National Steel Construction Day 2019: SmartConnection

The historic Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam - a national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014 - will be the site of the 2019 National Steel Construction Day on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Once again this year, organizer Bouwen met Staal hopes to welcome some 1,500 guests to the annual knowledge and networking event for steel-loving Netherlands. Regular visitors include executives and employees of architectural and engineering firms, steel construction companies, steel trading companies, steel producers and a wide range of supplying companies. Some sixty of these companies are also represented at the event's vakexpo, with presentations of their latest products and services for steel construction in the broadest sense of the word: from engineering and business management software to connectors, fire-resistant materials, coatings and construction equipment.

Again this year, organizer Building with Steel hopes to host some 1,500 guests. (Image: Pieter Kers)

'SmartConnection' is the motto of the National Steel Construction Day 2019. This obviously refers back to the networking function of the event: within one day and under one roof you meet familiar relations and new acquaintances in an atmospheric ambiance. The motto is also the leitmotif for two components of the program.

Constructor seminar 'SMARTCONNECTION'

The structural engineer seminar focuses on the alignment ('connection') between the main design and detailed engineering (the connections/'connections') of steel structures. That connection hinges on adequate coordination between structural and steel construction designers and other disciplines involved in the design and construction process. In turn, that alignment between the various disciplines can be achieved by communicating and collaborating with each other in a planned and gere- money (and sometimes simply better) manner. The seminar responds to this with presentations by structural engineers and steel builders on current projects such as the Groninger Forum and the EMA Am- sterdam office. Let's connect' is the name of the inter- active finale: a panel discussion in which the opinions of the audience are also sought. In addition to organizer Bouwen met Staal, VN- constructeurs, the Dutch professional organization for structural engineers, has joined the structural engineers' seminar as a knowledge partner.

Within one day and under one roof, visitors meet familiar relations and new acquaintances in an atmospheric ambiance. (Image: Pieter Kers)

Hackaton@Steel Building Day

Engineering firm ABT is participating in the organization of the Hackathon @ Steel Construction Day. This day-long workshop is also dedicated to 'SmartConnection'. On the expo floor, ten multidisciplinary teams will work on the task of designing the 'most optimal' steel construction. They will use parametric tools and models, so that the main design of the steel structure and the connections can be integrally analyzed and connected. At the end of the National Steel Construction Day, the teams will present their proposals and the winning team will be announced.

Even more important than winning the SMARTconnection trophy is the experience participants gain in multidisciplinary design; experience that will come in handy in real steel construction projects. Hackathon@Staalbouwdag is part of the ongoing research project SMARTconnection of ABT and Bouwen met Staal.

Part of National Steel Construction Day includes presentations by structural engineers and steel fabricators on current projects. (Image above and below: Pieter Kers)

Also for architects and students

As in previous years, the National Steel Construction Day again has an architectural seminar in store for architects (and others interested in architecture). This year, the seminar revolves around the large-scale and comprehensive task of preserving and reusing monumental cultural heritage. How this task is elaborated in a project context will be explained on the basis of recent redevelopment projects such as the LocHal in Tilburg and Capital C in Amsterdam.

Also "grist to the architect's mill" are the keynote speeches on such projects as the Noord/Zuidlijn Amsterdam (BNA Building of the Year 2019) and the prestigious nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel in Amsterdam.

For an expected 400 college, university and university students, Building with Steel offers a student program that starts in the morning with visits to construction sites of inspiring steel building projects. In the afternoon, students will be welcomed to National Steel Construction Day for lunch, the presentation of the 2019 Student Steel Award, the annual prize for steel graduation projects, and a special knowledge program in the Student Café on the exhibition floor.

A visit to the National Steel Construction Day is free after registering at www.staalbouwdag.nl