Structural Engineering Design

The "structural design" is the part of the job where we take your plan and add the beams, foundations, shear walls, roof plywood and other structural elements, and draw them on plan sheets, including details. This is what the builder requires in order to build the project, and is what the building department needs to check for structural code compliance.

Structural designs typically show both engineered structural elements and non-engineered structural elements. "Engineered" structural elements are those that only an engineer or architect is licensed to design "Non-engineered" structural elements are those that a drafter or designer is able to design without the help of an engineer

On many jobs, the drafter, designer or architect will provide the structural drafting work (the structural plan sheets). In that case, the engineer typically only reviews work from the designer, and provides notes indicating the required structural elements - a process referred to as providing "redlines”. The engineer then provides calculations for the engineered parts of the design.

We can do the complete structural design and drafting, or just provide redlines with calculations, depending on your requirements.

Please contact us for more information.

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Project Gallery
  • La Quinta, Palm Springs, California
    Custom residence remodeling project. Kitchen remodeling and installation of 24 ft. wide openable wall system required re-analysis of the lateral support system for 2/3 fo the home. Engineering work enabled the architect's intenst to be adhered to fully, by providing a cost-effective solution to the structural challenges.
  • La Quinta, Palm Springs, California
    Structural design for new custom residence. The tower featured in the photo was designed as a moment-resisting wood frame structure, limiting the employment of of costly steel construction for this project. Other challenges were able to be met in the design, where expansive open areas were designed and constructed with wood framing construction and engineered trusses.
  • Eldridge House, Sacramento, California

    Structural design for second story major additions. Design-build team Maura and Mark Abrahams are specialists in renovations and additions to 1920s thru 1950s craftsman style homes in the midtown area of Sacramento. In the designs, one of the major goals in updating the space and livability requirements of their clients' homes is to accomplish this with minimal impact to the spirit and aesthetics brought to the project by the original designers of homes. When completed, the homes should not be distinguishable from ones done in the actual period.

    This presents structural engineering challenges, requiring application of advanced wood frame design techniques so that modern codes and earthquake safety standards can be fully incorporated into the designs without compromising architectural considerations.

  • Smith Flat House, Placerville, California

    Building established in the late 1800s as a pony express stop. This structure has the original basement, with the original foundation constructed of large rocks & boulders from the area. A mine shaft opens into the basement, and extends approximately 3 miles.

    A major challenge was to preserve the original rock foundation and mine shaft while reusing many of the original interior and exterior architectural features. The use of the building as a holistic medical consortium required updating all features to current code standards.

  • Ritschard Dam, Colorado
    Emergency overflow spillway at Ritschard Dam, with access road. Worked as on-site engineer with oversight of construction activities, engaged with a large multi-national engineering firm. The concrete structure picture is founded in loose to cemented shales, and is located to the west of the dam.
  • BART Station, Hayward, California

    Earthquake risk assessment and analysis for 150' x 50' partially underground enclosed concrete structure housing major control and switching equipment for the BART Hayward system. Roof of structure serves as a station, and supports double track for trains running both directions. Worked as project engineer for BRG Engineering, a bridge and rail structure specialist.

    Work was performed with colleague Dr. Fang Li, an expert in advanced computer modeling and the seismic retrofit design of large bridges. The structure is critical to the operations of the BART system, and so the ability of the structure to be functional after a prescribed level of ground motion during predicted seismic events was critical. Underground structures present unique challenges when subjected to motion caused by seismic activity. The structure was analyzed, deficiencies were located and types of failures were predicted, and strengthening measures were designed.