Nabil Rahman Receives 2016 CFSEI John P. Matsen Award For Distinguished Service

Nabil Rahman, Ph.D., P.E. (right), is the recipient of the 2016 CFSEI John P. Matsen Award for Distinguished Service. Pat Ford (left), a principal at Matsen Ford Design Associates, holds a vase commemorating the renaming of the award this year in honor of his colleague and friend. Photo courtesy of CFSEI.

Washington, DC - The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) has named Nabil Rahman, Ph.D., P.E., as the recipient of the 2016 CFSEI John P. Matsen Award for Distinguished Service. CFSEI’s Distinguished Service Award was renamed this year to honor John P. Matsen, P.E., founder and principal of Matsen Ford Design Associates in Waukesha, Wisconsin, who passed away in June 2015. The award, which recognizes the significant contributions of an individual who has volunteered time, talent and resources to the cold-formed steel industry, was presented recently during the 2016 CFSEI /MASFA (Mid-Atlantic Steel Framing Alliance) Expo at the Historic Inns of Annapolis in Annapolis, Maryland.

“Nabil is considered one of the premier structural engineers in the cold-formed steel framing industry, recognized especially for his expertise in the areas of blast, impact and progressive collapse,” said Maribeth Rizzuto, LEED AP – BD+C, Managing Director of the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute. “His contributions to our industry are numerous and varied, ranging from inventions to new software products to technical publications and more. At CFSEI, we especially appreciate his leadership at the national level and on several of our committees. He has also been active in our webinar series since it was launched, playing key roles in organizing the sessions, hosting them, and answering questions at their conclusion. His contributions have greatly enhanced the webinar series.

“This year, the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award is especially meaningful because it was renamed to honor John P. Matsen, a widely respected colleague and friend,” Rizzuto said. “During a career that spanned more than three decades, John was committed to pioneering and expanding the use of cold-formed steel framing in structural and nonstructural applications. He chaired many of the CFSEI committees, and like Nabil, dedicated countless hours to launching and improving our webinar series. It is especially fitting that Nabil, who shares John’s passion for the industry, was named as the first recipient of the award that bears his name. It is the highest award that we present for individual achievement.”

Nabil A. Rahman, Ph.D., P.E. is the Director of Engineering and R&D for The Steel Network Inc. and a Principal at FDR Engineers in Durham, NC. He is the current chairman of the ASCE-SEI Committee on Cold-Formed Steel Structures and a past chairman of the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute. Rahman has vast experience in cold-formed steel design, product development, and software development; as well as the analysis and protection of structures against extreme loads (progressive collapse, blast and impact). He serves as a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Committee on Specifications and Committee on Framing Standards, and is a member of the ASCE Committee on Disproportionate Collapse. He is a named inventor on seven U.S. patents, the technical director of one of the top-used software products in the U.S. for the design of cold-formed steel components, and the author of more than 50 research papers and technical notes.

The 2016 CFSEI /MASFA Expo was attended by more than 100 architects, builders/contractors, engineers and other construction industry professionals. The event provided opportunities for education, networking, and an exposition featuring state-of-the-art innovations, technologies and principles in cold-formed steel framing. This event is described as the only one of its kind dedicated to the cold-formed steel framing industry and is held on an annual basis.

About The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute

The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute comprises hundreds of structural engineers and other design professionals who are finding a better way to produce safe and efficient designs for commercial and residential structures with cold-formed steel. CFSEI members work together to develop and evolve industry standards and design methods, produce and issue technical bulletins, and provide seminars and online training to improve the knowledge and skills base of engineers and design professionals. For more information, visit www.cfsei.org.