On November 13th, Dr. Reinhold Schuster, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo and a trailblazer in cold-formed steel (CFS) engineering, was named the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Alfred F. Wong Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Schuster was honored at the CISC Canadian Steel Conference, which took place on November 12-13, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Calgary.
Contributions to Steel Construction
The annual Alfred F. Wong Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and success of the Canadian steel construction industry over a sustained period of years. The award recognizes individuals participating within the structural steel design, fabrication, construction and academic communities.
On November 13, in Calgary, Dr. Reinhold Schuster, a trailblazer in cold-formed steel (CFS) engineering, was honored with the prestigious Alfred F. Wong Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC).
Recipients of the Alfred F. Wong Lifetime Achievement Award have:
- Made a positive impact on advancing the use of structural steel
- Earned the respect of professional peers
- Been acknowledged as reaching the pinnacle of their profession or industry
- Demonstrated exemplary leadership, mentorship, standards development, or innovation in design, fabrication, construction, or academia over an extended period (typically 30+ years)
Schuster’s Unparalleled Legacy
Dr. Schuster’s contributions to the steel industry as an educator, researcher and specification contributor are unparalleled:
Education: Dr. Schuster created and taught a graduate cold-formed steel course at the University of Waterloo, and co-developed the American Iron and Steel Institute one-day cold-formed steel course for practitioners.
He has been an influential lecturer across North America, partnering with prominent figures such as Roger LaBoube and Dr. Steve Fox to deliver these courses. Most recently, in 2023, Dr. Schuster and LaBoube co-developed an update to the AISI course, now available on-demand through CFSEI.
Research: Dr. Schuster’s research in cold-formed steel structures has led to practical solutions adopted by both AISI and Canadian standards, benefiting structural engineers worldwide. His work includes both experimental and analytical studies, addressing challenges in steel framing.
Standards Development: Since 1978, Dr. Schuster has chaired the CSA S136 committee responsible for Canada’s cold-formed steel design standard.
His involvement in both CSA and AISI committees helped harmonize design standards across North America, resulting in the creation of the North American Specification. He served as chair of the AISI North American Specification Subcommittee, further advancing cross-border collaboration.
Dr. Reinhold Schuster’s remarkable contributions to the steel industry encompass education, research, and standards development.
Patrick Ford, Technical Director, SFIA (middle), and Dana Hennis (right), P.E., 2024-25 CFSEI chair, present Dr. Reinhold Schuster with the 2024 CFSEI John P. Matsen Award for Distinguished Service.
Dr. Reinhold Schuster and CFSEI manager Rose Kuria mingle at the 2024 CFSEI Expo in Tucson, Arizona.
Additional Honors
In addition to the CISC Alfred F. Wong Award, Dr. Schuster also received the 2024 CFSEI John P. Matsen Award for Distinguished Service. This award honors individuals who have significantly contributed time, talent, and resources to the cold-formed steel industry. The award was presented to Dr. Schuster at the 2024 CFSEI Expo, held May 20-22 in Tucson, Arizona.
Additional Resources
- CFSEI Course: AISI Standard Series S100-16 (On-Demand)
- Dr. Reinhold Schuster Named the 2024 Winner of the CFSEI John P. Matsen Award
- 2025 CFSEI Expo: Plan to Attend in Raleigh, N.C. (May 19-21, 2025)