO TAKE
YOUR TEAM
TO THE TOP
BY MATTHEW D. BRADY, P.E., AND
CLIFF SCHWINGER, P.E.
steelwise
There are countless ways to improve
constructability on your next project.
Here are 50 of them.
Matt Brady
(brady@aisc.org)
is AISCs Upper
Midwest regional
engineer.
Cliff Schwinger
(cschwinger@
harmangroup.com)
is a vice president
with the Harman
Group.
Figure 1: Diagram 1 is typical for gravity;
Diagram 2 is excessive if it isnt a real loading condition.
stiffeners
doubler
plate

Do not delegate
design of plate girder
welds. (How does the
fabricator know what
the shear ow is?)
Also, do not make these
welds CJP welds. Size for
actual required strength;
llet welds usually work.
FABRICATOR TO
REINFORCE WEBS AT
OPENINGS WHERE
REQUIRED TO DEVELOP
SHEAR IN BEAM
Figure 2
Figure 3

18 FEBRUARY 2014
steelwise
Tip 10: Verify that framing can be installed (Figure 4). Talk
to a fabricatortheyll be happy you asked!
Tip 11: Use one-sided shear connections (like single-angle
and single-plate connections) to simplify feld work, unless they
cant provide the required strength.
Tip 12: Avoid full-depth stiffeners where possible. Eliminate
them, and if theyre unavoidable, consider if they can be de-
tailed to avoid ftting the stiffener (see Figure 5).
Bolting
Tip 13: Allow the use of bearing bolt strength values where
slip-critical values are not required in the AISC and RCSC
Specifcations.
Tip 14: Permit the use of any diameter and type of bolt, but
avoid mixing grades in the same diameter.
Tip 15: Permit the use of short-slotted holes, especially in
shear connections with the load transverse to the slot.
Tip 16: Remember that all slip-critical bolted connections
are pretensioned, but not all pretensioned bolts need to be slip-
critical. AISC 360-10, Section J1.10 has a list of connections
where pretensioned bolts (or welds) are required, but these are
not slip-critical.
Welding
Tip 17: Use fllet welds sized for required strength whenever
possible. Overwelding increases volume and cost proportion-
ally to the square of the weld size!
Tip 18: Avoid specifying arbitrary CJP groove welds and
all-around fllet welds unless they are needed to achieve the
required strength.
Tip 19: Favor fllet welds over groove welds.
Tip 20: Strive to confgure connection details with a fat or
horizontal welding position.
Tip 21: Favor a longer
5
16-in. (or smaller) fllet weld over
larger fllet welds;
5
16 in. is the largest fllet weld size that can
be made in one pass. Multi-pass welds are three to four times
more expensive than single-pass welds.
Columns
Tip 22: Use the deepest practical column; especially avoid
W8 and smaller columns with connections to the web (Figure 6).
Tip 23: Size columns to eliminate the need for stiffeners,
especially for the trapped double-angle connection illustrated
in Figure 7, which cannot be installed.
Tip 24: Where column stiffeners cant be avoided, make the
opposing beams the same depth, and consider the effect of the
stiffeners on beams framing in the perpendicular direction.
Tip 25: Orient columns to minimize skewed connections
(Figure 8 ).
Figure 4: Framing geometry may present installation challenges.
Do not extend stiffeners
full-depth without reason
Figure 5

TRANSFER GIRDER BEAM OVER COLUMN

Single- or
double-angle
connection
may t but
must be
welded to
beam web;
avoid W8s
with web
connections
Bolt
stagger
not
needed
for
W14s
Stagger bolts for
W10s & W12s
W14 W12 W10 W8
(difcult; not
recommended)
Figure 6

Figure 7
Possible connections to column web
all more expensive than a standard
full-depth connection
May not be able to install
beam (depending on whats
happening at the other end)
May have web shear problems
due to large cope on bottom
Inefcient skewed
connections to
column web
3 skewed connections
1 square connection
3 square connections
1 skewed connection

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responsive assistance and customer service at no charge
to the design team. Visit SidePlate.com to fnd out what
we can save on your next project.
20 FEBRUARY 2014
steelwise
Tip 26: Simplify base plates and anchor rod details (Figure 9).
Beams
Tip 27: Watch
out for connection
interference where
beams are slightly
offset from columns
(Figure 10). Change
the details or
determine that the
geometry can work
before showing
this on the design
drawings; again, ask a
fabricator, and theyll
be glad you did.
Tip 28: Increase beam depth to avoid web reinforcing (Fig-
ure 11).
Tip 29: Size members to have suffcient strength at the net
section. This usually can be accomplished by limiting the re-
quired strength to 75% of the gross section strength when the
connection details are not known during member selection
(Figure 12 ).


Hollow Structural Sections (HSS)
Tip 30: Favor round HSS or steel pipe columns over square/
rectangular HSS when there are skewed connections (Figure 13).
Tip 31: Confgure HSS framing to simplify connections
(Figure 14 ).
Smallest base plate, but...
Different anchor rod pattern
for every base plate
Unsymmetrical anchor rod
pattern
Fractional anchor rod spacing
(based on base plate size)
Largest base plates, but...
Square plates
Doubly symmetric anchor
rod pattern and fewer
different anchor rod patterns
Easier to build
1
1

ROD
SPACING
E.W.
Square plates;
square anchor
rod patterns
Space anchor
rods based on
column size,
not base plate
dimensions.
Figure 9: Keep column base plates and anchor rod patterns square.
Connection interference
As shown
on framing
plan
Figure 10

Web
reinforcing
plate
Use deeper beam
to eliminate web
reinforcing
plate
W14
W18
Figure 11
Possible situations
requiring web
reinforcing:
Large copes with
heavy reactions
High beams
framing to low
girders
Skewed beams
with long copes
Angle if required to prevent
web buckling
(If web reinforcing is required, a
less expensive solution may be
to use a deeper beam)

Max. recommended
stress ratio at
gross section
Required strength
Usable strength
= 0.75 (max.) =

Figure 13
square
square
square
square skewed
skewed
End plate
Shim
Cope
HSS
Double-
angle
connection
NO! YES
NO! YES
Single plate
shear conn.
Thru-plate
single-plate
shear conn.
(not necessary)

Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 21

steelwise
Vertical Bracing
Tip 32: Orient columns square to the framing plan when
they are part of a braced frame (Figure 15).
Tip 33: Select effcient diagonal braces: single-angles (good
for small loads), double-angles (effcient connections), HSS
(highest brace strength per pound of steel), W-shapes (con-
nections can be more intricate than other brace types, Figure
16). When properly selected with good connection details, any
brace type can be economical.
Tip 34: Confgure slopes of diagonal braces between 35 and
55 degrees (Figures 17 and 18).
Moment Connections
Tip 35: Orient columns in moment frames for strong-axis
bending (Figure 19 ).
Tip 36: Strong-axis beam-to-column moment connections
are generally less complex than weak-axis beam-to-column mo-
ment connections (Figure 20).
Tip 37: Consider making girders continuous through col-
umns at heavy moment-connected girders to simplify fow of
moment through columns (Figure 21). Ask the fabricator, since
the gain needs to outweigh the difference in construction to
make this tip viable.
Braced frame
Strive for connections to
column anges in braced frames
Braced frame
Avoid skewed connections to
column in braced frames
HSS brace W shape brace
Single-angle or
double angle brace
5
16
Figure 15
Figure 16

Braces with shallow

slopes can have
difcult connections
Inefcient
connections at braces
with shallow slopes
The closer braces are to 45, the
more compact the connections
will be
Figure 17
Figure 18

Efcient moment frame (all columns bending about strong axis)

Inefcient columns at each end (bending about weak axis)
Where column orientation cannot be changed,
consider eliminating weak-axis column moment connections.
Weak-axis column moment connection details are often more
complex than strong-axis column moment connection details
FOR 1414 W14 COLUMNS I
x

I
y
> 2.5
heavy
girder
BEAM-TO-COLUMN
FLANGE MOMENT
CONNECTION
BEAM-TO-COLUMN
WEB MOMENT
CONNECTION
Size columns
to eliminate
need for
stiffeners
Extended single-
plate shear
connection
All bolted
shear
connections
Note: If columns were upsized to
control drift, they may already be
large enough to eliminate the need
for stiffeners
Fitted T&B
ange plates
Figure 20
Figure 21: Where girder moments are big and column moments
are small, consider running girders continuous through columns.

22 FEBRUARY 2014
Tip 38: Run cantilevered roof beams over the tops of col-
umns (Figure 22).
Tip 39: Avoid skewed beam-to-column moment connec-
tions (Figure 23).
Tip 40: Beams with fange-bolted moment connections
must have suffciently wide fanges to install bolts (Figure 24).
Many light beams do not have wide enough fanges!
Framing
Tip 41: Frame members with very large reactions square to
columnspreferably to the fanges (Figure 25 ).
Tip 42: Confgure framing so that no more than one beam
frames to any one side of a column (Figures 26 and 27).
Tip 43: Head off steeply skewed connections (Figure 28 ).
Tip 44: Confgure framing to minimize skewed connections
(Figure 29 ).
steelwise
Figure 22: Note: If roof framing slopes, coordinate so theres
not a kink in the beam at the column.
YES! NO!
Cantilever Cantilever

Min. gage for

installation
of
7
8 bolts
through
anges
3
Figure 23: Difcult to detail.
Figure 24: Min. recommended ange
width to install bolts through ange =
6. (Dont forget to check net section.)

Non-standard bent
plate connection
Flange
interference
Weld connections
to beam webs (to
avoid bolt interference)
Big cope; check
web buckling
Web
reinforcing,
if required
Do not do this!
Figure 26
Figure 27

Steep skewed connections can be a problem with,

Small beams (long copes realitive to depth)
Big beams with large reactions
Steep skewed
connection
Add header beam
More constructable
connection (smaller
skew, smaller cope)
Long cope; possible
need for web reinforcing;
difcult to install bolts in
web of supported beam
Problem Solution
Square
Connection
Skewed
Connection
Skewed
Connections
@ E.E.

DOUBLE
ANGLE
CONN. w/
THK.
ANGLES &
10 ROWS
OF
7
8
A490N
BOLTS
1 PL.
w/ (20)-
1
A490N
BOLTS
CJP WELD FILLET WELDS NO WELDS
W36150, V
u
=490k
1 PL.
(ASTM
A572, GR
50) w/
(40)-1
A490N
BOLTS
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 23
Tip 45: Confgure framing to minimize
the number of beams (Figure 30 ).
Tip 46: Maximize slab span to minimize
the number of beams (Figure 31).
Tip 47: Minimize the gingerbread
extra small pieces of steel (Figure 32).
Miscellaneous topics
Tip 48: Avoid torsion in W shapes.
Tip 49: Use R=3 and the associated basic
seismic design without AISC 341 require-
ments, when possible.
Tip 50: Use camber intelligently. It often
is more economical to design stiffer foors
without camber.
steelwise
Turning deck
eliminates these
small beams
Remember: The more choices the fabricator, erector
and connection design engineer have available to them
and the earlier in the process they are able to provide in-
putthe more likely they are to provide better solutions.
Engage them early and theyll help enhance your projects
constructability and success.

Want more constructability and economy tips? You can view

the related SteelDay 2012 webinar for free (and receive
free CEUs or PDHs) at www.aisc.org/50tips. You can also
view the related 2013 NASCC presentation at www.aisc.
org/50tipsmedia. And Cliff Schwinger will be presenting
sessions at this years NASCC: The Steel Conference, March
26-28 in Toronto, as well. Visit www.aisc.org/nascc to register
and fnd out more about the show.
Fewer beams
Fewer connections
Fewer crane picks
20
4
0

30
3
0

Benets
Fewer pieces
Less steel weight (usually)
Fewer connections
Fewer crane picks
More tributary area
per beam =
greater LL reduction
More mass per beam =
Less vibration
Thicker slab =
greater composite
beam M
n
(1 DECK + 3 L.W. CONCRETE) (3 DECK + 3 L.W. CONCRETE)
6 SLAB 5 SLAB
6-0 10-0

