2025 HSS SUMMIT
Session
The HSS Detail-Off: Collaborative Solutions in Action
Description:
Engineers and fabricators rarely get the chance to openly compare notes on HSS connection details—until now. This highly interactive session brings engineers and fabricators together for a candid, hands-on discussion of HSS detailing and fabrication constructability. Engineers will gain valuable, real-time feedback from fabricators on connection details through live polls and open group discussions, while fabricators get the chance to share their voice and contribute their in-the-shop construction expertise. Together, we’ll compare options, debate trade-offs, and discover solutions that work for everyone. Come ready to collaborate, challenge assumptions, and leave with insights you can put into practice immediately.
Learning Objectives:
- Compare detailing options for HSS connections, from shear connections to HSS beam connections.
- Identify fabricator-friendly strategies that maintain structural integrity in HSS connections.
- Use real-time fabricator feedback to inform practical HSS connection design decisions.
- Discover insights into what drives fabrication cost in HSS connection details.
PDH credits: 1.0
Speaker:
Kim Olson, P.E., Engineering Manager, Nucor Buildings Group
About Kim:
Kim Olson, PE, is a licensed structural engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. She currently serves as an Engineering Manager with Nucor’s Building Group, where she brings deep technical knowledge and leadership to her role.
Before joining Nucor, Kim was the HSS Consulting Engineer for the Steel Tube Institute, supporting engineers nationwide with design guidance and technical resources. Her earlier career includes time at FORSE Consulting and Martin/Martin, Inc., where she managed and designed a wide range of projects—from research laboratories and recreation centers to school buildings and sports grandstands.
Kim is a licensed Professional Engineer and actively contributes to the structural engineering community. She serves on several technical committees with AISC, AWS, and ASTM, and is a Director on the NCSEA Foundation Board of Directors.