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Media contact Elena Johnson ejohnson@imiweb.org (410) 280-1305

New Software Simplifies Masonry/Steel Design
National seminar series introduces new options

September 29 , 2008

Masonry design options just got richer and easier, thanks to new software that offers a “whole building” approach to designers, and can shrink design time from weeks to days. The software performs efficient analysis of both loadbearing masonry buildings and the “hybrid” concept of masonry/steel design.

The innovative structural masonry design software was collaboratively developed by the International Masonry Institute, the National Concrete Masonry Association, Bentley Systems, and Ryan Biggs Associates.

To make designers comfortable using the new software, the groups are sponsoring a national seminar series that covers both hybrid masonry/steel and loadbearing masonry buildings. The seminars offer professional education credits.

Along with demonstration of the groundbreaking software, the seminars will cover theory and design of hybrid masonry/steel structures (steel framed buildings with reinforced masonry infill) and whole building analysis of loadbearing masonry.

The software’s whole-building approach, as opposed to traditional analysis of individual components, offers easier and faster engineering design of masonry buildings. It includes irregular configurations, wall openings, multi-story structures and structural infill panels in structural steel frames and more.

For more information on the software and the seminars, go to www.imiweb.org.