Figure 31
Figure 32

24 FEBRUARY 2014
LEED WAS NEVER INTENDED to remain static but rather
evolve over timeand evolve it has yet again.
Version 4 of the U.S. Green Building Councils rating sys-
tem (which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmen-
tal Design) is now a reality, approved by ballot in late spring
of 2013 and announced to be open for the registration of new
projects at USGBCs Greenbuild conference in Philadelphia
this past November.
In an attempt to push building performance levels to a
higher level, LEED V4 represents a major change from ear-
lier versions of the rating system. In no section are the credit
changes more dramatic than the one focusing on building
materials. Whether these changes were well thought through,
appropriate and based on a good analytical foundation was cer-
tainly much debated. But the fact is that LEED V4 is now a
reality and the design and construction community is in the
process of adapting to this new world.
LEED is not intended to exist in a vacuum as the only green
building standard or rating system available for project owners.
USGBCs stated strategy is to encourage the adoption of green
building codes and standards, such as the International Green
Building Code and ASHRAE 189.1, by state and local jurisdic-
tions to defne a baseline for sustainable construction. The
LEED program will then sit on top of this baseline, recogniz-
ing projects that go above and beyond building code require-
ments. The combination of this strategy and the more complex
and stringent credit requirements in LEED V4 will probably
result in a decrease in projects seeking LEED certifcation but
also an increase in the sustainable performance of the overall
inventory of new buildings.
Many of the nuances relative to the implementation of
LEED V4, as it relates to materials used in building projects,
are yet to be worked out in practice. Below are a series of ques-
tions related to LEED V4 that merit immediate attention by
designers, fabricators and constructors.
Does LEED V4 immediately replace prior versions
of LEED? No, projects can continue to be registered under
LEED 2009 until June 1, 2015, and based on previous transi-
tions between LEED versions those projects will then prob-
ably have until mid-2021 to complete construction and apply
for actual LEED certifcation. This means that the existing
requirements for recycled content and regional material docu-
mentation will continue to be in use for another seven years.
For an overview of how these credits are addressed by the use of
structural steel, see A Green Roadmap (MSC 02/13).
Does LEED V4 encourage the use of life-cycle assess-
ments (LCAs) to select framing systems? Yes, the only way
that new construction can gain any credit points under the MR
credit for Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction is either
through the use of a large percentage of reused or salvaged
materials or to conduct a life-cycle assessment of the projects
structure and enclosure, comparing the structure to a similar
baseline building. To gain three credit points the LCA must
demonstrate a 10% improvement of the selected building in
three of six environmental impact categories (one of which
must be global warming potential) and no degradation of
greater than 5% in the remaining three categories.
Are the data, expertise and technology required for
LCAs available to support this level of analysis? No, the
world of LCAs is a return to the Wild West. A limited number
of LCA experts exist that understand the boundaries and cal-
culation methodologies behind the various material data sets
and are trained to use assessment tools that require the actual
modeling of the entire construction process rather than an esti-
mation of average impacts.
A variety of estimating programs for comparing the environ-
mental impacts of competing framing systems have entered the
marketplace in the last few years. The intention of these tools
is to allow a design professional not trained in life-cycle assess-
ment to perform these comparisons. The problem with them is
twofold. First, relative to the environmental impact data, many
assumptions are being made with respect to the environmen-
tal impacts of various materials and construction operations.
These assumptions include the boundary defnitions for the
equivalent comparison of data and underlying methodologies
for determining the LCAs for individual products and materials.
In addition, no distinction is made between different sources of
(or process for making) the same product; rather industry aver-
ages are used for material impacts. Secondly and of even greater
UP TO SPEED
ON LEED
BY JOHN CROSS, P.E., LEED AP
business issues
What you need to know about the new version of
the ubiquitous green building rating system.
John Cross is an AISC vice
president. You can reach him at
cross@aisc.org.
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 25
concern is the determination of the quantities of materials used
in each of the two framing scenarios. The quantities being
used in these tools are based on rough parametric estimates
rather than on preliminary design quantities. The parametric
estimates are based on simple assemblies and limit the opportu-
nity of the design professional to improve the effciency of the
structural system before the LCA comparison is made.
The AISC Steel Solutions Center routinely develops con-
ceptual solutions for structural steel-framed projects using
structural design software. While these conceptual solutions
are one step before an actual preliminary design, they have been
found to be typically within 10% of the fnal steel quantities for
a projecta range that is appropriate for use in a LCA esti-
mate. A random sample of 100 structural steel-framed projects
for which conceptual solutions had been performed were ana-
lyzed using one of the more prevalent environmental impact
estimators. The difference between the quantities generated by
the estimator and the quantities determined in the conceptual
solution were signifcant, ranging from an 80% overstatement
of steel quantities to a 40% understatement (see Figure 1). It is
impossible to make a meaningful comparison of environmen-
tal impacts to the required level of 10% improvement or 5%
degradation if the variation of the material quantities can be as
great as plus 80% or minus 40%.
The bottom line is that for a meaningful comparison of the
environmental impacts of two building structures, it is neces-
sary to engage the expertise of two trained professionals. An
LCA expert who understands the background and limitations
of the data sets being used in developing the comparison and a
structural engineer who can create preliminary design models
for the two alternatives from which material quantities can be
extracted; see And the Winner is (MSC 08/10) for an LCA
study comparing two alternative building designs.
Whats all this talk about transparency? Transparency
is a key concept in LEED V4. Three credits address transpar-
ency in three different areas: transparency in the reporting of
environmental impacts, transparency in reporting the sourcing
of raw materials and transparency in the disclosure of material
ingredients. To meet the requirements of these sections a mini-
mum of 20 products used in the building project must have this
information available. In each of the three credits, a point can
also be earned for making a selection between similar products
based on the information that has been disclosed.
Environmental impacts will be reported on a product basis
through the use of an environmental product declaration (EPD).
EPDs can be issued for the product at any stage of the products
life cycle and on either an industry average or individual prod-
uct manufacturer basis. For example, there will be an industry
average EPD for hot-rolled structural steel sections from cradle-
to-mill gate and the individual mills producing hot-rolled struc-
tural steel may also opt to create a producer-specifc EPD for
hot-rolled structural steel. In addition, an industry average EPD
for fabricated hot-rolled structural steel from cradle-to fabricator
gate will also be produced using fabrication industry data col-
lected in a survey to be conducted over the next several months.
Responsible sourcing documentation can be either self-
declared manufacturer reports of product sourcing practices (if
self-declared, the product only gets half credit) or third-party
verifed reports relative to the supply chain of the project. In
addition, a separate credit is available based on the sum of a
number of single attribute factors including recycled content
of all the materials in the project exceeding 25% of the cost of
project materials (however, the overall contribution of struc-
ture and enclosure materials is limited to 30% of the compliant
building materials).
The disclosure of material ingredients will most likely take
the form of a health product declaration (HPD) or material
data sheets that list all of the ingredients of the product down to
1,000 parts per million. This data is product-specifc and can-
not be presented as an industry average. An additional point of
credit is available for use of materials in the project exceeding
25% of the cost of the overall project materials, whose material
ingredient disclosures are third-party verifed and do not con-
tain any chemicals with health-related issues.
This seems pretty complex; is the structural steel
industry ready to provide this documentation? The struc-
tural steel industry will continue to provide the documentation
of recycled content and regional sourcing required by LEED
2009 and is committed to providing environmental impact doc-
umentation required by LEED V4 on an industry average basis
by mid-2014. Individual producers are working on developing
the documentation required for responsible sourcing and mate-
rial ingredients. As the transition to LEED V4 will be occur-
ring over the next several years, this should meet the ongoing
requirements of any building project.
Will LEED V4 result in more sustainable buildings? Any
rating system like LEED cannot guarantee that it will result
in more sustainable buildings. A rating system only focuses on
limited discrete aspects of the buildings design and construc-
tion. It is when design and construction professionals work
together, using their expertise to optimize their designs and
activities from both an economic and sustainable perspective,
that the actual building becomes a more sustainable structure.
LEED V4 can provide incentives, perspective and market push
to help accomplish those goals, but in the end it is the expertise,
collaboration and common sense of the design and construc-
tion professionals and the guidance of the project owner that
will result in a sustainable structure.
Where can I get additional help in understanding the
requirements of LEED V4? MSC will continue to publish
articles exploring the requirements of LEED V4. In addition,
AISC regional engineers are available to discuss issuesand
give presentationsregarding the sustainable characteristics
of structural steel and the requirements of LEED V4, and the
Steel Solutions Center is happy to answer questions regarding
this new version of LEED.

80.0
60.0
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Figure 1: Variation (by percentage) between
LCA estimator and conceptual solution material
estimate, by project.

26 FEBRUARY 2014
FOR SOME WHO VISITED the massive hole that was
left in Lower Manhattan and the nations heart following the
events of September 11, 2001, it was likely diffcult to imagine
that the area would eventually be the home of the nations tall-
est building. For others, there may have never been any doubt
that it would.
For more than 12 years, however you thought the redevelop-
ment of Ground Zero would happen, its largest, most symbolic
and most prominent piece is now in place.
One World Trade Center (1WTC), the tallest of four high-
rises planned as part of the Ground Zero reconstruction master
plan for lower Manhattan, was offcially declared by the Coun-
cil on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) to be the
tallest building in North America; it will likely be the third-
tallest building in the world upon completion.
In keeping with Daniel Libeskinds master plan, the overall
height of the tower from the ground level to the top of the
spire reaches 1,776 ft, in reference to the year of the nations
founding, though the main roof is designed to have the same
height as the original WTC towers (1,368 ft). The addition of
a 408-ft-tall spire rising from the main roof (mounted atop a
reinforced concrete mat directly supported by the towers con-
crete core) brings the tower to its symbolic full height, and a
multilayer circular lattice ring atop the main roof, which pro-
vides support for the spire, allegorically recalls the torch held
by the Statue of Liberty.
A New Standard
The symbolic and high-profle nature of the building cre-
ated a wide range of challenges and opportunities, and the
structural considerations were equally immense. The collapse
of the Twin Towers in 2001 created a major debate in engi-
neering communities worldwide with respect to the appropri-
ate lessons to be learned from the consequences of the attack
and the need for mitigation strategies to be implemented for
future high-rise buildings. The design team, faced with numer-
ous and unique challengesparamount among them being
security issueswas expected to meet or exceed future codes
and standards that had not yet been published. We were also
keenly aware that the design of this tower would perhaps set a
standard for future tall buildings, inspiring us to think beyond
the conventional techniques of tall building design.
The most highly anticipated
American skyscraper in recent history,
One World Trade Center comes
together in the context of past tragedy,
present demands and future
expectations for tall buildings.
BY AHMAD RAHIMIAN, S.E., P.E., PH.D.,
AND YORAM EILON, P.E.
Rising to the
TOP
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 27

1WTCs program includes 3 million sq. ft of new construction

above ground and 500,000 sq. ft of subterranean space. The tower
consists of 71 levels of offce space, eight levels of MEP space, a
50-ft-tall lobby, tenant amenity spaces, a two-level observation
deck at the 1,269-ft point, a sky restaurant, parking, retail space
and access to public transportation networks. The tower structure
extends 70 ft below grade passing through four subterranean lev-
els where some of its structural components required reposition-
ing to clear the PATH train tracks that cross the building at the
lowest basement level. All of this space is framed with approxi-
mately 45,000 tons of structural steel in total.
The building footprint above grade level starts with a 205-
ft square plan. The offce levels start 190 ft above grade, stacked
over four levels of mechanical space above the main lobby. The
four corners of the tower are gradually cut away, sloping gently
from the frst offce level inward until, at the roof, the foor plan
The overall height of the tower (including the spire) is 1,776
ft, though the main roof will have the same height as the
original WTC towers (1,368 ft).
Ahmad Rahimian (ahmad.rahimian@wspgroup.com) is
director of building structures and Yoram Eilon (yoram.eilon@
wspgroup.com) is vice president of building structures, both
with WSP Cantor Seinuk.

1WTCs program includes 3 mil-

lion sq. ft of new construction
above ground and 500,000 sq.
ft of subterranean space.

The framing system uses

approximately 45,000 tons
of structural steel.
WSP Cantor Seinuk
dimensions again square off at 145 ft on
a side, now rotated 45 from the base
quadrangle. The elevation is transformed
into eight tall isosceles triangles forming an
elongated square antiprism frustum. At mid-
height of the tower, the foor plan forms an
equilateral octagon. The tapering of the
building geometry not only accommodates
the projects gross area requirement but
also creates an aerodynamic shape that
reduces the wind effect on the tower. Since
tall building design in New York is usually
governed by wind load, the tower shape
has an innate positive effect on the building
performance under wind loading.
On the Right PATH
The towers foundation and below-
grade structure are founded on Manhattan
bedrock using spread and strip footings
with bearing capacities of 60 tons per
sq. ft or better. Due to space constraints
such as the proximity of the existing train
lines, it was necessary to excavate deeper
into the rock at select locations in order
to achieve a higher bearing capacity of up
to 114 tons per sq. ft. Rock anchors/tie
downs extending 80 ft into the rock were
installed to resist the overturning effect
from extreme wind events.
PATH commuter trains run through
the western portion of the Bathtub (an
excavation down to the bedrock, surround-
ed by slurry walls, that was built to keep
water out of the subterranean levels of the
original WTC). As it was essential to keep
the PATH trains operational during the
construction process, the constructability
strategies became a primary consideration
in the design of the below-grade structure.
Temporary structural steel framing was in-
troduced and integrated into the structure,
bridging over the train tracks, and perma-
nent and temporary steel framing was used
for temporary support of the slab while
some of the tower columns were trans-
ferred away from the train tracks.
The tower stability system, although en-
hanced by the below-grade structure, was
A completed rendering of 1 WTC (far left)
and other buildings at the Ground Zero
site in Lower Manhattan, at night...

