2025 HSS SUMMIT
Session

Structural Steel: An Industry Overview and Economic Forecast

Description:

This session will cover the economic conditions in the US and how they relate to the overall health of the non-residential construction industry. It will discuss different measurements and indices that are used to gauge where the market is headed and how that will affect construction activity. It will also discuss the evolving mix of current events, legislative and regulatory issues, and other construction market drivers impacting the market and which materials are being used.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand key indicators for US economic health, including GDP and employment
• Gain knowledge of how construction economics change as a result of the overall economy and what measurements are used to gauge construction health.
• Assess the current building market and address what types of projects are getting built and how that has evolved over time.
• Learn about the factors of supply and demand for construction materials and how that affects building projects.

PDH credits: 1.0

Speaker:

Brian Raff, Vice President: Sustainability & Government Relations, AISC

About Brian:

Brian Raff is Vice President of the American Institute of Steel Construction leading the association’s efforts in Sustainability and Government Relations. Since 2005, Brian has led key marketing and business development roles within AISC and the National Steel Bridge Alliance. In 2013, Brian left the Institute to serve as Marketing Director for one of North America’s largest structural steel building and bridge fabricators before returning to AISC in 2017 to lead AISC’s marketing communications and government affairs efforts. Mr. Raff graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree and received his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, focusing on economic business strategy.

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