Award

Erection of steel framework for the new Porter Airlines hangars in Ottawa, ON. M A R C H 2 0 2 5 | 39 Structural Steel P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y B EN S O N S T EEL Advocacy and innovation are more essential than ever in driving structural steel's growth by ROBIN BRUNET G iven the ever-growing regulatory landscape, it seems every aspect of construction requires a strong advocate and lobby force behind it – a need keenly appreciated in the structural steel sector as 2025 unfolds. The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction's (CISC) vision as Canada's voice for the steel construction industry is to provide leadership in sustainable design, construction efficiency, quality, and innovation. The CISC fosters dialogue, collaboration, and commerce among industry stakeholders, advancing the benefits of steel to consultants, builders, buyers, academia, and government. In June, the CISC appointed Keanin Loomis as its new president and chief executive officer. Since then, the 95-year-old institute has become notably more active in promoting dialogue and collaboration. It has also responded swiftly to industry developments, such as in August when Ottawa announced 25 percent tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles. The CISC praised the measure, stating it had "advocated to the Department of Finance that the govern- ment adopt this measure. In the coming days CISC will undertake an in-depth review of the specific products the Department of Finance proposes to subject to the tariffs and will offer additional feedback to the government where appropriate." The institute added that, "the government should establish 'Fabricated in Canada' requirements for the construction of all taxpayer-funded and supported manufacturing projects that contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy, including EV and battery plants, to maximize the return on taxpayer investment." Loomis shared with Award magazine, "Advocacy is badly needed in our sector, right down to the granular level. In terms of getting our message out, this is a new era for us, and we see 2025 as a pivotal year for change." Loomis made this statement shortly after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Reflecting on the brash billionaire's threat to impose 25 percent tariffs against Canada, he noted, "Whether or not the threat is real, it has made everything tough to plan with any degree of certainty. However, we should keep in mind that the last time the U.S. imposed tariffs against us, we were able to dig our way out of them. It wasn't a pleasant situation, but we proved our resiliency. "I also think we have a leg up in terms of the material we specialize in. Steel is the most sustainable material in terms of its longevity, and now more than ever developers are seeking to achieve sustainability on a variety of levels – hence our strong advocacy efforts. Frankly, I think our business opportunities are endless." Steve Benson, CEO and chairman of the board at Benson Steel, couldn't be happier with the CISC's renewed commitment to advocacy. "We're operating at a time of so many unknowns that it's good to have Keanin as a leader," he says. Benson agrees with Loomis's view of steel's sustainability, given structural steel's high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility. He highlights that, on every one of his company's projects, the steel is fabricated off-site at its plant in Bolton, Ontario, then transported to the construction site and rapidly erected according to the project's construction schedule – accelerating the overall timeline. While inflation and high interest rates have impacted the economy, Benson Steel has remained busy. Benson describes working on "some really cool proj- ects, including Ādisōke, the new Ottawa Public Library, and the Royal Ontario Museum [ROM]." Ādisōke is a five-storey, 216,000-square-foot structure with a striking undulating roof made of Douglas fir beams and timber panels, evoking the flow of the nearby Ottawa River. Locally sourced materials, including limestone and timber, celebrate Ontario's natural resources. Benson Steel supplied 800 tons of structural steel for the project, which also used 400 tons of mass timber. The roof, in particular with its beams and panels supported by a steel framework, required close collaboration between Benson and PCL Construction. "It was an amazing partnership in that both parties relied on each other's expertise to navigate the complexities of working with the two materials," Benson says. The Backbone Of Construction

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