28 FEBRUARY 2014
...and during the day. 1 WTCs elevation
is transformed into eight tall isosceles
triangles forming an elongated square
antiprism frustum.
Silverstein Properties
Silverstein Properties
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 29
designed to be self-suffcient. The tower
structure is comprised of a hybrid sys-
tem combining a robust concrete core sur-
rounded by steel foor framing and with a
perimeter ductile steel moment frame. The
reinforced concrete core wall system at the
center of the tower acts as the main spine
of the tower, providing support for gravity
loads as well as resistance to wind and seis-
mic forces. The core is approximately square
in footprint with a depth of about 110 ft at
the baselarge enough to be its own build-
ing; it houses mechanical rooms and all
means of egress. The walls are connected to
each other over the access openings using
steel wide-fange link beams developed into
the concrete shear walls. A ductile perimeter
moment frame system is introduced for re-
dundancy and to further enhance the over-
all building performance under lateral wind
and seismic loads. The perimeter moment
frame wraps around all vertical and sloped
perimeters, forming a tube system.
The towers antiprism geometry cre-
ates unique structural conditions along
its height, which necessitated the design
and fabrication of special nodal elements
using relatively large plating with signif-
cant capacity for load transfer. For further
enhancement of the lateral load resisting
system, the concrete core at the upper
mechanical levels is connected to the pe-
rimeter columns via a series of multilevel
outrigger trusses, composed of built-up
box sections, in both orthogonal directions.
Taken together, the perimeter and core sys-
tems make 1WTC safer than either system
could make it on its own, thanks to the re-
dundancy they provide to one another.
Defying Gravity
The foor system within the concrete
core zone is a formed cast-in-place con-
crete beam and fat slab system, while the
foor area outside the core is concrete on
composite metal deck supported on steel
beams and connected via shear connec-
tors. The column-free foor system spans
between the core and the perimeter steel
moment frame (with a maximum span of
47 ft) for construction effciency and maxi-
mum fexibility of tenant use.
One of the most common approaches
to hybrid construction is having the
concrete core constructed using jump-
forms or slip-forms, independent of and
ahead of the steel framing. Subsequently,
steel framing is constructed around the
advancing constructed core. In New
York City, however, this approach has
generally not been available to the
construction community until recently.
The construction is sequenced by frst
erecting an all-steel framing system
throughout the foor, both inside and
outside of the core, preceding the
concrete core construction; the steel
framing within the core is primarily
an erection system that is embedded
in the concrete core walls. The
construction of the structure was
staged in four highly orchestrated
sequences of steel framing, metal
deck and concrete outside the core,
concrete core shear wall and concrete
foor construction inside the core. A
wide-fange ring beam is introduced at
the outer face of the core in order to
maintain a temporary gap between the
foor system and the core wall allowing
for the raising of the forms. The total
30 FEBRUARY 2014
lag for the entire sequences is about eight to 12 foors. The
construction sequencing was a critical aspect of the structures
design as it would affect the connection approach and details
between various elements, especially at the interface between
the concrete core walls and adjacent areas. It would also affect
the nature of axial shortening of the tower as well as the
method of computation and the construction compensation.
Axial shortening becomes more important in hybrid structures
due to the differing natures of the materials behavior, such as
the shortening of steel and concrete as a result of elastic, creep
and shrinkage effects over time.
Axial shortening studies were performed to identify the an-
ticipated deformation of the concrete core wall and perimeter
steel framing during and following construction. The elastic
shortening of the steel erection columns at the core before en-
casement had to be carefully considered. The goal was that at
the end of construction the foors would be leveled and po-
sitioned at the theoretical elevations. In order to compensate
for the shortening, the contractor could adjust the elevations
of perimeter steel columns and center concrete walls by super-
elevating them to differing degrees. For the structural steel this
could be achieved by either fabricating the columns longer than
the theoretical, shimming in the feld during erection or a com-
bination of both.
Correct Code
From the onset, one of the main challenges was the selection
of appropriate codes and standards for the design of the structure.
The latest edition of the New York City Building Code at the time,
which was based on the 1968 code with amendments, was used as
the primary design code in combination with the Port Authoritys
design guidelines. However, acknowledging that it was essential to
design this building with the most advanced standard available at
the time, the IBC 2003 structural provisions were adopted with re-
spect to wind and seismic loading (and were selected knowing they
would be the basis for the new version of New York City Building
Code). With respect to structural integrity, hardening and structural
redundancy, the U.S. Government Standards such as GSA, DOD
and FEMA were used as references for further enhancements. In
addition, the latest edition of AISC and ACI codes, standards and
specifcations were adopted, particularly those regarding ductile
design of the moment frame connections.
Wind Tunnel Testing
The structure has been designed for wind load requirements
of IBC 2003, taking into consideration New Yorks local wind
conditions. In addition, a series of wind tunnel tests were per-
formed to ascertain a more accurate measurement of wind load-
ing and wind response of the tower with respect to hurricane

The building is now ofcially the tallest in North

America.
The structural system at the base of the tower.
WSP Cantor Seinuk
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 31
wind load effects and human comfort criteria. High-frequency
force balance (HFFB) and aeroelastic tests were performed at
the Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin wind tunnel facilities at
different stages of the design; the aerodynamic and aeroelas-
tic effects of the spire were also considered. Wind tunnel tests
were performed, including the surroundings effect, in view of
the likelihood that Towers 2, 3 and 4 may or may not be com-
pleted at the time of 1WTCs completion. The acceleration re-
sults at the highest occupied level meets the criteria of human
comfort for offce buildings, and the structure is also designed
for wind storms with 1,000-year return periods, per IBC 2003.
As of December 2013, construction of 1WTC was
complete, though it isnt scheduled to open until later
this year. The tower incorporates numerous innovative
engineering solutions, some of which were presented here.
If we could to go back and change anything, it would be the
circumstances under which we were invited to engineer this
symbolic building. That said, the design and construction of
this project is the result of a relentless collaborative effort
between numerous design and construction teams over a
period of several years with a resolute focus on the goal of
creating an iconic tower reaffrming the preeminence of
Lower Manhattan and the resiliency of the countrys spirit
and ingenuity.

Owner
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Owners Representative
STV Construction, New York
Architect
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, New York
Structural Engineer
WSP Cantor Seinuk, New York
SBP, New York (Spire)
Construction Manager
Tishman Construction Company, New York
Steel Team
Fabricators
MRP, LLC, South Plaineld, N.J.
(AISC Member/AISC Certied Fabricator)
Banker Steel Company, LLC, Lynchburg, Va.,
(AISC Member/AISC Certied Fabricator)
Detailers
Dowco Consultants, Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, and
Surrey, British Columbia (AISC Member)
Automated Steel Detailing Associates, Ltd., Toronto
(AISC Member)

The building is designed for wind storms with 1,000-

year return periods, per IBC 2003.
WSP Cantor Seinuk WSP Cantor Seinuk
The new Army hospital at Fort Benning is the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers frst-ever design-build hospital project.
BY ROBERT WAYNE STOCKS, P.E.,
ZACHARY KATES, P.E.,
AND KEVIN MACLEOD
BUILDING
up the Fort
32 FEBRUARY 2014
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Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 33
BRAC MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT for every
military installation.
Under the Base Realignment and Closure program, facili-
ties are generally downsized, consolidated or demolished alto-
gether. In some cases, however, the program mandates new or
replacement facilities.
The U.S. Army base at Fort Benning, on the outskirts of
Columbus, Ga., is one of these cases and is currently under-
going major redevelopment. A critical part of this realignment
includes replacement of the aging Martin Army Community
Hospital, which originally opened in 1958. Since April 2011, a
team led by Turner Construction Company has been construct-
ing the new Martin Army Community Hospital, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers frst-ever design-build hospital project.
The 745,000-sq.-ft facility, which is seeking LEED Silver
certifcation, was designed by a joint venture between architects
Ellerbe Becket (now AECOM) and RLF. It features a 70-bed
hospital with two attached clinic buildings, which are separated
by a four-story, column-free concourse that serves as the pri-
mary entrance to the facility.
Structuring the Campus
The project is located on a challenging 50-acre site that
slopes 230 vertical ft from front to back. The site layout was
designed to communicate with the surrounding wooded ar-
eas with the intent of improving the patient experience. The
hospital building is eight stories high and is set into the sloping
site, with two foors located below
grade and exposed to daylight on the
downhill side. The lower levels of
the hospital support diagnostic space
and are separated from the upper
foor patient rooms by an interstitial
mechanical level housing the hospi-
tals air-handling equipment.
The structural foor framing
system of the hospital consists of
composite steel deck supported by
wide-fange steel W16 beams, W24
girders and W14 columns with a
typical 32-ft by 32-ft bay size and a typical foor-to-foor height
of 16 ft. Lateral forces for the hospital are resisted by steel mo-
ment frames that are located at the buildings perimeter and
with one interior line in each direction. The moment frames
transition to steel braced frames at the lower two levels to
match the stiffness of the concrete basement walls and to par-
ticipate in resisting the unbalanced earth pressure, as well as
wind and seismic loads. The clinic buildings are of similar steel
construction to the hospital, and the lateral system for the clin-
ics consists of perimeter steel braced frames.
The grand concourse is structurally independent and is sand-
wiched between the hospital and clinic buildings. It functions as
the main entrance to the entire facility, welcoming occupants into
a four-story, high-bay space surrounded by a glass curtain wall and
views of nearby Upatoi Creek. The triangular-shaped roof area
includes steel roof deck supported by steel beams and girders, and
the column-free space is made possible by two long-span tension
rod trussesthe longest being 75 ftlocated in the clerestory be-
tween the high and low roofs. The truss diagonals consist of double
1-in. tension rods in one direction and single 1-in. tension rods
in the opposite direction. Steel wide-fange columns surrounding
the high bay space support a grid of HSS girts that provide lateral
support to the glass curtain wall. The lateral system was carefully
integrated with the architecture of the space and includes braced
frames hidden in elevator shafts, exposed tension rod bracing in
the panoramic glass wall and wide-fange columns that cantilever
above a low roof diaphragm.
A four-story, column-free con-
course that serves as the primary
entrance to the facility.
Topping out the building.
Robert Wayne Stocks (wstocks@
thorntontomasetti.com) is a
managing principal, Zachary Kates
(zkates@thorntontomasetti.com) is
a vice president and Kevin Macleod
(kmacleod@thorntontomasetti.com)
is a senior engineer, all with Thornton
Tomasettis Washington, D.C. ofce.

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The Design-Build Pursuit
The team participated in several full-day
design charettes attended by all disciplines,
where design concepts were studied for
cost and constructability. Having all of the
major stakeholders present at the charettes
improved collaboration and focus and al-
lowed decisions to be made quickly, with
everyone understanding the driving forces
behind the decisions. For example, the team
prioritized fexibility of space in the hospital
building and quickly determined that pe-
rimeter steel moment frames, in lieu of steel
braced frames, would meet that goal. Schuff
Steel, the fabricator, was on board from the
beginning of the pursuit and offered great
direction into the availability and selection
of steel materials and steel-related detailing.
Repetitive design details such as exterior
wall attachments, steel connection types and
slab edge support conditions were chosen to
align with Schuffs fabrication and erection
preferences.
The collaboration and active participa-
tion of the designers and the builders in
these early charettes made the difference,
said Martin Miller, project executive for
Turner. The collaboration allowed the
team to study, discuss and decide on de-
sign concepts in days what would normal-
ly take months.
To accurately capture steel costs, Thorn-
ton Tomasetti (TT) created preliminary de-
sign models using RAM Structural System
and transmitted them directly to Schuff Steel
for tonnage determinations. TT provided
estimates of additional tonnage required for
project-specifc requirements, such as steel
framing premiums at vibration-sensitive
areas supporting medical equipment or ad-
ditional framing needed to support major
piping runs. Preliminary tonnage estimates
for the steel frame were found to be within a
few percent of the actual steel frame tonnage.
In addition, the design met the strict re-
quirements of the request for proposal au-
thored by the Corps of Engineers, includ-
ing the referenced International Building
Code, Savannah District Design Manual and
Department of Defense Unifed Facilities
Criteria. Overall, the pursuit phase was a
two-month effort.
A truss for the concourse.

A rendering of the concourse framing.

The councourse separates the 70-bed hospital and two attached clinic buildings.

34 FEBRUARY 2014
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Chicago Metal Rolled Products Saved Their Customer
More Than 80,000 lbs. of 12 Sq. Tubing.
Early involvement in the University of Phoenix Stadium (2007 IDEAS
2
National Award Winner) allowed
Chicago Metal Rolled Products to save their customer time and money when curving 402 tons of 12 x 12 x
5

8
and 12 x 12 x
1

2
tubing to radiuses from 1000 to 1200 feet for the roof trusses.
Using advanced technology, Chicago Metal curved 52 feet of distortion-free arc from stock only 54 feet long.
With traditional curving methods, 6 to 10 feet of each tube would be lost to scrap. Chicago Metals solutions
also substantially reduced freight charges.
Always meeting the fabricators schedule, the company received 213 pieces of tubing from mills, stored it clean
and dry, and then curved and shipped it over the course of five months.
According to the project manager and subcontract administration manager, this project went almost flawlessly
despite its complexity and challenging schedule. A tribute to the teamwork of the roller, the fabricator and
the erector.
Model Sharing
From day one, Turner was committed
to a building information modeling (BIM)
approach for the project, which minimized
conficts during construction and reduced
requests for information and costly feld
work. The design team produced work us-
ing Revit and traded coordination models
on a weekly basis, and the structural Revit
models were transferred to Schuff as the
basis for the Tekla fabrication models. The
fabrication models were then combined
with the architectural and mechanical mod-
els by Turners in-house modeling group to
create one comprehensive BIM model. This
model was used to coordinate the location
of work in the feld, perform clash detection
and help resolve system interferences.
The steel frame became the base layer for
the development of the architectural model,
providing excellent coordination of the en-
tire exterior shell, said Miller. The interior
details were then added as design progressed.
In retrospect, the biggest coordination prob-
lems in the feld were with construction
elements that did not get put into the BIM
model during the accelerated proposal devel-
opment period, such as precast panel bracing.
Consistent with Turners commitment to
BIM, TT and Schuff employed an innova-
tive use of the 3D Tekla fabrication model
by performing in-model review of the steel
shop drawings. Specifcally, a model-based
shop drawing review was performed wherein
steel elements were approved directly in the
model. Because hard-copy shop drawings
were a required submittal by the Corps of
Engineers, shop drawings in PDF format
were linked to each steel piece and accessible
directly through the model. Shop drawing
markups were made using a PDF writer, and
the submittal, model and shop drawings were
returned electronically. This allowed a more
effcient and higher-quality review process
for TT, as repetitive elements were grouped
and reviewed together. More complex, high-
ly detailed connections were viewed in 3D,
clearly showing the relationship to adjacent
connecting members. The process resulted
in a faster approval process and a reduction
in re-detailing efforts, which subsequently
led to a reduction in fabrication time and
feld work.
A birds-eye view of the new facility.
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 35

Truss installation.
The triangular-shaped roof area includes steel roof deck supported by steel beams and
girders, and the column-free space is made possible by two long-span tension rod trusses.

