Why Steel?

Aesthetic Appeal
Structural steel allows the project architect a greater degree of expression and creativity in their design than any other construction material as they address both the functional demands of the building and unique identity of their client. Architects praise the natural beauty of steel and are excited about exposing it in the design of their structures to emphasize grace, slenderness, strength and transparency of frame.

Design Flexibility
From the simplest, functional structure to the complex, signature design structural steel can be readily used to accomplish the design intent of the architect and structural engineer. No other framing material comes close to structural steel in the ability to encourage freedom of expression and design creativity.

Ease of Design
Structural steel remains the most desirable material for the structural engineer to design in. Tools for structural steel design abound and are a quantum step ahead of tools for other systems. Full integration between analysis, design, detailing and fabricating software is in use today. The structural steel industry is the poster child for collaborative Building Information Modelling.

Modifiable
Structural steel buildings can be modified in the future for new applications, loading conditions, vertical expansions and changes in owner desires in ways that other framing systems can never accomplish.

Innovative
The structural steel industry continues to pioneer new innovations for both the material and the use of structural steel. The migration of the material specification for hot rolled structural sections from A36 to A992 has increased the yield stress or strength of the material by 40% from 36 ksi to 50 ksi. Design tools continue to mature to allow more efficient steel designs.