Articles
Get your Structural Engineer Involved Early for Best Results
When is the best time to hire your structural engineer? The short answer to the question is as soon as practical. As a structural engineer myself, I am of course biased in my response, but let me offer a few reasons why I believe you should try to get your structural...
Where Are We With the Cost of Wood?
It’s been a while since the cost of wood nearly quadrupled from pre-COVID levels in 2021. It was the first big story in the construction industry when the pandemic struck, and it affected every aspect of construction in America. So, where are we currently with the...
“Cracking” the Case of Structural Cracking
It has been said that it is not a matter of if, but when, as it relates to concrete cracking. I suppose this truth also applies to brick, stucco, drywall, as well as a number of other brittle materials. So the ultimate question is, when is it a cause of concern? That...
E is for Earthquake: A Briefing Regarding Seismicity and Liquefaction in the Lowcountry – the Tru Hotel
Background:Tru by Hilton is a new hotel off of US Highway 21 in Beaufort. Tru has 4 stories, 92 rooms, and the building is a total of 38,000 square feet. It is part of a larger development, which already includes a Home2 Suites by Hilton Hotel, that opened in late...
SC Originals: Substation II & the 29E6 Structural Design Charette
Background Back in 1976, it was uncommon to see hoagies, gyros, and other “sub” sandwich shops in the South. They were mostly limited to the Northeast. When Dominic Ruffalo opened his first sandwich chain in Sumter, S.C. that year, he set out to break that trend. He...
What I Learned from the Mass Timber Conference
Wood is cool, trees are good, wood is better than steel at saving the world and keeps hippies happy. Going into the 2019 Mass Timber Conference, my expectations led me to believe I would walk away with a profoundly new way to tackle the structural challenges we...
3 Ways a Structural Engineer Can Add Value to a Project
A structural engineer’s involvement in a project represents a substantial part of the building and can have an effect on cost, appearance, direction of the project, and schedule. Let’s explore three ways that a structural engineer can add value to a project. ...
One Key Trait to Look for in your Engineering Consultant
As a structural engineering consultant, I have often wondered what sets one engineer apart from another. Each engineer has his different strengths that help serve the client better. Some engineers are wizards with the code, good with analysis, some are creative, and...
A Tale of Four Tims – And How They Hire an Engineer
This is a story that shows how differently my customers treat hiring their engineer. It involves four Tims that I have run into along the way as a structural engineer. Two of these Tims in this story are architects, one is a contractor, and one is my neighbor....
Westin Terrace Grand Opening
The Grand Ocean Terrace The Grand Ocean Terrace at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa will be an island event location first choice. Structural Innovations is very proud to be part of the design team that made this fabulous venue a reality. Located on a vast...