The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) canceled its 2020 NASCC: The Steel Conference, scheduled in Atlanta April 22 to 24, citing concerns related to the novel coronavirus. AISC is refunding registration fees.

Scott Melnick, senior vice president and administrator of the conference at AISC, said, “Just as the design community and construction industry turns toward AISC for reliable information and advice on steel design and construction, we turn to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for health information and advice on dealing with the coronavirus. [The] CDC recommended that all gatherings of 50 or more people are canceled for the next eight weeks and we will certainly follow that advice.”

In a video message, Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD, president at AISC, said “I want to thank everyone involved in the planning of the conference for their hard work, all of the speakers and moderators who volunteered to share their knowledge, and our exhibitors and sponsors who so willingly support the steel conference, AISC and the structural steel industry,” Carter said. “It truly is disappointing because their collective work and collaboration promised this was going to be the best show ever!”

Elizabeth Purdy, CAE, of AISC, said, “The hotel and hospitality industry is being devastated by all of the shutdowns and event cancellations. We’re looking into a way to establish a voluntary program to allow attendees to donate part of their rebated fees and hotel deposits to a workers’ relief fund and I encourage everyone to help however they can.”

AISC stated the organization is working on delivering some of the conference as an online experience and will provide details when they are available.