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36 FEBRUARY 2014
TTs Construction Support Services group in Kansas City
was employed directly by Schuff to perform all steel connection
design on the project. This allowed the connection designers to
communicate directly with the structural engineers to resolve
questions quickly, avoiding the cumbersome RFI process; con-
frming RFIs replaced the traditional approach of ineffcient
sequential communication. The construction support team
was able to help identify and resolve areas where complicated
and expensive connections could be avoided or simplifed, and
working as an integrated team saved time and ultimately pro-
duced an effcient and coordinated end product.
Designing For the Unthinkable
The hospital, clinics and concourse comply with Department
of Defense requirements of the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection
(ATFP) Directorate and resistance against progressive collapse,
with the goal of minimizing occupant fatalities during a terror-
ist attack. Blast consultant Weidlinger Associates determined the
blast loading on the structure and provided reactions at critical
steel connections. Resistance against blast loads is mainly pro-
vided by the exterior precast concrete panels and glazing on the
clinic and hospital buildings, while the blast loads on the con-
course are supported entirely by the steel frame. The blast-rated
curtain wall is supported by a grid of 12-in. by 8-in. HSS girts
tied to the perimeter wide-fange columns. These columns span
from the ground level to the roof diaphragm, a vertical distance
of up to 60 ft, and horizontal truss members were introduced
into the roof diaphragm to ensure that the concourse roof will
distribute blast loads to the lateral frames.
The goal of the progressive collapse requirements is to pre-
vent an uncontrolled collapse of a large portion of the structure
in the event of removal or damage of a local structural element.
Horizontal and vertical tension ties extending the full height
and width of the buildings were detailed into each steel frame
to allow the structure to bridge over damaged areas without
disproportionate collapse. Tension forces were considered in
all connection and element designs along each tie, and the steel
moment frames for the hospital also provide a high degree of
redundancy to help mitigate any progressive collapse conditions.
Medical Equipment
The vibration-sensitive medical equipment was carefully co-
ordinated early to help mitigate its impact on the steel frame;
these units are not only heavy but also have strict defection and
vibration requirements. In a typical bay for the hospital, the foor
system consists of 4.5 in. of normal-weight concrete on a 3-in.
composite metal deck and is supported by W1631 beams and
W2455 girders. For the typical MRI bay, the foor system was
increased to 6 in. of normal-weight concrete on 3-in. compos-
ite metal deck to minimize sound transmission. In addition, the
beams and girders were increased to W30124 and W30191, re-
spectively, to stiffen the foor system and control vibration.
The design-build team members on the Fort Benning Mar-
tin Army Community Hospital were true partners during the
design and construction of this project. The 3D BIM approach
allowed full integration of the systems and is driving the on-
time delivery of this fast-track project to the base.
Without the entire teams active participation and the use
of BIM, we could not have achieved the successful design and
construction in the 1,200 calendar days allowed in the RFP,
said Miller. The results have been extraordinary. I cant imag-
ine building another project in the future without the full use
of BIM and the active collaboration of the design and construc-
tion professionals.

Owner
Fort Benning/Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District
Design-Build Contractor
Turner Construction Company
Architect
Ellerbe Becket (now AECOM), Arlington, Va., and
RLF, Orlando, Fla.
Structural Engineer and Steel Detailer
Thornton Tomasetti, Inc., Washington, D.C., and
Kansas City, Mo.
Steel Fabricator and Erector
Schuff Steel Atlantic, Inc., Orlando
(AISC Member/AISC Certied Fabricator)

The truss diagonals consisted of double 1-in. tension rods in one direction and single 1-in. tension rods in the opposite direction. Steel
wide-flange columns surrounding the high bay space support a grid of HSS girts that provide lateral support to the glass curtain wall.
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Theres always a solution in steel.
American Institute of Steel Construction
One E Wacker Drive, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60601
www.aisc.org 312.670.2400
Class begins February 24, 2014
AISC
Night School

www.aisc.org/nightschool
Fundamentals of Earthquake Engineering
for Building Structures
Presented by Rafael Sabelli, S.E.
Monday nights 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(90 minutes each)
2/24 Seismology and Earthquake Effects
3/3 Dynamics and Response
3/10 Building Dynamics and Response
3/17 Steel Behavior
3/31 System Ductility and Seismic Design
4/7 Steel Systems
4/21 Building Confguration Issues
4/28 Building Codes
With the construction of One World Trade Center,
a symbolically planned 1,776-foot-tall building on the site of the old World Trade Center,
the rebuilding of America has begun. And the rebuilding is going to be green.
Because One World Trade Center will be using about 143,000 tons of recycled Nucor steel,
helping to make it eligible for LEED

certication. Saying we not only care about

restoring America to great heights, we also care about the world around us.
www.nucoryamato.com
Its Our Nature.

Emergency steel spans reopen

an Interstate river crossing shortly after a bridge collapse.
BY WILLIAM KILLEEN, P.E.
IT WAS THE THURSDAY EVENING before Memorial Day week-
end of 2013 when the unthinkable happened.
As western Washington commuters headed home and vacationers got
underway via Interstate 5 about 60 miles north of Seattle, a southbound
truck hauling an oversized load shifted to the right as it crossed the Skagit
River Bridge, causing the load to strike the overhead parts of the bridge.
Within moments, the damaged north span of the bridge collapsed, carry-
ing with it numerous vehicles and their drivers and passengers into the
river below. Fortunately, the accident did not result in any loss of life, but
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) now had to
fnd a quick and safe solution for resolving a connectivity disaster with
signifcant negative fnancial implications in the making.
I-5 is the main interstate highway on the West Coast of the U.S., stretch-
ing from Canada to Mexico and connecting several major cities, including
Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego.
The commercial and passenger traffc that this critical transportation ar-
tery carries on a daily basis is enormous. The I-5 Skagit River Bridge has
four main spans of 160 ft each and is part of the primary route connecting
Vancouver and Seattle, with an estimated 71,000 vehicles crossing the steel
through-truss bridge every day. Its collapse created a transportation night-
mare with immediate fnancial impact; a nearby Costco alone reported a
loss of $1 million in one day as a result of the collapse.
QUICK
Thinking
40 FEBRUARY 2014
William Killeen
(wtkilleen@
acrowusa.com) is
president and CEO
of Acrow Bridge.

The north span of the Skagit River Bridge,

following the collision.
WSDOT
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 41
Crisis Averted
Clearly, a solution needed to be developed and commis-
sioned as quickly as possible to stem the losses in business and
tax revenues as well as the disruption to daily life and its wide-
spread consequences. Different options were considered for the
reopening of the river crossing, and in the end, WSDOT se-
lected a bridging solution of prefabricated modular steel, which
could be mobilized and assembled with great speed while pro-
viding the strength and durability demanded.
WSDOT awarded Atkinson Construction the emergency con-
struction contract two days after the incident, and Acrow Bridge,
a fabricator of modular bridges, became part of the team charged
with engineering a rapid solution for bridge replacement. Acrow
supplied two modular, prefabricated steel panel bridges. Each
bridge weighed 180 tons, with clear spans of 160 ft and road
widths of 24 ft, to replace the damaged section of the bridge.
Modular steel orthotropic deck sections, which were overlaid with
asphalt, were used for the roadway, and heavy-duty crash barriers
were installed on each side for driver safety.
Acrow bridges are all-steel bridges composed of smaller compo-
nents that pin and bolt together. All of the bridge components are
available on a COTS (components off the shelf) basis and can be
rapidly mobilized. With all components prefabricated and requir-
ing no feld welding, the bridges can be rolled into position with or
without the use of sophisticated equipment, including a crane. This
became an important factor in the Skagit River Bridge installation,
as no suitable crane was available at the time for a lift-in of the spans.
A crane-assisted launch was also not possible, as the existing multi-
span through truss was an obstruction. The only workable approach
for putting the emergency bridges into place was by rolling each
bridge across the gap in full cantilever, balancing each span like a
large playground seesaw, without the use of a crane.
To facilitate the installation, the bridge pedestals were de-
signed to allow for the sliding of the bridges sideways on Hil-
man rollers, which was necessary because the existing through
truss was 8 ft narrower than our structures. Once the pedestals
were in place, the frst bridge (northbound lanes) was rolled
into place, jacked down onto the rollers, moved eastward, can-
tilevered over the bridge pedestals and positioned out of the
way to make room for the second bridge (southbound lanes).
The second bridge was jacked down and positioned on perma-
nent bridge bearings, 6 in. from the frst bridge, and the deck
was then situated and asphalted.
Speed and Service
We coordinated our response to the emergency through our
local offce and depot in Camas, Wash. When we frst learned
of the collapse, we made the decision to send eight truckloads of
Acrow prefabricated bridge steel to the project site that would
be used to construct the bridge spanseven though a contract
to supply the bridges had not yet been awardedas we thought
it would be best to have everything in place for quick assembly.
We also deployed feld technicians to work side by side with
the WSDOT and Atkinson Construction team. The techni-
cians were a critical element in our ability to deliver a bridg-
ing solution within a very tight time frame, working closely
Temporary spans
were erected,
and the bridge
reopened only
23 days after the
collapse.
Vince Streano, Steano/Havens
Vince Streano, Steano/Havens
Erection of the
temporary spans.

42 FEBRUARY 2014
with our engineers at our corporate head-
quarters in New Jersey and the engineers
at Atkinson. Everyone worked around the
clock to assemble the emergency bridg-
es and roll them out across the Skagit
River. The highway bridge was formally
reopened in June, only 23 days after the
collapse of the damaged span. The Acrow
spans were in place until mid-September
when the permanent spans were installed
via a roll-out/roll-in method. The Acrow
bridge was then disassembled and shipped
to the companys storage yard in Washing-
ton. Later in the year, almost all of these
components were shipped to California as
part of a planned detour bridge.

Owner and Structural Engineer

Washington State Department of
Transportation
General Contractor
Atkinson Construction of Renton, Wash.
Steel Fabricator and Detailer
Acrow Corporation of America,
Parsippany, N.J. (AISC Member)
Two 160-ft spans, weighting 180 tons
each, were installed via Hilman rollers.

Deon Lourens/Acrow
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44 FEBRUARY 2014
LATE LAST YEAR, Nucor-Yamato Steels (NYS) mill in Blytheville,
Ark., reached a signifcant milestone: a quarter-century of operation.
Since opening in 1988, it has produced an estimated 48 million
tons of structural steelall of it via the electric arc furnace (EAF) pro-
cess. The short version is that the mill makes new steel products out of
old steel products, melting down scrap and casting it into new wide-
fange and other shapes. The long version is much more interesting.
The Right Mix
It all starts with scraplots of scrap. Thanks to the mills strategic
positioning on the Mississippi River, the majority of scrap arrives via
barge and is typically sourced from within a 500-mile radius. (Blytheville
is about an hour north of Memphis, Tenn., and the site was chosen for
its central U.S. location, access to the river, reliable local electrical grid,
regional scrap supply and proximity to a good transportation network of
An inside look at a modern, high-tech steelmaking operation.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF WEISENBERGER
Keep on
ROLLING
Geoff Weisenberger
(weisenberger@
modernsteel.com) is
Modern Steel s senior editor.

railroads and highways.) A specialized crane, which

looks like a giant claw, plucks the scrap from the
barge and loads it into trucks.
All inbound scrap is run through a monitor,
which basically looks like a yellow steel archway,
that tests the scrap load for radioactive materials.
In rare cases of detection, material that contains
traces of radioactivity is moved to a confnement
area before being hauled away. (Sometimes the
trace amount of radiation is emitted by steel from
demolished industrial facilities where radioactive
processes were once used; in those cases the sus-
pect scrap is segregated for further evaluation by
trained radiation technicians.)
The scrap is then transported to the
caption
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 45
Steel on its way from rolling to nal cutting.
Slag being dumped from a ladle, after being emptied at the caster, into a
slag pot.
Graphite electrodes melt the steel at temperatures approaching 3,000 F in
the electric arc furnace. In this picture, the roof is swung open while the scrap
bucket is emptied into the furnace.

appropriate pile. The mill uses several different types of scrap,

based on content and density, each with a certain percentage
of iron and other residual elements: nickel, chromium,
copper, tin, etc. For example, one type is composed of steel
that was most recently used as structural steel, another type
has the same chemical makeup but has already been shredded
and yet another is composed of scrap that wasnt formerly
structural elements but still has a high iron (ferrous) content
(cars, appliances, roadside recycling, etc.). There is also a
designation for home scrap that has been recycled from
the steelmaking process at the facility.
The Blytheville facility has two rolling mills, which
specialize in different products. Mill 1 focuses on wide-
flange, angles (up to L10), S-sections (up to S24), channels
(up to C18), H-piles and sheet piles. Mill 2, which opened
in 1993, primarily produces heavy wide-flange sections and
H-piles (up to HP16 and HP18). The range of W-shapes
produced at the Blytheville facility is W615 to W14730
Casting the steel. Two molten steel streams are fed into molds. Granulated powder is also continuously fed into the molds so that the
steel doesnt stickmuch like greasing a pan.
46 FEBRUARY 2014

Molten steel is fed directly into the caster from the ladle. It is
at this point that it takes on its dog bone prole.

