Steel: A History of Strength. A Future of Possibilities.

Canadian Institute of Steel Construction

   

Education - Architects

 

Steel both in its structural and Architecturally Exposed states, is a vital building material for Architects. It has a strong history and connection to developments in the Modern Movement in Architecture - from early works in Europe by Architects such as Henri Labrouste with the Biblioteque Nationale and Biblioteque Ste. Genevieve - through to the famous Crystal Palace by Sir Joseph Paxton in 1851 - the first building to truly use the repetitive and industrialized potential of iron in his innovative design.

Contemporary buildings are making greater use of Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel, and it is the interest of CISC to assist Architects in properly specifying steel materials to ensure a rewarding design and construction experience. To that end, a CISC task force is working on a new Canadian Specification and Guide for AESS, that is due to be released in 2008. Its intention is to recognize different types and categories of AESS as a function of proximity of view/touch as well as building program.

Steel is also seeing new uses in the medium density residential construction market, as a viable alternative to traditional concrete and block buildings.

Steel requires a different approach to fire protective design, when used in exposed applications. New coating systems, combined with fire suppression, are able to extend the use of steel to permit exciting applications in a greater variety of projects.

Architects

Advantage Steel articles

The Canadian Matrix: A Category Approach for Specifying AESS
A presentation of CISC's new Category Approach of AESS1 through AESS4 including a handy pull-out centrefold of the Category Matrix.
by Sylvie Boulanger and Terri Meyer Boake
Advantage Steel No. 31 | Summer 2008 link

There is also a special section of the website on the AESS Specification:
www.cisc-icca.ca/aess

Steel and Other Materials Part Three: Steel and Concrete
A detailed look at the technical aspects needed to design effectively with composite steel and concrete structures.
by John Leckie
Advantage Steel No. 31 | Summer 2008 link

Steel and Other Materials Part Two: Steel and Wood
A detailed look at the technical aspects needed to design effectively with composite steel and wood structures.
by John Leckie
Advantage Steel No. 30 | Winter 2007 link

Steel and Other Materials Part One: Steel and Glass
A look at the detailed interaction of steel and glass in buildings.
by John Leckie
Advantage Steel No. 29 | Summer 2007 link

Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel: How is it Defined?
by Terri Meyer Boake
A look into the design process and criteria that will be used to create the upcoming Canadian AESS Specification and Guide
Advantage Steel No. 22 | Spring 2005 link

Steel Moves to Centre Stage as it is Rediscovered in the Architecture of Buildings
Quebec architecture is examined as more steel use is evident in recent high profile projects.
Advantage Steel No. 22 | Spring 2005 link

A New Sound for Roy Thomson Hall
by J.K. Malmgrem
Steel proved to be invaluable in the renovation that was required to improve the acoustics of the music centre.
Advantage Steel No. 17 | Spring 2003 link

Canadian Architect articles

Ordering Chaos: Building Daniel Libeskind's ROM
text and photos by Terri Meyer Boake
The Laborious Process of Steel Construction Employed in the Royal Ontario Museum's Crystalline Addition Relies Heavily on 3d Computer Modelling, Careful Staging on the Site and the Expertise of Steel Fabricators Walters Inc of Hamilton.
January 2006 | link

Capital Improvement
by Paul Dubellet Kariouk
The New Canadian War Museum Revitalizes Ottawa's Lebreton Flats, Acknowledges the Parliament Buildings and Provides a Welcome Addition to the Institutional Importance of the Nation's Capital.
September 2005 | link

Industrious Integration
by Jim Taggert
The new Vancouver Millennium Line stations use innovative steel to create an impressive set of buildings.
March 2003 | link

AISC resources

A Categorical Approach:
The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction is Taking a New Approach to Specifying AESS Requirements
by Sylvie Boulanger, Terri Meyer Boake and Walter Koppelaar
A detailed look at the new Canadian AESS "Matrix".
April 2008 | link

Lessons in Multi-Storey Residental Construction
by Todd A. Alwood
Modern Steel Construction | June 2006 link

Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel
a Design Guide
Modern Steel Construction | May 2003 link

Canadian Consulting Engineer

Fire and Structural Steel
by George S. Frater
Advances in research, better computer models, and the advent of performance based building codes are encouraging designers to take an engineering approach to the fire protection of structural steel.
May 2006 | link

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design is an area of increasing concern for the steel industry. CISC has developed a suite of articles and resources for your reference. Please visit our Sustainable Design page within this website. link