In this section, Informed Infrastructure compiles infographics from trusted sources that reveal insight on infrastructure spending. We also compile some of the top infrastructure stories that shouldn’t be missed. For ongoing news coverage, turn to Informed Infrastructure online (www.informedinfrastructure.com), our Twitter feed (@IInfrastructure) and our weekly e-newsletter.

Winners Announced in Steel Design Student Competition

The American Institute of Steel Construction and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture announce the winners of the 2025 Steel Design Student Competition. The competition challenged students to explore various design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. Participating students were offered the opportunity to compete in two separate categories. In Category I, students were challenged to design a library and illustrate its role as an integral part of a community’s civic fabric. Category II presented students with the option to select a site and building program of their choosing, using steel as the primary material.

The 13 winning projects were selected for their innovative designs using structural steel and their design responses to local contexts. Further details about and photos of each project are available www.acsa-arch.org/competitions/2025-steel-competition/winners.

American Society of Civil Engineers Receives 2025 Power of Associations Gold Award

The American Society of Association Executives recently recognized the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) with a Power of Associations Gold Award for ASCE’s 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the most frequently cited infrastructure report in the United States. Since 1998, ASCE has issued the quadrennial assessment of U.S. infrastructure networks, from roads and bridges to water infrastructure and the electric grid. The 2025 report assigned the nation’s infrastructure a cumulative grade of “C,” the highest grade ever assigned to the U.S. since the program began. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and state-driven programs have helped push the grade forward. The report has been mentioned in more than 15,000 original stories since its launch, ranging from the largest news organizations in the world to trade publications and local outlets. To learn more about ASCE’s 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, visit www.infrastructurereportcard.org. 

Institution of Structural Engineers Announces 2025 Structural Awards Shortlist

The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) released the shortlist for its prestigious 2025 Structural Awards, celebrating global projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, sustainability and social impact. The judging panel continues to evaluate entries against four core attributes: Planet (environmental impact), People (social value), Process (technical innovation) and Profession (collaboration and advocacy).

For the 2025 awards, the shortlist is presented under themes such as arts structures, bridges, infrastructure, structure at scale, engineered timber and reuse, reflecting the evolving landscape of structural engineering. All shortlisted projects have provided detailed embodied carbon footprint calculations using the IStructE carbon calculator tool, and collectively they demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility in structural design.

The shortlist features 34 projects, spanning six continents from Asia to North America, demonstrating the global reach of structural engineering excellence. The shortlisted projects were evaluated by a distinguished judging panel of 23 leading structural engineers, academics and industry experts from around the world. The expert panel assessed each entry against the four core attributes, with particular emphasis on how projects demonstrate innovation while delivering positive environmental and social impact. The complete shortlist can be viewed at www.istructe.org/structural-awards/shortlist/2025, and the winners will be announced at the IStructE Structural Awards ceremony on Nov. 14, 2025, in London.