Construction Development's Upcoming Shift Towards Steel
The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) is hosting an event titled "The Future of Steel Construction" on November 13, 2025, at the Mermaid, London. This event promises to be a valuable opportunity for architects, engineers, and designers to gain insights into the major changes in the Eurocodes and the future of steel construction.
The second-generation Eurocodes represent a significant step forward in unifying, simplifying, and modernizing structural steelwork design rules across Europe. These revisions focus on technical improvements, enhanced harmonization of design standards, and the integration of emerging practices.
Key changes include significant updates to design rules, reflecting lessons learned from practical use, advances in materials, and modern construction methods. The new codes also aim to make the Eurocodes easier to apply consistently across different countries by reducing ambiguities and discrepancies between national annexes and facilitating cross-border design practices.
The new codes incorporate modern steel specification and erection techniques, including sustainability and carbon-saving innovations. For example, the design and construction of a building with reclaimed steel for reuse is presented as a challenge that has been overcome on 30 Duke Street, where 78% of the structural steel frame came from a donor building.
The event will feature lectures, panel discussions, and case studies about best practices in specifying structural steelwork, emerging trends, and upcoming changes in design codes and standards. Dr David Moore, Mr Mungo Stacy, Mr Chris Hendy, and Professor Leroy Gardner will lead sessions on the major changes needed when specifying structural steelwork for buildings and bridges. Dr Michael Sansom and Mr David Brown will present tools and guidance for sustainable steelwork design and fabrication.
Moreover, in the post-Grenfell era, with new building safety regulations related to fire, architects and engineers must now design with fire strategy in mind, not just compliance. Professor Luke Bisby, who was an expert witness for the Grenfell enquiry, will guide attendees through this new approach.
The event will also showcase innovative products that can streamline the design, manufacture, and erection of structural frames. The challenges of a cut and carve approach will be showcased through the Giltspur Street project, which involved jacking-up floors, reusing steelwork, and avoiding a listed monument.
Case study sessions will present new practices in the specification and erection of steelwork, focusing on the engineer, steelwork contractor, and main contractor. The Edge project, which focuses on hybrid design, integrating steel, timber, and concrete to create a 27-story office building, will also be discussed.
The day will conclude with reception drinks for networking and discussion. For more information about the BCSA, please contact Trish Lengyel at [email protected] or 07955282341. The BCSA's contact information and address are available on their website www.bcsa.org.uk and at British Constructional Steelwork Association, 4 Whitehall Court, Westminster, London SW1A 2ES.
Attendees can expect to gain real-life examples of steel application in design and construction, making this event a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of steel construction.
The event promises to delve into the future of steel construction, discussing the implementation of new Eurocodes with significant updates and integrated modern practices like sustainability and carbon-saving innovations (The Future of Steel Construction). The day will also feature case studies showcasing new practices in steelwork specification and erection, providing attendees with real-life examples of steel application in design and construction (The Future of Steel Construction).
