Steel in the News

Last week the buildingSMART alliance, a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences and the North American chapter of buildingSMART International, released the first consensus-based standard for building information modeling (BIM) in the U.S. The new standard, National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US) Version 2 (V2), aims to identify a process for the full life cycle of buildings, including planning, design and construction and operations and sustainment.

Those involved in all sectors of the facilities industry were able to contribute to the development of the new standard by submitting ballots under three main categories: reference standards, information exchange standards and best practice guidelines that support users in their implementation of open BIM standards-based deliverables. Members of the NBIMS-US Project Committee then voted on the ballots.

The previous version of the national BIM standard, released in 2007, established the approach for developing open BIM standards. Written by a team of 30 subject matter experts, the standard followed an open process -- but was not a consensus-based standard.

The new standard serves as a basis for other countries to adopt unified BIM standards and provide content for future versions. Rollout of the standard will extend to Australia, Canada, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand and the U.K.

To learn more about the new standard and download the document at no charge, go to www.nationalbimstandard.org.

A live webcam image capturing the construction underway at San Diego’s New Central Library. Fabricated and erected by SME Steel Contractors, an AISC member, and constructed by Turner Construction, the steel-framed dome crowns this grand community space. (Click on the image to go to the live webcam.)

A three-story steel dome is rising atop the 498,000-sq.-ft New Central Library for the city of San Diego. Scheduled to be completed next summer, the $185-million facility will serve as a revitalized public resource and double the size of the current library. The building is also being designed and constructed to achieve LEED Silver certification.

The dome will serve as a reading room for the nine-story children’s library. The new building will also feature a technology center, outdoor plaza and cafe, a 350-seat auditorium, a 400-seat multi-purpose room, teen center and two levels of underground parking. In addition, two floors of the library, totaling 76,000 sq. ft, will be used for a charter school serving up to 400 students.

You can track the libary’s construction progress in real time via a live webcam at www.earthcam.com/client/NewCentralLibrar
y. Images are updated every 15 minutes, and you can zoom in or out, direct the camera and also see time-lapse photos.

To learn more about the project, as well as view photos and informational videos, visit www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-th
e-library/newcentral.shtml.

The annual Canstruction competition has returned to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for another display of masterfully built structures designed out of canned foods.

You can view this year’s winning sculptures and competing teams at www.chicagofoodbank.org/canstruction. Led mainly by architects and engineers, teams have worked over the course of three months designing and assembling these remarkable structures made entirely out of canned foods, each within a 10-ft x 10-ft space, up to 8 ft high.

This photo is of the winning sculpture in the Crowd Favorite and Jurors’ Favorite categories. Titled “A Healthy Balance,” the sculpture was designed and built by KJWW Engineering Consultants/VOA/Berglund Construction and is made up of 4,030 cans. Photo: ThinkLeigh Photography

This year's sculptures were built from a total of 94,436 cans (equaling more than 85,000 lbs of food). All of the sculptures will be on display to the public through May 31. After the exhibits are taken down, all of the cans will then be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. If you’ll be in the area and want to check out these creative sculptures in person, you can also bring your own canned food items for donation.

You can find photos of all of this year’s sculptures on Flickr at http://bit.ly/JyWKVd or at Canstruction Chicago’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ChiCANstruction.

This Chicago event is part of the international Canstruction competition, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is annually held in numerous cities throughout the world. For more information, visit www.canstruction.org.

Attention Apple users: Did you know you can view and explore structural 3D models on your iOS devices? Late last year, Bentley Systems, Inc. released Structural Synchronizer View, a free app that allows designers to navigate models created with Structural Synchronizer V8 from anywhere, using an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

Structural Synchronizer View facilitates information access from any structural model and is part of Bentley’s iWare App suite, which features various tools for information mobility and enhanced interoperability. The app is now available for free via iTunes.

To learn more about Structural Synchronizer View and download the app, visit Bentley’s website at www.bentley.com (direct link: http://bit.ly/IWeOEQ).

Are you planning to attend the AIA Convention and Expo this week in Washington, D.C.? If so, you have the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in curved steel and how it can enhance the creativity and efficiency of your next design.

When you visit AISC’s booth (#1615) at the show and mention “curved steel,” you’ll gain first-hand knowledge on the subject from industry experts (who actually curve steel!) and receive a free copy of the Curved Steel Guide for Specifiers, along with the new Curved Steel Quick Reference Guide for architects.

As an added bonus, ask the AISC staff in the booth about this year’s SteelDay and receive a prize!

Unable to attend the AIA Expo? You can request the Curved Steel resources from AISC’s Steel Solutions Center at solutions@aisc.org.

Just look at the majesty of this exposed curved steel building! This photo is of the Ave Maria University Oratory in Ave Maria, Fla., a 2008 AISC IDEAS2 Award winner. Photo: Cannon Design