Since 1995, the Steel Structures Education Foundation (SSEF) has funded research at over 18 Canadian Universities. A number of topics have been concerned with understanding and improving the behaviour of structural steel systems, in particular steel-plate shear wars, under seismic actions. ln this issue, the practical application in several Canadian projects of one such system, buckling restrained bracing (BRB), is described. To learn more about this and other practical steel solutions, readers are encouraged to attend the NASCC and PSCC being held March 24-27, 2004 in Long Beach, California.
The designers of the World Exchange Towers were quick to see the advantages of a steel solution to this 16-storey building in Ottawa. Their story is told from the perspective of the designer and the general contractor.
This year forty teams of architectural students vied to compete in the Second Annual Architectural Student Competition sponsored by SSEF. Their task this year was to bridge the gap, but between two urban buildings (+15). Read about their success.
Hopefully you will agree that for a variety of projects steel can be that advantage.
Michael I. Gilmor, P.Eng. Editor