IASS 2024: IASS Annual Symposium 2024 - Redefining the Art of Structural Design ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland, August 26-30, 2024

The International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) has focused on advancing design, engineering, materials and methods since its foundation in 1959. It attracts architects, engineers, and practitioners who play crucial roles in the integration of structural engineering and architecture. The Swiss engineer Heinz Isler was an IASS founding member, and Switzerland has a renowned history in this domain and in the association. 

The 2024 IASS Symposium will be held at ETH Zurich, situated in the heart of Europe. Established in 1855, ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities in science and technology and is known for its cutting-edge research and innovation. ETH Zurich’s world-renowned Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering and Department of Architecture both have a long history of structural design excellence. As the Alma Mater for engineers such as Carl Culmann, Othmar Ammann, Robert Maillart, Heinz Isler, Christian Menn, Santiago Calatrava and Joseph Schwartz, ETH Zurich maintains both a historic and a contemporary leading position in structural design research. This position is currently exemplified by an estimable strategic commitment to collaborative research on digital fabrication and industrialised construction with impressive research facilities and its engagement with the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication.

Key dates

Extended Abstract submission        21 January 2024

Notifications on Abstract                25 February 2024

Full Paper Submission (EXTENDED) 15 April 2024

Notification on Papers                    middle of May (date to be determined)         

Submission Guidelines

All paper submissions must follow the instructions listed below and be submitted online by 23:59 (CET), 15 April 2024. 

• Full paper submission is open to invited and accepted abstract authors
• All submissions should be formated on the provided IASS 2024 Template
• Notification will be emailed only to the submitting author
• Papers should be between submit a paper (4 (min) - 10 (max), A4)pages including figures and images (excludingthe title, authors, affiliations, and keywords)
• The use of abbreviations and acronyms should be kept to a minimum
• Each person may present only one paper at the conference
• EXTENDED >> Papers must be submitted by 23:59 (CET), 15 April 2024 for consideration by the Scientific Committee
• Papers submitted for consideration of the Hangai Prize must be submitted by 31 March 2024 (no extension)

In the submission system:

• Indicate the submitting author (address used for all correspondence)
• Indicate the presenting author
• Indicate whether you intend to apply for the 22nd Hangai Prize (if yes - also submit the Hangai Prize Form)

Paper format

All paper submissions must use the IASS 2024 Paper Template. 

Papers will be reviewed in the same IASS Working Group or IASS 2024 Special Session as the abstract (see below).

Topics

The main thematic focus of the conference will be the historic and ongoing intersection of technology with informed expression in structural design. The theme of the conference will be Redefining the Art of Structural Design, and will acknowledge the exemplary history of the IASS and new groundbreaking innovations in our field. The symposium aims to further develop the classic characteristics of structural design – Efficiency, Economy and Elegance – and extend them with Environment and Ethics to robustly address the current challenges faced by our discipline and planet.

IASS Working Groups

• Technical expert group on shell structures for energy supply (WG 3)
• Technical expert group on masts and towers (WG 4)
• Continuous shells (WG 5)
• Tension and membrane structures (WG 6)
• Metal spatial structures (WG 8)
• Timber and bio-based spatial structures (WG 12)
• Computational methods (WG 13)
• Structural morphology (WG 15)
• Historical spatial structures (WG 17)
• Life-Cycle Design and Assessment of Shell and Spatial Structures (WG 18)
• Teaching of Shell and Spatial Structures (WG 20)
• Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (WG 21)
• Architectural Geometry (WG 22)

For more information, please check the IASS Working Groups. 

IASS 2024 Special Sessions

For the IASS 2024 conference the working group leaders have also set the following Special Sessions:

• Special Session: Continuous Shells: New perspectives in research and construction (WG5)
• Special Session: Adaptive Reuse of 20th Century Historic Concrete Shells (WG5 + WG17)
• Special Session: Numerical methods for geometry, form-finding and optimization of lightweight structures (WG13)
• Special Session: Next Generation Parametric Design (WG13)          
• Special Session: Regenerative Design (WG18)
• Special Session: Combining high-end digital and low-tech teaching methods for shell and spatial structures within the planetary boundaries (WG20)

Contact

All inquiries regarding abstracts for IASS 2024 should be emailed to papers@iass2024.org.