Scrap is dropped into the electric arc furnance from a charg-

ing bucket, which has a hatch at the bottom.
(with regard to foot-weight) and up to W44335 (with
regard to section depth).
While the EAFs are in the same building, the rolling mills
are located in two different buildings on the facilitys 850 acres,
approximately 45 acres of which is under roof. Most of the facil-
ity runs 24-7, with four crews on a four-on, four-off schedule
(meaning four 12-hour days in a row followed by four days off).
Steelmaking via the EAF process is much like baking, and you
can think of each scrap type as a specifc ingredient and the various
scrap piles as the pantry. For the most part, each product uses the
same scrap recipe or blend (that is, a measured tonnage of each
scrap type, loaded into the scrap buckets). Once the bucket is load-
ed, the scrap is dumped into one of the mills two EAFs, where it
will be melted down at temperatures approaching 3,000 F. Each
batch is called a heat and the scrap mix is added to the furnace
in two buckets or charges. The frst charge, typically 90 to 95
tons, is melted, then the second charge of 40 to 45 tons is added
and melted; the variation in tonnage depends on the scrap density.
In addition to the scrap, lime is added for fux, as is charge carbon
as an additional heat source; at this facility, charge carbon is also
substituted with shredded tires. Each heat takes approximately
35 minutes and there are typically 36 heats per furnace per day; a
good yield from a heat is 120 tons of molten steel.
Observing the melting process is a powerful experience, akin
to being close to a volcano while its eruptinga lot of noise,
a lot of smoke and an intensity that you can feel throughout
your body, especially when standing on a metal catwalk several
stories above the ground. The furnace is lined with refractory
bricks, which keeps the furnace itself from melting, and the
melting is performed by three 24-in.-diameter graphite elec-
trodes that are lowered through the roof of the furnace. When
the electrodes frst hit the steel, theres a loud pop followed by a
continuous rumbling. Once the heat is completed, the furnace
is tapped and the molten steel, which looks like lava, is ex-
tracted for the next step in the process. Slag, materials that rise
to the surface, is skimmed from the top and separatedmuch
like skimming the cream at a dairyand sold, typically as road
aggregate. A vacuum or bag house above the furnace removes
emissions, and the particulates are sent to a recycling facility.
Next, the molten steel is transported via giant ladles to the ladle
metallurgy furnace (LMF). Here, the steel is reheated, using elec-
trodes similar to the EAF, deoxidized, desulfurized and further re-
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 47

Beam blanks after being cut by the oxygen torch.

Two circular saws (approximately 84 in. in diameter) perform

the nal cutting.

Steel exiting the breakdown mill (left) and being rolled in the
universal rougher/edger mill (right).

After going through all three sets of rollers, each one further
forming the shape, steel is ready for nal cutting.
48 FEBRUARY 2014
fned with the addition of various other alloys to bring it
to the perfect mix before it is cast. It is at this stage that the
chemistry is adjusted to create a specifc end product. For
example, too many alloys for a light product will cause the
mechanical properties to be too high for the specifcation,
while too few alloys for a heavier product will cause the me-
chanical properties to be too low for the specifcation. Basi-
cally, the chemistry is fne-tuned to specifc, tight, internal
specifcations within a general specifcation such as ASTM
A992 or ASTM A588.
Without this step, it would be like a cake without
four, says Jim Schoen, one of the plants metallurgists.
Basically, the steel would be of little use because it could
not meet the intended properties without deoxidation,
desulfurization and alloying.
At the LMF, an operator takes a sample of the steel,
which cools into a small shape resembling a lollipop,
and tests it with an optical emission spectrometer.
This machine tells you the chemical composition of
the sample, explains Schoen. Sometimes the LMF op-
erators achieve the procedural aim for the end product
with the frst addition.
If not, the proper proportions of specifed alloys are
further added until the perfect mix is achieved.
Casting Call
At this point, the ladle is transported to the caster, where
the steel will be cast into long shapes called beam blanks or
dog bonesas this is what the cross section resembles
which will then be cut and rolled into fnished products.
As the liquid steel fows out from a ceramic gate in the
ladle bottom, it is guided into the caster in perfect strands.
Granulated powder, which is designed to melt at a specifc
temperature for NYS products, is continuously fed into the
bottomless caster mold so that the solidifed steel shell that
forms along the mold wall doesnt stick to itmuch like
greasing a pan. The emergence from the caster is where the
steel frst begins to take on the look of a fnished product
a cast beam with a web and two fanges (in the case NYS
main products, W- and HP-shapes). However, there are a
few products produced at rolling Mill 1 that come from a
bloom with a rectangular cross section.
At this point, the steel needs to be cut, as it emerges
from the caster in lengths of up to 40 ft. Still orange-
hot, the dog bones are cut with an oxygen torch, then
cooled slightly with water so magnets can move them
to storage if they are not going to be taken directly to
the rolling mill. All water used at the plant is pulled
from wells and is recirculated as many times as possi-
ble through a closed-loop system, then treated before
being released. The mill is working toward zero dis-
charge into the local groundwater and sewage systems
and is currently using some of its treated, nutrient-
rich discharge to irrigate adjacent farmland.

Scrap is separated into multiple types. A consistent recipe of steel

from the various piles is used to create the products.
Most scrap arrives at the facility via barge. From
here it is transferred, via trucks, to the proper scrap
pile to await melting.
Nucor-Yamatos riverfront property provides fertile
ground for grazing cattle owned by nearby farms.
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 49
While steel is tracked through the facility from the
very beginning, it is at this point where each beam blank
or bloom, while still at the caster torch tables, receives
a physical tag. The time frame from scrap melting to
cutting is around two hours: 35 minutes for the heat in
the EAF, 10 minutes or so in transit, 40 minutes in the
LMF and 40 minutes for the casting operation.
On a Roll
Once ready for rolling, the beam blanks are placed in
reheat furnaces, which can handle up to 32 blanks at a time
depending on the size. Reheating typically takes two hours
and brings the steel up to around 2,400 F. The tracking
tags are burned off during the reheating process and new
ones are added back on after rolling and cutting (steel is
tracked continuously via computers throughout the mill).
When its heated back to the proper temperature
and is once again orange-hot, the steel goes through
three sets of rollers, each one further forming the
steel until it becomes a usable member, ready for
fabrication.
Think of it as rolling out batter or pulling taffy,
Schoen says.
The first set, the breakdown rolls, shapes the
beam blank to the approximate section depth and
flange width. The number of passes through this
set varies by product; the steel we witness today
will become HP16x121 and takes 11 passes, mov-
ing through the breakdown rolls forward and back
a total of 11 times, then advancing to the universal
rougher/edger mill after the 11th pass.
This second set of rollers further works the beam
blank to the desired flange width and section depth.
It is also at this point that temperature is controlled
to achieve yield strength as well as CVN (Charpy
V-notch) properties; 15 passes are required for this
particular product.
The third and fnal set of rolls, the universal fnish-
ing mill, determines the fnal dimensions and requires
just one pass.
Rolls need to be substituted based on the product
requirements, maintenance needs and production
schedule. They can be changed in about 45 minutes
and can withstand thousands of production hours
before being replaced. The company is currently
building a robotic roller storage rack, adjacent to
one of the mill buildings, which will increase the
efficiency of rebuilding stands and replacing rolls.
Following rolling, the steel is cut to length via mas-
sive circular saws that send out a shower of sparks (old
saw blades are turned into home scrap and eventually new
steel products). Samples are cut periodically to check the
dimensions of the product. Additionally, samples are cut to
be tested for strength and other properties, at frequencies
After cooling, beam blanks are often stored outside before they are
ready to be reheated and rolled into shape.
Following cutting, beam blanks are cooled with water.
Now nal products, steel members cool before
they are stored outside and eventually shipped to
customers.
50 FEBRUARY 2014
A Bigger Furnace
The two-charge method of adding scrap to the EAF is
dictated by having to melt down the rst charge in order to
make room for the second one; if the scrap was piled up past
the top edge of the furnace, the lid wouldnt t on. A good
compromise, it would seem, would involve only having to use
one charge while getting the same yield as the two-charge
system. But how to do this?
In a nutshell: Make the furnace larger. And thats just what
Nucor-Yamato is in the process of doing. The upgrade in-
volves a new gantry system, scrap bucket, lower shell, spray-
cooled upper shell and spray-cooled roof. The benets will
be a safer working environment, lower operating costs and
improved shop logistics.
The modications to EAF 2 are expected to be completed
this spring, and modications to EAF 1 are planned to be
completed a year later.

One of the many pulpits throughout the mill, com-

mand centers from which operators can monitor their
processes.

Specialized grapple cranes are used for transferring scrap.

Proprietary software provides real-time data from every
operation in the facility.
Cutting a beam blank via oxygen torches.
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 51
determined by the specifcations. The testing NYS performs on
its steel could warrant an entire other article, but includes tensile,
yield, elongation and CVN properties, when ordered.
Maintaining Control
While the steelmaking process involves a lot of what could
be considered massive hardware, it is monitored and con-
trolled by proprietary software that gives operators through-
out the mill and offces precise, up-to-the-minute information
on each step. Sitting at Schoens desk, we can see the location,
temperature and other vital statistics for every steel member
currently being produced at the mill.
At each process, there is a pulpit or enclosed area where mill
personnel can monitor their operationa cool, enclosed oasis of
sorts amidst the high temperatures and heavy industrial goings-on
of the mill. This network of command centers is the nerve center of
the mill, providing a birds-eye view of the action and housing con-
trol equipment and multiple monitors; there are cameras throughout
the mill that provide operators an up-close look at whats happening.
Some of the pulpits, especially the one for the oxygen cutting opera-
tion, resemble the bridge on the Starship Enterprise, complete with
captains chair. And captain is an apt descriptor.
Operators own their departments, says Schoen. The de-
cisions and discoveries they make in their areas can make their
processes more effcient, which will lead to better effciency
and innovation for the facility and company as a whole.
One example of innovation is NYS use of smart start tech-
nology on the four locomotives that transport steel off-site, which
has signifcantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Another
innovation involves diapers. NYS found that it could use an ab-
sorbent dust (which might normally be landflled) from a diaper
manufacturer in the region to help solidify some of the sludge that
accumulates in the mills water treatment vessels.
All of this monitoring, testing, control, ownership and innova-
tion leads to a precision-madeand safely madefnal product,
ready to ship to one of the mills hundreds of customers (for wide-
fange steel, this typically means a steel service center or structural
steel fabricator). The facility can currently produce 2.4 million
tons of steel per yearand is ready to take on another quarter-
century of service.

A lollipop sample from the ladle metallurgy furnace follow-

ing testing via the optical emission spectrometer.

It goes with the territory.

52 FEBRUARY 2014
The following is a brief outline of what is included in the guide:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Purpose of the guide and how to use it
Overview of stability analysis and design methods
The concept of notional loads
Chapter 2: Effective Length Method (ELM)
Chapter 3: Direct Analysis Method (DM)
Chapter 4: First-Order Analysis Method (FOM)
Chapter 5: Related Topics
Application to seismic design
Common pitfalls and errors in stability analysis
and design
Appendix A: Basic Principles of Stability
Appendix B: Development of the First-Order Analysis
Method
Appendix C: Modeling Out-of-Plumbness for Taller
Building Structures
Appendix D: Practical Benchmarking and Application of
Second-Order Analysis Software
Appendix E: Bracing Requirements for Columns and
Frames Using Second-Order Analysis
Types of column bracing
A summary of design recommendations for stability
bracing problems using the new DM
Solution to practical column and frame bracing
problems found in practice
Analyzing Analysis Methods
The primary purposes of the new guide are to discuss the ap-
plication of each of the above three methods and to introduce
the DM to practicing engineers. Some of the most attractive
features of the new DM are that there is no need to calculate K
factors; internal forces are represented more accurately at the
ultimate limit state; and it applies in a logical and consistent
manner for all types of steel frames, including braced frames,
moment frames and combined framing systems.
The concept of notional loads is also presentedincluding
the role these loads play in the DMas is the concept of
WITH NEW DESIGN RESOURCES come new ways of
doing things.
When the 2005 AISC Specifcation for Structural Steel Build-
ings was published, it offered three methods for stability design,
including a powerful new approach: the direct analysis method
(DM). The DM is a practical alternative to the more traditional
effective length method (ELM), which has been the primary
basis of stability considerations in earlier editions of the AISC
Specifcation and continues to be permitted. A streamlined de-
sign procedure called the frst-order analysis method (FOM),
which is based upon the DM with a number of conservative
simplifcations, was also introduced.
And now practicing engineers, students and teachers
have a new resource for stability analysis and design of steel
buildings that incorporates these three methods: Design
Guide 28Stability Design of Steel Buildings. While the guide
was primarily written around the 2005 Specifcation, it includes
notes throughout to explain simplifcations and improvements
that were incorporated into the stability design provisions in
the 2010 Specifcation.
A new AISC publication offers guidance on the three options
for stability analysis and design.
BY LAWRENCE G. GRIFFIS, P.E., AND DONALD W. WHITE, PH.D.
Lawrence G. Grifs is a senior consultant with Walter P Moore, and
can be reached at lgrifs@walterpmoore.com. Donald W. White
is a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and can be
reached at dwhite@ce.gatech.edu.
Stability
MATTERS
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 53

