Renowned structural steel industry professionals receive distinguished awardsRenowned structural steel industry professionals receive distinguished awards

Thomas M. Murray, Charles H. Thornton, Duane S. Ellifritt, Theodore M. Zoli, Nabih F.G. Youssef, and Todd Helwig, are being honored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for their great contributions to the advancement of the structural steel design and construction industry. The Geerhard Haaijer Award for Excellence in Education, one of AISC’s most prestigious awards and rarely given out, provides special recognition to individuals who, through their research and teaching, have had a profound and lasting impact in developing a unique application for engineering practice or in the mentoring of future technical leaders. This year’s award recipient is:
·Thomas M. Murray, Ph.D., Professor emeritus, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Murray’s teaching and research has led to many new ideas and innovations for the steel design community and construction industry. Whenever Tom Murray researched a topic, something useful resulted: moment end-plate connections; floor vibration solutions; innovative ways to conduct experiments; and new systems and approaches to design and construction. The AISC Design Guides he’s written serve as the seminar works on floor vibrations and moment end-plate connections. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have “made a difference” in the advancement of the structural steel design and construction industry. The award gives special recognition to individuals who have provided outstanding service over a sustained period of years to AISC and the structural steel design/construction/academic community. This year’s award recipients are:
·Charles H. Thornton, Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers, for his body of work in the design of steel building structures. ·Duane S. Ellifritt, Ph.D., P.E., Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, in recognition of his long-time contributions to AISC’s education efforts; especially in creating the nationally and internationally used Steel Sculpture and the Steel Connections Tool Kit. The Steel Sculpture has been built at more than 130 schools nationwide and new schools continue to add the sculpture to their campuses. The Special Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated notable achievements in structural steel design, construction, research, or education. This award honors individuals who have made a positive and substantial impact on the structural steel design and construction industry. This year’s award recipients are:
·Theodore M. Zoli, HNTB Corporation and recent recipient of a $500,000 grant from the T. MacArthur Foundation (commonly known as a “Genius Grant”). He’s being honored for his work on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which was converted from a concrete bridge to steel through use of design-build project delivery. The project involved an S-shaped cable-stayed bridge.
·Nabih F.G. Youssef, Nabih Yousseff Associates, for the 52-story LA Live project, which was converted from a concrete shear wall system to a steel building with a steel-plate shear wall system through performance-based design. ·Todd Helwig, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Texas, Austin, for his leadership in the area of stability of steel structures. Helwig developed bridge girder bracing systems as well as short courses on bracing for stability, which been provided to thousands of practicing engineers throughout the United States.