Commercial

What we do

Commercial work in Los Angeles rarely starts from a clean sheet. Most of what our clients build sits next to — or inside — buildings that are already there. That means party-wall conditions, zero-lot-line neighbors, existing below-grade conditions nobody remembers, and a plan check process that expects the engineer to have thought through all of it.

We design the full range of commercial structural systems. For mid-rise new construction we work with steel moment frames, braced frames, concrete shear wall cores, and podium buildings. For smaller infill we lean on structural steel, wood, and light-gauge where it's economical. For adaptive reuse we work with what exists — tying new to old with care and documenting the interface so the contractor can actually execute it.

On the permitting side, we are familiar with the rhythm of LADBS plan check and the equivalent departments in the surrounding SoCal municipalities. We write calculation packages that answer the questions plan check will ask before they ask them, and we respond to comments quickly. Our goal on permit turnaround is to move faster than the schedule expects.

Typical scope

• New ground-up commercial construction — one to five stories
• Concrete podium and Type V wood over Type I concrete structures
• Structural steel frames — moment, braced, and combined systems
• Concrete tilt-up and shear-wall buildings
• Adaptive reuse — warehouse-to-office, retail-to-restaurant, industrial conversions
• Mezzanine additions, rooftop additions, and vertical expansions
• Large-opening cuts in existing floors and walls with appropriate shoring design
• Plan-check response, addenda, and construction administration

When to engage us

Engage us before entitlements if the structure drives the massing — it usually does. For tenant work in existing commercial buildings, bring us in once the architect has a test-fit and a few intent drawings we can react to.