stiffness reduction at the ultimate load state due to residual

stresses in members and other effects. Since stability is an
inherently nonlinear problem, the guide explains why all
second-order analyses must be carried out at the ultimate
strength load level, even when the allowable stress design
method is used. In addition, many of the provisions contained
in Chapter C of the 2010 Specifcation (Design for Stability)
are explained in detail.
Practical design offce problems are presented as well,
demonstrating the use of each of the three methods and
comparing the answers solved by each method for the same
problem. The DM is permitted and now explicitly referenced
in Chapter C of the 2010 Specifcation, and its procedural de-
tails are further described in Chapter C Commentary. As
explained in Chapter C and in the new guide, the DM is
required as the only acceptable method in cases where the
second-order effects due to sidesway are signifcant. Appen-
dix 7 of the 2010 Specifcation (Alternate Methods of Design
for Stability) contains the ELM and the FOM approaches,
and each has its own dedicated chapter, with example prob-
lems, in the new guide.
In addition to covering the three stability methods and em-
phasizing the DM, the guide does several other things as well,
including:
Discussing the requirements for overall stability design
in the 2005 and 2010 Specifcations, as well as in the
International Building Code and ASCE/SEI 7Mini-
mum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
Describing the traditional ELM and updating designers
on new conditions placed on its use
Introducing the FOM and explaining when this method
can be advantageous
Discussing application of stability methods to seismic
design
Highlighting common pitfalls and errors in stability
analysis and design
Providing an overview of basic principles of stability
analysis and design for practical steel structures
Providing guidance on benchmarking of second-order
analysis software
Illustrating how the DM can be applied to provide
streamlined and effcient solutions for the assessment
of column stability bracing
Applicable Appendices
Appendix A of the new guide contains practical tips about
the different aspects of stability of steel structures. It begins
with a defnition of stability and describes factors that infu-
ence frame stability, such as second-order effects, geometric
imperfections and fabrication/erection tolerances. Three
simple stability models (see Figure 1) are described in detail
and help illustrate many of the practical aspects of stability
encountered in everyday practice, such as P- and P- effects
and when each should be considered; the effect of out-of-
plumbness and how to account for it; and the effect of lean-
ing columns on stability and second-order effects. In addition,
an extensive discussion about the often perplexing effective
length factor, K, is included for those designers accustomed
to the ELM approach; many designers struggle with how to
determine the effective length factor K for some of the more
Figure 1. Simple models demonstrating
various principles of stability.
Model C
Moment Frame
L
g
El
g
El
g
El
c
P
m
P
g
Rigid Link
H
L
c
Leaning
Column
Model B
Braced Frame
El
c
Leaning
Column
H Rigid Link
P
g
P
b

b
Model A
Moment Frame
P
m
P
g
Rigid Link H
Leaning
Column
El
c
L
c
54 FEBRUARY 2014

common but complicated cases found

in practice (see Figure 2). One of the
most compelling reasons for using the
new DM approach, as stated earlier, is
that the method uses an effective length
factor K=1.
Additionally, a section on the beam-
column interaction equations found in
Chapter H of the Specifcation is includ-
ed in Appendix A, as is a discussion on
out-of-plumbness effects.
For designers considering new soft-
ware programs that proclaim to account
for second-order P- and P- effects as
required by the AISC Specifcation, Ap-
pendix D provides guidance on deter-
mining whether second-order effects
are considered with suffcient accuracy
to meet specifcation requirements as
defned in Chapter C. Practical guide-
lines are also given to assist designers in
accurately modeling for second-order
effects given potential limitations in the
software being evaluated, such as not di-
rectly modeling P- effects in members.
Figure 2. Finding the effective length factor K can be complicated.
knee
ridge
knee
lean-to
frame

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Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 55
P
r
One of the new and potentially most useful topics covered
in the guide is that of bracing requirements for columns and
frames. While the Specifcations Appendix 6Stability Brac-
ing for Columns and Beams provides relatively simple practi-
cal equations for beam and column bracing, many designers
struggle with determining the appropriate bracing classifca-
tion (relative, nodal, lean-on or continuous) for their problem.
The new guides Appendix EBracing Requirements for Col-
umns and Frames Using Second Order Analysis explains the
various types of bracing and provides a detailed step-by-step
approach to using a second-order analysis with the principles
of the DM to solve perplexing and complex column bracing
requirements. This approach is permitted in Appendix 6 of the
Specifcation and is a powerful tool in solving complex bracing
problems more accurately. (A few of the guides sample brac-
ing problems, which are solved using second-order analysis and
DM, are shown in Figure 3.)
Whether you seek to better understand your favorite meth-
od of stability design, are looking to understand basic principles
of stability effects in steel building structures or simply want to
learn how to use a second-order analysis approach for solving
complex bracing problems, Design Guide 28 is a new powerful
reference for your design offce library.

AISC members can download Design Guide 28Stability Design

of Steel Buildings as a free PDF at www.aisc.org/epubs.
Figure 3. Solving bracing problems using
a second-order analysis/DM approach.
a) Core bracing of multi-story exterior columns in a high-rise building.
b) Combination of nodal and relative bracing.
c) Long-span roof truss bracing (plan view).

at The Steel Conference examining the lessons learned from the

earthquake and the latest developments in seismic design. The
special sessions kick off on Wednesday with presentations on
what happened in Northridge and the subsequent development
of the SAC Steel Project (an initiative formed to investigate the
damage to welded steel moment frame buildings and develop
repair techniques and new design approaches to minimize
damage in future earthquakes). The presentations in this series
include:
The SAC Steel Project
Steve Mahin, University of California-Berkeley
The Moment Connection Details We Left Behind (and Why)
Mike Engelhardt, University of Texas at Austin
The Changes to Design Practice
Tom Sabol, Englekirk and Sabol
Revisiting W1a Indications
Duane Miller, The Lincoln Electric Company
The Changes that Resulted in Fabrication and Erection
Robert Hazleton, The Herrick Corporation
Japans Experience in Kobe
Masayoshi Nakashima, Kyoto University
The Changes that Resulted in Research
Chia-Ming Uang, University of California at San Diego
AISC 341 Then and Now
Jim Malley, Degenkolb Associates
AISC 358: Prequalifed Moment Connections
Ron Hamburger, Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger
Changes in Materials and Inspection
Tom Schlafy, AISC
Column Base and Splice Details
Amit Kanvinde, University of California, Davis
Conventional Braced Frames
Charles Roeder, University of Washington
Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames
Rafael Sabelli, Walter P Moore
Shear Walls
Michel Bruneau, State University of New York at Buffalo
Systems that Mix Steel and Concrete (Beyond Composite
Design)
Jerry Hajjar, Northeastern University
System Reliability
Greg Deierlein, Stanford University
ASCE 41
John Hooper, Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Canadas largest city is set to host
this years NASCC: The Steel Conference.
BY TASHA WEISS
FOR THE FIRST TIME in nearly a decade, NASCC: The
Steel Conference is heading north of the border.
This years show will take place in Toronto, March 26-28, at
the Metro Toronto Convention Centre; Montreal hosted The
Steel Conference in 2005.
Each year, NASCC puts the latest in structural steel design
and construction on display, and last years show in St. Louis
was the largest one yet, boasting an all-time record of 3,748
attendees. The Toronto show promises massive educational and
networking offerings, with more than 100 technical sessions.
The exhibit hall will be flled with 200 companies featuring
cutting-edge technologies and products, ranging from the latest
structural software to state-of-the-art fabrication equipment.
The show also incorporates a special new series of seismic
sessions, Northridge20 Years Later, as well as the World
Steel Bridge Symposium (WSBS), the Technology in Steel
Construction Conference (TSCC) and the Structural Stability
Research Councils Annual Stability Conference (SSRC).
Attendees will learn about the new direct analysis method and
the Code of Standard Practice, as well as explore the practical aspects
of designing for torsion and what really matters in weld inspection.
Some sessions are aimed at engineers while others are of greater
interest to fabricators and others in the steel supply chain. How-
ever, all attendees are welcome to attend any session.
A complete list of sessions is provided in the 2014 Advance
Program, available online at www.aisc.org/nascc.
Seismic Sessions
Twenty years ago the Northridge Earthquake shook California,
and the results surprised designers throughout the U.S. AISC will
present a special series of sessions, Northridge20 Years Later,
To
56 FEBRUARY 2014
Tasha Weiss (weiss@aisc.org) is
Modern Steels assistant editor.
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 57
Building Bridges
Held every other year in conjunction with The Steel Con-
ference, the World Steel Bridge Symposium (WSBS) brings
together bridge design engineers, construction professionals,
academics, transportation offcials, fabricators, erectors and
constructors to discuss and learn state-of-the-art practices for
enhancing steel bridge design, fabrication and construction
techniques.
The National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) is very excited
to colocate WSBS with The Steel Conference in Toronto, said
Brian Raff, NSBAs marketing director. This years Symposium
features the greatest number of presentations in its history
more than 50 specialized sessions on all aspects of steel bridge
design and construction. It also marks the greatest number of
international presentations, truly highlighting the World in
the World Steel Bridge Symposium.
Youll fnd sessions on coatings, accelerated construction
technologies and prefabricated bridge elements and systems, as
well as others that focus on steels long life, low maintenance
cost, quick erection and environmentally sound attributes. The
three days of sessions are co-sponsored by the International
Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering. View all
WSBS sessions and learn more about exhibiting opportunities
at www.steelbridges.org/wsbs.
Talking Technology
For the third year in a row, NASCC will deliver a glimpse
into the future of technology in the steel construction industry
with the TSCC. This special track features nine sessions that
focus on advanced technology use throughout the steel con-
struction industry.
Opening the TSCC are two Wednesday afternoon sessions:
BIMsteel: AISCs Interoperability Initiatives for the Structural
Steel Industry and Structural Engineers and AISC: Remov-
ing the Reasons Why not to Share the BIM. The former will
explore AISCs current BIMsteel initiatives for the industry, in-
cluding automating steel fabrication, progress in material pro-
curement, developing robust data exchanges between structural
engineers and detailers and moving to a model-based review
process. The latter examines the structural engineers pivotal
role in the digital delivery of steel buildings and how AISC can
support them in the BIM-enabled process.
The remaining TSCC sessions on Thursday and Friday will
range from BIM, A Cost vs. Beneft Study for the Detailer and
Fabricator to Beyond Drawings: How the Evolution of BIM
will Integrate Models and Shape the Future of the Review Pro-
cess and Expanded Use of Laser Scanning Structural Steel.
From Classrooms to Careers
Speaking of those at the forefront of using progressive
technology, dozens of college students are expected to join the
conference for the fourth annual Students Connecting with In-
dustry Sessions (SCIS).
The half-day program, sponsored by the AISC Education
Foundation and organized in cooperation with SE Solutions,
will begin with a Thursday morning expert-led session about
the role of the engineer in project design and making the tran-
sition from student to practicing engineer.
The Steel Conference epitomizes the vibrancy of the
steel construction industry with its mix of designers, con-
tractors, producers and academics, said Nancy Gavlin,
AISCs director of education. Our programs make students
an integral part of the experience. With the assistance of
SCIS, students moderate sessions, have one-on-one interac-
tion with leaders in the steel construction industry, explore
Scoping Out Sculptures
SteelDay 2013 not only gathered more than 10,000 people nationwide to learn
about the structural steel industry, but also encouraged participation from AISC
full and associate members to show what they can do creatively with steel.
Fourteen sculptures were entered into this years SteelDay Sculpture Competi-
tion for a chance to be one of ve nalists to have their creation on display at
The Steel Conference in Toronto. There, the ultimate winner will be chosen by
attendees! The nalists were chosen via AISCs Facebook page where fans were
able to view photos of the sculptures and vote for their favorites. The top ve
nalists headed to Toronto are:
Memories of Steel
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
Get a Grip
Reecting the High Way
Steve the Robot
You can view photos all of this years entrants, including the nalists, at
SteelDays Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AISCdotORG (in the
Steel Sculpture Competition Voting 2013 photo album).
Last years SteelDay Sculpture
Competition winner: Steel Life-
Cycle by Bruce Helmreich of
Michelmann Steel Company.

58 FEBRUARY 2014
Back to School
Those who have been in the working
world for a while are also able to learn
something new, whether its a highly
technical issue or a business-related
strategy.
This years keynote speaker is Neil
Pasricha, author of The Book of Awesome,
a #1 international bestseller. His lecture,
1,000 Awesome Things, will touch upon
his project of posting one awesome thing
every weekday for 1,000 consecutive
weekdaysand hell teach you how to
bring awesome principles to life in your
organization.
Another, more technically oriented pre-
sentation, the T.R. Higgins Award Lecture,
Statics, Strength, Ductility, and the Uni-
form Force Method, will be presented by
Larry S. Muir.
Muir is the 2014 recipient of AISCs
T.R. Higgins Award for his paper Design-
ing Compact Gussets with the Uniform
Force Method, published in the frst quar-
ter 2008 issue of AISCs Engineering Jour-
nal. Muir recently became AISCs director
of technical assistance.
I am so very pleased that Larry is the
recipient of the Higgins Award, said
Charlie Carter, AISCs vice president
and chief structural engineer. His pa-
per is very meaningful; it simplifies gus-
set design by the uniform force method
and allows the use of even more compact
gusset plates than the original method.
Larry is a very accomplished and deserv-
ing recipient.
Registration Tips
The registration fee as of February 1
is $400, but be sure to register as early as
possible; the rate increases $10 every week
until the conference opens.
This single registration fee gains you
entry to all technical sessions, the exhibi-
tion hall, the keynote address and the T.R.
Higgins Award Lecture. It also includes
admission to all Structural Stability Re-
search Council, Technology in Steel Con-
struction Conference and World Steel
Bridge Symposium sessions. The main
conference offers up to 18.5 PDHs; at-
tendees of short courses can earn an ad-
ditional 4 PDHs for a total of 22.5 PDHs.
Visit www.aisc.org/nascc to register or
view the advance program.
See you in Toronto (and dont forget
your passport)!

