The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute has announced that it is now accepting entries through April 1, 2015 for the prestigious Design and Distinguished Service Awards. The winners will be announced at the CFSEI 2015 Expo, which will be held May 18-19, 2015 in Orlando, Fla.

The 2015 awards program has been revamped to broaden its reach among the design and manufacturing communities. It includes a simplified project submission process and the distribution of more awards based on the discretion of the CFSEI Awards Committee. The program was expanded to encourage more project submissions and to provide greater recognition for the many creative examples of cost-effective cold-formed steel (CFS) design solutions.

Award entries are being accepted in three categories:

•Project—The award recognizes small and large projects constructed in 2014 that exemplify excellence in the structural design of new or renovated structures utilizing CFS products. Awards will be presented at the discretion of the Awards Committee regardless of the total number of entries submitted.

•Product or Software—The award recognizes any product or software development that has made a positive impact on a cold-formed steel project in 2014. Awards will be presented at the discretion of the Awards Committee regardless of the total number of entries submitted.

•Distinguished Service—The award recognizes the contributions of an individual who has volunteered significant time, talent and resources to the cold-formed steel industry. One award will be presented.

Entries will be judged on demonstrated excellence and achievement in the use of cold-formed steel based on the following criteria: design creativity, technical innovation, system efficiency and economy, and constructability. The entries will be judged by a panel of five CFS professionals, including two CFSEI member professional engineers, a professor of structural engineering, a licensed architect, and a licensed contractor. The rules of eligibility, entry instructions, and mailing address are available at the CFSEI website at www.cfsei.org.

The awards program was established to recognize outstanding achievement in creative design, technical innovation, products and best practices in the use of CFS framing and to acknowledge an individual who has volunteered his/her time and talent in a significant way to the industry.