The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) are joining the American Society of Civil Engineers, Committee of Cold-Formed Members; and the University of North Texas as co-sponsors of the 2016-2017 International Cold-Formed Steel Building Student Design Competition. Now in its sixth year, the competition was previously known as the International Student Competition on Cold-Formed Steel Design. The competition is now officially under way and will conclude on March 31, 2017.

“This year’s competition is different in many ways than those held in previous years,” said Maribeth Rizzuto, LEED AP – BD+C, managing director of the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute. “Previously, the design problems involved cold-formed steel components. This year, the design problem is a three-story cold-formed steel condominium building, and we are challenging students to push the creative bounds of structural design with light cold-formed steel framing. We are extending the deadline for entries and are encouraging students to work as either individuals or teams. Upon request, we will also provide an engineering mentor from CFSEI for project support. With these changes, our goal is to provide an expanded experience for students to work on a specific project while interacting with other team members, as they would in the workplace.”

The design problem is a three-story cold-formed steel condominium building located at 8601 Scholar Lane in Las Vegas, Nevada, 89128, USA. It has 26,912 sq. ft. (2,500 sq. meters) of usable floor space.                                                                                 

The primary load-bearing and lateral structural system shall be cold-formed steel framing, designed to IBC 2012 and governing AISI specifications with load combinations taken from ASCE 7-10.

The competition is open to students around the world who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate college programs. Teams can register as individuals or as groups. Each group may request an engineer mentor from CFSEI to support their work.

Entries will be judged by a jury of engineers, architects, contractors, and cold-formed steel manufacturers in three main categories:

• Design – Resourcefulness, constructability, creativity;
• Structure – Structural system performance and efficiency reflected in the calculations, details and use of cold-formed steel framing in combination with other construction materials; and
• Impact – Impact on the surrounding community and the environment.

Cash prizes for competition winners will be awarded at the 2017 CFSEI Expo to be held in Spring 2017. For more information on the design competition, visit the CFSEI website at https://cfsei.memberclicks.net/student-competition.