the exhibit hall, attend lectures and

participate in social events. This year
we are very happy that the Canadian
Institute of Steel Construction will be
joining AISC in sponsoring student
participation in the conference.
The program will continue with
a tour of the exhibit hall and con-
clude with the Direct Connect Stu-
dent Career and Mentoring Session,
which is an opportunity for students
to converse one-on-one with indus-
try experts and representatives from
more than 30 companies. SICS
provided me a great platform to de-
velop my network, commented one
student from last years program. An-
other praised the program for devel-
oping experiences that are impossible
to obtain from just being in the class-
room.
Students who are AISC members
(membership is available for free to qual-
ifed students) receive free admission to
The Steel Conference, including the
SCIS program.
SEISMIC PROTECTION
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Metro
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ON-
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MARCH
2628
WORLD STEEL
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3,700 design and construction professionals
100+ educational seminars 200+ exhibitors
To view the advance program, visit www.steelbridges.org
The Premier Event for
EVERYONE INVOLVED
IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
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Including NASCC: THE STEEL CONFERENCE,
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Register early!
Registration fee increases $10 each week.
IABSE
60 FEBRUARY 2014
news
People and Firms
IN MEMORIAM
William M. Heenan, Jr., Former President of SRI, Dies
Li ncol n El ectri c ( an AI SC
member ) ha s a c qui r ed
an owner shi p i nt erest i n
Bur l i ngt on Aut omat i on
Corporation, a designer and
manufacturer of 3D robotic
plasma cutting systems based
in Hamilton, Ontario. (Terms
of the transaction were not
disclosed.) In separate news,
Lincoln Electric announced
that i t has entered i nto a
definitive agreement to acquire
Robolution GmbH, a provider
of robotic arc welding systems
based outside of Frankfurt,
Germany.
Anthony Naccarato, P.E., has
been promoted to president
of Philadelphia-based structural
engineering firm ODonnell
& Naccarato. He succeeds
Nick Cinalli, P.E., who served
as presi dent
since 2003 and
wi l l remai n a
pri nci pal and
active member
of the f i r ms
e x e c u t i v e
l e a d e r s h i p
team.
Vi ct or Technol ogi es , a
provi der of sol ut i ons f or
cut t i ng, gas cont rol and
specialty welding equipment,
recentl y opened i ts West
Lebanon Desi gn Cent er.
Dedicated to innovation in
plasma cutting and arc welding
technologies, the 50,000-sq.-ft
facility employs approximately
75 people.
Tekl a has rel eased Tekl a
BIMsight 1.9, the latest version
of its free software tool for
building information modeling
(BIM) project coordination. The
tool now supports SketchUp
models to improve the design
coordination process and BIM
collaboration.
William M. Heenan, Jr., former president
of the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) and
2013 recipient of the Steel Market De-
velopment Institutes (SMDI) Lifetime
Achievement Award, died this past De-
cember at the age of 65.
Thomas J. Gibson, president and
CEO of the American Iron and Steel In-
stitute (AISI), of which SRI and SMDI
are both business units, issued the fol-
lowing statement earlier this month on
Heenans death:
On behalf of the AISI family and our
member companies, we were deeply sad-
dened to hear of Bills passing. Bill was a
tireless and devoted leader in the steel in-
dustry, building SRI from the ground up
and establishing steel as the worlds most
recycled material. We are forever grate-
ful for the lasting impact Bill had on our
industry and send our deepest sympathy
to his family.
Lawrence W. Kavanagh, president of
SMDI and longtime colleague of Heen-
ans, said, Beyond work, Bill was a gen-
erous and devoted family man. He set an
example for all of us by crediting every
success he had to his family.
Heenan, who had retired in recent
years to Daufuskie Island, S.C., was presi-
dent of SRI from 1990-2010. Prior to join-
ing SRI, he was general manager of tin mill
products for the United States Steel Corp.,
a position to which he was appointed in
1988. He was a lifetime board member of
the National Recycling Coalition, served
as a board member of Keep America Beau-
tiful, Inc., and was co-chairperson of Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Heenan is survived by Barbara, his
wife of 43 years; two sons, Sean and Bri-
an; and a daughter, Becky.
PROJECTS
First B2 Modules Hoisted
The first steel-framed modular units of
Brooklyns B2 towerplanned to be the
tallest modular building in the world
when its completed late this yearwere
recently hoisted into place.
The building schedule called for the
placement of three adjacent mods, which
together will compose a single apartment.
The mods were built by union labor af-
fliated with the New York Building and
Construction Trade Council. Mods are
built fully assembled, including kitchens,
bathrooms and appliances, then trucked to
the construction site and hoisted by crane
and bolted into place.
At 32 stories, B2 will be the worlds tall-
est modular building and is one of 15 build-
ings planned at the $4.9 billion, 22-acre
Atlantic Yards site. The structure will be
comprised of 4,000 sq. ft of retail space as
well as 362 residential units of which almost
50% will be designated as affordable hous-
ing for low-to-middle-income residents.
Banker Steel (an AISC member/AISC
certifed fabricator), the steel fabricator for
the project, expanded one if its Lynchburg,
Va., facilities earlier this year by an additional
45,000 sq. ft to create a purpose-built work-
shop solely dedicated to the fabrication of
these modules. It is estimated that B2 will
weigh almost half as much as a traditional
steel building, cost 30% less to build and take
signifcantly less time to complete, according
to Banker Steel. In addition to requiring less
labor, material and erection time, this process
is expected to be safer, cause minimal disrup-
tion to the surrounding neighborhoods dur-
ing construction and be environmentally
friendlyestimated to reduce construction
site waste by as much as 90%.
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 61
news
The AISC Board of Directors elected
a new chair and vice chair this fall dur-
ing its Annual Meeting of the Mem-
bers of the Institute in Cape Elizabeth,
Maine. Jeffrey E. Dave, P.E., president
and CEO of Dave Steel Company,
Inc., Asheville, N.C., succeeds William
B. Bourne III, president and CEO of
Universal Steel, Inc., Lithonia, Ga., as
chair of the 27-member board. James G.
Thompson, CEO of Palmer Steel Sup-
plies, Inc., McAllen, Texas, is the boards
new vice chair. Both positions carry a
two-year term.
As past chair, I am very excited about
the future of AISC, said Bourne. The
Board has chosen two exceptional peo-
ple to lead our industry over the next
four years. Our next chair, Jeff Dave, is a
proven volunteer, an AISC board member
since 2003 and a successful businessman.
He has led his company, Dave Steel, for
more than 20 years and is an important
part of the Virginia Carolinas Structural
Steel Fabricators Association. Jeff will
have great backup with vice chair Jim
Thompson. Jim has also successfully led
his company, Palmer Steel Supplies, for
more than 20 years and has served as a
board member since 2007. Congratula-
tions and thank you to both Jeff Dave and
Jim Thompson.
Dave has worked in all areas of the
steel fabrication business since 1985.
During the past 20 years, hes played an
instrumental role in the timing and imple-
mentation of signifcant process and tech-
nology changes at AISC-member fabrica-
tor Dave Steel Company, which has AISC
Certifed facilities in Asheville, N.C., and
Chesnee, S.C., and an engineering offce
in Cincinnati. He was COO of the com-
pany from 1992 to 2004, and since then
has served as president and CEO.
Our industry will continue to expe-
rience quick advancements in the op-
portunities to use models throughout
the design and fabrication processes,
commented Dave on his new position.
As we push the edge of this technology
and its use on steel construction projects,
it will be very important for all to exer-
cise due diligence in transitioning from
research to case studies to normal use
and implementation on projects. One of
my goals during my tenure as Chair is to
make sure this transition process occurs
in a manner that assures that we continue
to achieve our mission of increasing the
market share of steel by making struc-
tural steel the material of choice on con-
struction projects.
Dave graduated from North Carolina
State University with a bachelors degree
in civil engineering. In his early career
he worked for several years at Newport
News Shipbuilding in Newport News,
Va. He also worked for a structural en-
gineering frm on a contract at Langley
Air Force Base in Hampton, Va., and an
engineering frm in Raleigh, N.C. Hes
remained very active with various indus-
try boards and associations as well as sev-
eral local community boards. Since 1989
hes served on the Board of Directors of
the Virginia Carolinas Structural Steel
Fabricators Association, including a term
as president. He joined the AISC Board
in 2003 and has served for three years
as chair of the Certifcation Committee
as well as a two-year term as vice chair.
Daves grandfather, Joseph Dave, served
on the AISC Board from 1959-1965, as
well as his uncle, Bernard Dave, from
1970 to 1976.
Thompson has more than 30 years
of experience in steel fabrication and
erection. His expertise includes sales,
estimating, production management,
operations management and adminis-
tration management. He joined Palmer
Steel Supplies, an AISC-member fab-
ricator and AISC Certifed fabricator,
as a management trainee and promptly
ascended to general manager in 1975.
That same year he was promoted to
vice president, and in 1984 he achieved
the position of president. He currently
serves as CEO, after passing on the
presidency of the company to his son,
Palmer, who is now the third genera-
tion of family management.
He grew up in numerous locations
in the U.S. and Europe, and in 1969 he
graduated from Texas Christian Uni-
versity (TCU) with a bachelors degree
in mathematics. While at TCU, he
was enrolled in the Reserve Offcers
Training Corps (ROTC) and was com-
missioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S.
Air Force after graduating. He imme-
diately entered pilot training and, after
53 weeks, earned his wings. He served
on active duty for the next four years
as an instructor pilot in Mississippi and
Texas. Following his departure from
the USAF, he moved to McAllen, Tex-
as, and began his career at Palmer Steel
Supplies.
Thompson joined the AISC Board in
2007 and has also been active on several
local community boards.
BOARD NEWS
AISC Board Elects New Chair and Vice Chair
Dave Thompson
62 FEBRUARY 2014
news
PROJECTS
Rehabilitating the Heaviest Double-Deck Lift Bridge
An unusual surge in public construction
in October pushed total construction
spending to its highest level since May
2009 despite a dip in both private residen-
tial and nonresidential activity, according
to an analysis of new Census Bureau data
by the Associated General Contractors
of America (AGC). Association offcials
urged lawmakers in Washington to make
water and surface transportation invest-
ment a top federal priority.
Nearly every category of public con-
struction increased in October, according
to the preliminary Census fgures, although
for the frst 10 months of 2013 combined,
public spending continues to lag the 2012
year-to-date total, said Ken Simonson, the
associations chief economist. Meanwhile,
residential spending slipped for the month
but still showed strong year-to-date gains,
and nonresidential spending remained
stuck in neutral.
Construction put in place in October
totaled $908 billion, 0.8% higher than in
September. But fgures for August and
July were revised down below levels that
initially exceeded the current October es-
timate. The total for the frst 10 months
of 2013 was 5.0% above the year-to-date
mark for the same months in 2012.
Public construction spending jumped
3.9% for the month but trailed the 2012
year-to-date total by 2.8%. The two larg-
est public components were mixed: high-
way and street construction increased
0.6% in October and 0.3% year-to-date,
while educational construction leaped
8.5% for the month but fell 8.5% year-
to-date, Simonson said.
Private residential spending slid 0.6%
for the month but still climbed 17% year-
to-date. New single-family construction
decreased 0.6% in October but soared
30% in the frst 10 months of 2013
compared with 2012. New multifamily
spending advanced 2.2% in October and
46% year-to-date.
Private nonresidential spending
edged down 0.5% for the month and up
0.8% year-to-date, Simonson observed.
The largest private nonresidential cat-
egory, powerincluding oil and gas as
well as electricityplunged 5.7% and
5.8% over the two time periods. But the
next three niches by sizemanufactur-
ing, commercial (retail, warehouse and
farm) and offcerose for the month and
year-to-date.
Construction will likely display var-
ied patterns in the next several months,
Simonson said. Multi-family construc-
tion will keep burgeoning but single-
family homebuilding may stall. Private
nonresidential spending should beneft
from more power, energy and manufac-
turing work. Public construction remains
threatened.
Association offcials said Congress
and the administration should keep
public construction from returning to
its recent slump by quickly completing
water resources development legisla-
tion that has already passed both the
House and Senate, as well as passing
a new surface transportation bill this
year that funds repairs to deteriorating
highway, bridge and transit infrastruc-
ture. They added that any new trans-
portation bill must include provisions
to adequately fund the nearly depleted
federal Highway Trust Fund.
If Congress can act in a biparti-
san way on transportation funding as
it did on the water resources bill, it
can avoid a cliff-like drop in highway
spending, said Stephen E. Sandherr,
the associations CEO.
MARKET NEWS
Construction Spending Spikes to Four-Year Peak
Bridge engineering frm Modjeski and
Masters has been selected by the Michigan
Department of Transportation (MDOT)
for the rehabilitation design of the Portage
Lake Lift Bridge, a 269-ft-long, 54-ft-wide
steel lift bridge. The lift span, which can
be raised up to 100 ft, features upper and
lower decks capable of carrying a total of
eight lanes of U.S. Highway 41 and M-26.
As part of the agreement, Modjeski
and Masters will lead the steel replace-
ment design as well as the electrical and
mechanical design of the rehabilitation.
The project will focus primarily on
the replacement of the wire ropes, a criti-
cal hoisting mechanism. To successfully
accomplish this, Modjeski and Masters
engineers proposed that replacement
take place during winter months when
the bridge can be left in the fully lowered
position, with traffc maintained on the
upper deck. This would also help to ac-
commodate snowmobile traffc, which
commonly uses the lower deck during
the same season. The engineering team
will also implement homeland security
recommendations, provide structural re-
pairs to the operators house and design
upgrades to the barrier gates.
