SFIA Annual Meeting Theme: ‘Supporting Members Through Certification and Industry Alignment’ (Mar. 16)

The 2026 Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) Annual Meeting + General Session come to New Orleans in conjunction with BUILD26: AWCI’s Convention + Expo. SFIA meetings will be held on Monday, March 16, with the theme: “Supporting Members Through Certification and Industry Alignment.”

The annual meeting will present approved updates to SFIA’s Code Compliance Certification Program (C3P). SFIA C3P applies to cold-formed steel (CFS) framing products.

C3P: Code Compliance for the Future

Don Allen, SFIA executive director, will discuss what the new C3P changes mean for members amid growing market expectations for resilient, sustainable and code compliant construction. 

“The market is demanding buildings that are resilient and sustainable, and non-compliant products and combustible construction threaten those tenets.” Allen says. 

“SFIA’s certification programs and member base aim to deliver products and systems that give designers and builders confidence in choosing cold-formed steel framing,” he adds.

SFIA leadership will share member-facing messaging on why product certification matters — supporting manufacturer and contractor-manufacturer members, strengthening confidence in the supply chain and helping protect the steel framing industry.

Industry Alignment Through Partnerships

The annual meeting will also include association business and broader context on SFIA’s forward priorities. These include a presentation of SFIA’s recently competed strategic planning, which includes coordination with allied organizations focused on quality and performance in construction.

Steel Framing’s Growing Versatility

At SFIA’s General Session, Monday, March 16, at 12:30 pm, the association will also recognize this year’s SFIA Award winners — showcasing how steel framing continues to expand design options and improve constructability across building types.

In reflecting on the 2025 SFIA Industry Project and Product Awards, Allen noted several encouraging trends compared with the 2024 winners.

“What stands out this year is the growing versatility of cold-formed steel framing,” Allen said. “The projects show how CFS can handle increasingly complex designs and structural demands. Our Innovative Product award reflects the innovation happening across the steel framing supply chain.”

StepStuds™ from SFIA member Horizontal Base Studs, LLC, is the 2025 Innovative Product Award winner. The product is simple to install — 36 seconds per 8′ piece.

Special Awards Ceremony

This year, SFIA introduced an Innovative Product category, recognizing StepStuds™ from Horizontal Base Studs — a product that elevates moisture resistance and installation efficiency in interior framing. The new award category signals SFIA’s increasing emphasis not just on CFS framing project excellence, but also on product innovation within the CFS framing ecosystem.

Allen also observed that winners this year demonstrated greater application breadth and technical sophistication. While 2024’s SFIA Awards focused on nine project categories such as efficient use, conversion from another material and sustainability, the 2025 SFIA Awards slate expanded to recognize architectural design detail, judges’ choice and multi-discipline execution across low-, mid- and high-rise projects.

SFIA named 13 recipients of the 2025 Industry Project and Product Awards. Attend the presentation ceremony in New Orleans.

Growing Demand for CFS Solutions

Notable winners showed how vertically aligned CFS walls can eliminate concrete podiums. Some projects highlighted how CFS can frame curved architectural fenestrations. Others showcase complex structural geometries featuring CFS framing systems. Ands till other projects addressed immersive design requirements — steps beyond many of last year’s more traditional project typologies.

Collectively, Allen sees these patterns as evidence that SFIA certified cold-formed steel framing continues to push design and performance boundaries.

“Our recognition of both innovative products and versatile project applications reflects growing market demand for CFS solutions,” Allen says.

SFIA members planning to be in New Orleans are encouraged to attend and participate in SFIA’s Annual Meeting + General Session.

BUILD26: AWCI’s Convention + Expo

Tuesday, March 17, 12:30 – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, March 18, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans, Louisiana

SFIA Booth 631
Free BUILD26 Pass
SFIA members: Use registration code VIP26
Register

Additional Resources

• SFIA’s 2026 Annual Meeting to Reveal C3P Voting Results, Feature Awards Ceremony (Mar. 16)
• SFIA Enhances Certification for Steel Framing Producers, Vote for C3P Underway
• The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) Names 13 Recipients of the 2025 Industry Awards