Short Span Steel Bridges 
Free Live Lecture: Steel Bridges – Smarter by the Numbers (May 14 – Portland, OR)
Title: Steel Bridges: Smarter by the Numbers – Design, Economy, Construction & Resilience (In-Person Only Event)
Date: May 14, 2026
Time: 11:00AM – 1:00 pm PT (doors open at 10:30am)
Location: Sideyard, 365 Northeast Couch Street, Portland, OR 97232
Cost: Free
Guest Speaker: Michael G. Barker, Ph.D., Director of the SSSBA Bridge Education Center and Professor or Civil & Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming
Registration: Spots are limited, so we recommend signing up soon!
Host: SSSBA member Fought & Company
Questions? Contact Ellie Hughes, Fought & Company – ehughes@foughtsteel.com
Overview:
“A Data-Driven Look at Bridge Material Decisions”
Material selection plays a critical role in bridge design, yet early assumptions can sometimes narrow the conversation too quickly.
An upcoming Lunch & Learn hosted by Fought & Company, a steel fabricator located in Portland, will take a closer look at how steel and concrete compare when evaluated across a broader set of criteria. Using national research and real project examples, the session will highlight how a more comprehensive analysis can influence both short- and long-term outcomes.
Topics will include:
- Comparative cost considerations across project phases
- Performance over the full lifecycle of a structure
- How early design assumptions impact overall project value
The session is intended to support more informed decision-making by expanding the lens through which material choices are evaluated.
Dr. Michael Barker, PE, will lead the discussion, connecting research insights to practical applications in the field.
Agenda
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Check-In (Parking, Check-in, Find Your Seat, Grab Refreshments/Food)
Guest Parking: At this time, we encourage SVH guests to park in visitor parking at either 5MLK or The Yard parking structure. Street parking is also an option but give yourself time to find so. Both of those options do cost. Cars are not allowed to stop or park on NE Couch St. For more info, go to FAQs!
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Steel Bridges: Design, Economy, Construction & Resilience Presentation
12:30 PM – 01:00 PM
Questions, Network, & Wrap Up
We will have time for you to ask Mr. Barker questions and to network with other attendees. Feel free to grab food to go and hangout until 1:00PM.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact:
- Ellie Hughes, Fought & Company – ehughes@foughtsteel.com
Interested in Hosting a Worskhop?
Would you like to schedule a similar workshop at your facility? Contact Dan Snyder, director of the SSSBA, for information and details – dsnyder@steel.org
Does the SSSBA offer educational opportunities?
Yes! The SSSBA offers educational opportunities to students and professionals:
Professionals: The SSSBA provides complimentary half-day or full-day workshops on short span steel bridge design to states, counties, and design firms. Topics covered include practical and cost-effective steel bridge design and fabrication with eSPAN140, press-brake-formed steel tub girders, steel buried bridge design, galvanized coating solutions, and economical design with case studies, and more. The workshops can take place virtually or in-person, compliments of the steel industry. Learn more.
Students: The University of Wyoming and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance created a free 6-part live-lecture educational series to cover the many aspects of designing, fabricating, and constructing steel bridges. All students who successfully complete the education series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Wyoming. Learn more.
Speakers: The SSSBA provides expert speakers to present topics of interest on the cost-effective design and construction of short span steel bridges. If you need a speaker for your next event, contact the SSSBA.
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