Preservation of this historic structure
is a high priority for the state. The Por-
tage Lake Lift Bridge was completed in
1959 and is the fourth bridge crossing to
be built at the site (following two steel
swing bridges as well as the original 1875
wooden swing bridge).
The Portage Lake Lift is no doubt
an iconic structure due to its sheer
size, but also its history of connect-
ing the two communities, says Kevin
Johns, P.E., project manager and mov-
able bridge business unit leader with
Modjeski and Masters. Were very
grateful to continue our long-term re-
lationship with MDOT and are thrilled
to help with the rehabilitation of this
monumental bridge.
The rehabilitation design is scheduled
to be fnished by the end of the summer,
and construction will take place during
the frst half of 2015.
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news
PROJECT NEWS
High Steel and Hirschfeld to Fabricate Steel for Tappan Zee Bridge
High Steel Structures, Inc. (an AISC/
NSBA member and AISC Certifed fab-
ricator) of Lancaster, Pa., and Hirschfeld
Industries (an AISC/NSBA member and
AISC Certifed fabricator), LLP of San
Angelo, Texas, have each been awarded a
contract to fabricate structural steel for the
approach spans of New Yorks new Tappan
Zee Bridge. The project is the largest de-
sign-build transportation project to date in
the U.S. and one of the largest construction
contracts in New York State history.
After proposals were submitted in
mid-2012, the New York State Thruway
Authority awarded a $3.142 billion con-
tract to design and build the project to
Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC), a con-
sortium including Fluor Enterprises, Inc.,
American Bridge (an AISC/NSBA mem-
ber and AISC Certifed fabricator and
Advanced Certifed steel erector), Granite
Construction Northeast, Inc., and Tray-
lor Bros., Inc. (an AISC member erector).
The design team working with Tappan
Zee Constructors consists of HDR, Buck-
land & Taylor, URS and GZA.
Shortly after the project was ad-
vertised, High Steel Structures and
Hirschfeld Industries teamed together
to bid the project due to the massive size
and scope of the steel production.
Fluor Enterprises is TZCs lead con-
tractor for sourcing the structural steel.
The project was divided into two steel
packages: one for the approach steel, to-
taling nearly 100,000 tons; and another
for the main span cable stay steel, totaling
approximately 10,000 tons. Each fabrica-
tor will produce approximately half of the
steel under separate contracts, and will
provide portions of both the eastbound
and westbound approach spans. The main
span steel package has yet to be bid.
Steel deliveries are set to begin in
October and will continue into the frst
quarter of 2017. High performance steel
(HPS) plate is being employed in the de-
sign. The primary material supplier for
the project is ArcelorMittal USA.
The award of the Tappan Zee struc-
tural steel contract to the team of fabricators
High Steel Structures, Inc. and Hirschfeld
Industries, with material supply by Arcelor-
Mittal USA, validates the fact that the Unit-
ed States steel construction industry has the
capacity, capability and collaborative spirit
to meet our nations infrastructure needs,
stated AISC president, Roger Ferch.
We answered our industrys call for
leadership, Hirschfelds executive vice
president, John OQuinn, said. Together
we were able to provide the owner and
design-build team with all the tangibles
a project of this magnitude required,
while mitigating their risks. The largest
design-build bridge in U.S. history will
utilize the two largest bridge fabricators
in the U.S.; it just makes sense.
High Steel president Brian
LaBorde said, We are looking for-
ward to working on this historic proj-
ect, which demonstrates that fabrica-
tors in the U.S. have the capacity and
capability to fabricate and deliver the
massive quantity of structural steel re-
quired for a project of this sizea win
for Buy America.
Located north of New York City, the
new Tappan Zee Bridge will carry the
Thruway, Interstate 87 and Interstate
287 over the Hudson River between
South Nyack, N.Y., and Tarrytown, N.Y.
According to the Thruway Authority, the
frst span of the new twin-span bridge is
scheduled to open in 2016, and the new
bridge should be complete in 2018. The
bridge will be designed and constructed
to last 100 years without major structural
maintenance.
In separate news, High Industries,
Inc., the holding company for High
Steel Structures, recently announced
the formation of High Structural
Erectors, LLC, a new company that
combines the field operations of High
Steel Structures and High Concrete
Group, LLC, and provides erection
services to the infrastructure, com-
mercial, institutional and industrial
markets. The company began formal
operations as a High Industries affili-
ate in October.
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64 FEBRUARY 2014
To advertise, call 231.228.2274 or e-mail gurthet@modernsteel.com.
marketplace
Search employment ads online at www.modernsteel.com.
Are you looking for software, products, or services for your next project?
You can find it in Modern Steel Constructions online product directory.
http://modernsteel.com/product_categories.php
If youre a provider of software, products, or services and would
like more information about being listed or enhancing your current listing,
contact Louis Gurthet at:
gurthet@modernsteel.com or 231.228.2274
Visit steelTOOLS.org
Join the conversation at AISCs new
le-sharing, information-sharing website.
Here are just a few of the FREE resources now available:
More than 160 steelTOOLS utilities available for downloading
Discussion blogs where your can connect and share ideas with
your peers
Files posted by your peers in special interest libraries, including:
A Pocket Reference to W Shapes by Depth,
then Flange Width
Welding Capacity Calculator
Moments, Shears and Reactions for Continuous Bridges
Video: Bridge Erection at the SeaTac Airport
Got Questions? Got Answers?
Participate with us at steelTOOLS.org.
AISC Continuing Education Seminars
www.aisc.org/seminars.
Like AISC on Facebook
facebook.com/AISCdotORG
Follow AISC on Twitter
@AISC
Looking for something from an old issue of Modern Steel?
All of the issues from Modern Steel Constructions
first 50 years are now available as free PDF downloads
at www.modernsteel.com/backissues.
AISC QUALITY CERTIFICATION
IT WORKS... DONT WAIT!
For fabrication or erection help
Call Jim Mooney
your Quality Certification Connection
JAMES M. MOONEY & ASSOCIATES
941.223.4332 jmmoon94@aol.com
LATE MODEL STRUCTURAL
STEEL FABRICATING EQUIPMENT
Peddinghaus Ocean Avenger II 1000-1 CNC Beam Drill, Siemens
840D CNC, (1) Drill Head, 40 x 60 Beam Capacity, 2004 #20877
Peddinghaus BDL1250 CNC Beam Drill, 50 Max. Beam, (3) 10 HP
Spindles, PC Ctrl (Upgrade 2005), 2000 #21739
Controlled Automation 2AT-175 CNC Plate Punch, 175 Ton, 30 x 60
Travel, 1-1/2 Max. Plate, PC CNC, 1996 #23503
Peddinghaus F1170B CNC Plate Punching Machine, 170 Ton, Fagor
CNC, 30 x 60 Trvl., Triple Gag Head, Ext. Tables, 2005 #19659
Controlled Automation BT1-1433 CNC Oxy/Plasma Cutting System,
14 x 33, (1) Oxy, (2) Hy-Def 200 Amp Plasma, 2002 #20654
Voortman VB1050S Horizontal Straight Cut Band Saw, 20 x 44,
135-400 SFPM, 2.64 Blade Height, 15 HP, 2007 #22645
HEM DC-2038RB Double Column Horizontal Band Saw, 20 x 38, 45-60
Deg. Miter, 2 Blade, 15 HP, 75-400 SFPM, 2006 #22215
LS Industries STRB-4848 Structural Steel Pass Through Blast Cabinet,
(4) Wheels, 20 HP, 48 x 48, Recovery Sys, Dust Collector, 2001 #23775
Phone: 631.249.5566 | Fax: 631.249.9494 | sales@prestigeequipment.com
Visit www.PrestigeEquipment.com for our inventory & services
Contract Auditor
Quality Management Company, LLC is seeking contractors to
conduct audits for the AISC Certied Fabricator and AISC Certied
Erector Programs. Contractors must have knowledge of quality
management practices as well as knowledge of audit principles,
practices and techniques and knowledge of the steel construction
industry. If you are interested, please submit your statement of
interest contractor@qmconline.org.
employment
To advertise, call 231.228.2274 or e-mail gurthet@modernsteel.com.
Search employment ads online at www.modernsteel.com.
ProCounsel, a member of AISC, can market your skills
and achievements (without identifying you) to any city
or state in the United States. We communicate with
over 3,000 steel fabricators nationwide. The employer
pays the employment fee and the interviewing and
relocation expenses. If youve been thinking of making
a change, now is the time to do it. Our target, for you,
is the right job, in the right location, at the right money.
RECRUITER IN STRUCTURAL MISCELLANEOUS
STEEL FABRICATION
Buzz Taylor
PROCOUNSEL
Toll free: 866-289-7833 or 214-741-3014
Fax: 214-741-3019
mailbox@procounsel.net
Business Development Representative(s)
AISC is looking for seasoned business development professionals, preferably
on the West Coast, to join our growing team of Business Development
Representatives and help promote the use of structural steel to decision
makers in the construction industry across the U.S. and show others the
advantages of designing and building with steel.
Email your resume and cover letter (including salary requirements) to:
HR@aisc.org
NSBA Managing Director
AISC is looking for an accomplished executive to join our senior
management team as the leader of our bridge division. The National
Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) is the technical and marketing arm of
the steel bridge community and is dedicated to increasing the market
share of steel bridges.
The NSBA Managing Director will develop key relationships with
bridge owners, government ofcials, designers and constructors,
and will provide strategic leadership and direction for the NSBA team
to implement programs and tactics to address all facets of marketing,
government relations, and technical support for the steel bridge industry.
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter
(including salary requirements) to: HR@aisc.org
Structural Engineers
Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity in 2014?
We are a niche recruiter that specializes in matching great structural
engineers with unique opportunities that will help you utilize your talents
and achieve your goals.
We are structural engineers by background and enjoy helping other
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We have over 30 years of experience working with structural engineers.
We will save you time in your job search and provide additional
information and help during the process of finding a new job.
For Current Openings, please visit our website and select Hot Jobs.
Please call or e-mail Brian Quinn, P.E.
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learn more about your goals and interests. All inquiries are kept confidential.
SE Impact by SE Solutions, LLC
www.FindYourEngineer.com
Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION 65
Project Managers
West Coast Iron, Inc. has specialized in the detailing, fabrication, and
erection of structural steel, stairs and miscellaneous metals for some of
Southern Californias most prominent and successful general contractors
for over 25 years. We are currently seeking Project Managers with 5
years experience and an experienced detailer with a minimum of 3 years
experience with TEKLA software to join our team. West Coast Iron offers
competitive salaries and a comprehensive benets package.
Please send your resume to Enrique Rayon at
er@westcoastiron.com
Plant Manager Steel Stairs,
Rails & Light Structural, Phoenix, Arizona
Successful, protable, AISC Certied Fabricator of steel stairs, rails & light
structural seeks experienced Plant Manager to oversee the daily plant activities
including but not limited to scheduling production, shipping, QC, supervision
(8-25 employees), plant maintenance & safety. Ideal candidate minimum 10
years experience steel fabrication, strong organizational & communication
skills. AWS-CWI Certication plus. $60-$70K DOE. E-Verify. EOE. Contact
salomae@cox.net or fax (602) 774-1624. No calls.
Chief Estimator
The Berlin Steel Construction Company,
an Employee Owned structural steel and miscellaneous
metals fabricator-erector, located in Kensington, CT
is seeking experienced applicants for Chief Estimator.
The person who lls this position will be a seasoned structural
and miscellaneous metals estimator with a proven track
record of quantifying, material and shop and eld labor.
This is a senior level position with one of the Northeasts
leading fabricators and erectors. In addition to being the
chief estimator, this position will be directly involved with the
improvement and implementation of a team oriented sales
strategy that meets the goals of Berlin Steel.
Please forward resume to knemergut@berlinsteel.com.
We are an AA/EOE.
66 FEBRUARY 2014
THE LAFAYETTE COLLEGE Arts Plaza in Easton, Pa.,
brings the indoors outside. The $1.7-million, 7,000-sq.-ft
space, designed by Spillman Farmer Architects, transforms a
former auto-repair facility into a dynamic outdoor teaching
space that responds to its natural environment and built con-
text. Designed as an outdoor black box theater, the plaza hosts
a wide variety of planned and spontaneous artistic endeavors,
including performance art, visual art exhibits and small group
musical performances.
Unlike many urban developments, which are conceptual-
ized as infill of an existing context, the Arts Plaza is an urban
unfill project, says Spillman Farmer design principal Joseph
N. Biondo, AIA. The existing building had solid walls that
blocked the relationship between the site and the community.
We removed these walls to create new types of connections in
and around the site, bringing together the Easton community, the
college, the natural environment, the streetscape and local history.
These interactions encourage a focus on user experience, material
richness, spatial transparency and sensory stimulation.
At its core, the project is a distillation of the existing structure.
The 29-ft-high facilitys concrete platform foundation and timber
frame, both salvaged and reused elements of the former building,
are complemented by newly introduced masonry and steel. Inside
the plaza, structural engineer Barry Isett and Associates calculated
loads where the new steel armatures had to rest on the concrete
floor, ensuring the structural integrity of the slab and the arched
structure below. Tension rods were installed between the timbers
to provide lateral stability for the existing structure, and the roof
was removed to create an open trellis effect.
The project incorporates two cubic structural steel arma-
tures, each draped with a veil of stainless steel mesh. The
armatures, fabricated and erected by McGregor Industries,
Inc., of Dunmore, Pa. (an AISC member/Certified fabricator/
Advanced Certified Steel Erector), feature 32 tons of steel,
mainly W828s structural steel members. These transparent,
ghost-like structures complement the masonry monoliths and
reflect the dimensions and rhythm of the windows of the adja-
cent Williams Visual Arts Building. The delicate details of the
steel mesh, carefully lit at night and adorned with climbing veg-
etation, complete the forms and bring a natural softness to the
hard-edged, industrial street front. This effect is reinforced in
the winter, when ice and snow build up on the mesh.

structurally
sound
INSIDE OUT
Photos by Barry Halkin Photography, courtesy of Spillman Farmer Architects