The idea for such a teaching aid came from Professor Dwane S. Ellifritt of the College of Engineering, University of Florida, in Gainesville. He conceived the idea for his students since it was difficult for them to visit job sites to see examples of such steel connections in full scale. With the help of a local consulting engineer and a steel fabricator in Florida, the teaching aid was erected on the Campus in March of 1986, where it stands today.

Civil Engineering Professors in Canada have enthusiastically taken advantage of this method of enhancing students' ability to visualize structures in real life. Various forms of sponsorship have been use to arrange supply of materials, and fabrication and erection - the Regional committee alone, partnering between the Regional Committee and other interested parties, and a CISC Member alone. Fabrication and erection have been done on some occasions by special trade students on campus. A plaque is usually attached to the structure to identify the sponsors.