Living Steel, a worldwide, collaborative programme designed to stimulate innovative and responsible housing design and construction was launched in February, 2005. The programme was developed to help address the unprecedented pressure on infrastructure, communities and the quality of people's lives stemming from growing urban populations..

Living Steel is a five-year programme managed by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI), an industry representative body that has committed more than €14.25 million to support the global search for more efficient and effective housing solutions.

Funded through the contributions of the worlds leading steel manufacturers the full members of Living Steel includes Arcelor Mittal, Baosteel, BlueScope Steel, CELSA Group, Corus, Erdemir, IMIDRO, Posco, Ruukki, SeverStal and Tata Steel. Saint-Gobain Gypsum is an associate member.

According to the United Nations, 180,000 people are moving to urban cities every day and it estimates the world's population will double in 38 years.  Urban population growth has placed unprecedented pressure on infrastructure, communities and the quality of people's lives, heightening the need for more efficient and responsible housing design.  Through the Living Steel programme, those in the steel industry have clearly stated their commitment to work collaboratively to help address this significant global challenge. Currently underused in the residential sector, steel allows for faster construction, durability in structural strength and flexibility in designing solutions for the world's growing urban population. It's also the world's most recycled material making it a smart, sustainable and viable option for housing.

Central to the initiative are the Living Steel International Architecture Competitions, each presenting architects with a unique opportunity to bring their vision for innovative and responsible housing design and construction, to life. The first competition focused on the development of housing solutions in India and Poland-these projects are now underway. The second competition featured projects in Brazil, China and the United Kingdom.

For a full review of Living Steel, its members and information about innovations in steel design and construction, please browse this website.

Other supporting members of the Living Steel programme include Associação Portuguesa de Construção Metálica e Mista, Asociación para la Construcción de Estructuras Metálicas, Asociación para la Promoción Técnica del Acero, Bouwen mit Staal, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, Centro Brasileiro da Construção em Aço, European Convention for Constructional Steelwork, Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association, Fondazione Promozione Acciaio, HERA, Institute for Steel Development and Growth, Instituto Latinoamericano del Fierro y el Acero, International Zinc Association, Korea Iron & Steel Association, Korean Society of Steel Construction, Singapore Structural Steel Society, South African Institute of Steel Construction, Staalinfocentrum - Centre Information Acier, Stahl-Informations-Zentrum, Steel Construction Institute, Steel Framing Alliance and Turk Yapisal Celik Dernegi