Services
Severud Associates offers a full range of structural engineering services, including design and analysis of structures; construction document preparation and contract administration; and consultations, evaluations, and reports. The firm has completed thousands of projects of varying scale and complexity, always applying best practices to develop designs that are cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable.
The engineers at Severud are also experts at identifying potential problems, assessing risk, and implementing mitigation strategies in order to make buildings safer. To ensure that projects are successful, engineers use state-of-the-art technologies to create three-dimensional building information models, which facilitate communication between the owner, design team, construction manager, and contractors.
Alterations and Renovations
Severud Associates has provided design services for a wide variety of alteration and renovation projects including those at office buildings, hospitals, airports, and retail stores. The staff draws on its engineering expertise and extensive experience with structural systems—both current and historical—to develop efficient and economical designs for existing conditions of all kinds.
Analysis, Design, and Documentation
Throughout Severud Associates’ more than 86-year history, its engineers have designed structures with all types of materials and systems for an array of purposes and client needs. Today’s staff leverages this expertise to apply knowledge from one project to another and develop innovative solutions. Severud is well known for the extensive detailing of its drawings and specifications. The staff’s attention to detail and close coordination with the architect and other members of the design team results in highly developed construction documents that improve project understanding and the accuracy of cost estimates and budgets.
Building Information Modeling
Employing state-of-the-art technologies, Severud Associates uses Building Information Modeling (BIM) to perform integrated analysis and to design three-dimensional models that facilitate communication between the owner, design team, construction manager, and contractors and improve project success.
Condition Surveys, Investigations, and Due Diligence Reports
Severud Associates performs condition surveys and investigations of existing structures such as airport facilities, roadway and utility tunnels, office buildings, and parking garages. The engineering staff produces comprehensive reports that help owners develop maintenance programs, prioritize capital improvements, and schedule repairs. Engineers contribute structural condition documentation and assessments to due diligence reports developed by multi-disciplinary teams that enable potential buyers to make better decisions about real estate purchases.
Design for Physical Security
Physical security has become a critical component of building design. Severud Associates’ engineering staff has the experience and expertise required to assess risk, identify potential threats and their consequences, and implement mitigation strategies to make buildings safer. The firm has provided blast and security studies of new and existing buildings owned or used by government agencies and private organizations.
Design for Sustainability
Severud Associates has been applying best practices in green building design for many years. Working with the other project team members, the engineering staff, which includes LEED Accredited Professionals, explores ways to minimize the use of resources and the impact on the environment by integrating the structure with other building systems in a manner that improves functionality and keeps the project economical.
Emergency Response
When a hurricane, heavy snow storm, or other natural or human catastrophe causes damage to a building, its owner needs a rapid response. Severud Associates has responded to many such emergencies, and the firm is prepared to mobilize a team of experienced engineers on short notice. Once on site, team members assess the structural damage, document the conditions, and provide temporary stabilization or interim repair recommendations. Engineers subsequently perform any necessary analysis and design permanent repairs and restorations.
Feasibility Studies
Feasibility studies are useful for complex structures involving multiple components, difficult existing conditions, or critical operations. They are also important for projects that involve brand-new designs that have no prior performance record. Severud Associates’ experienced staff uses its extensive knowledge of structural systems, material behavior, and construction techniques to perform preliminary analysis and design of alternate structural systems, assess the advantages and disadvantages of each, anticipate possible issues, and contribute to logistics strategies.
Forensics
Determining the causes of structural damage or the undesirable conditions—member failure, water infiltration, corrosion, excessive deflection—often requires careful investigation and knowledge about how structural materials behave. The engineering staff at Severud Associates has the expertise and experience to recognize potential sources of trouble. By discussing issues with owners, building personnel, and tenants, engineers can uncover even the most hidden or indirect cause of a problem.
Litigation Support and Expert Testimony
At Severud Associates, we bring a wealth of experience in litigation support for construction projects, particularly those involving complex design and construction flaws. Our team has served as expert witnesses on numerous high-profile cases, offering technical insight and professional testimony in both arbitration and court settings.
Our portfolio includes projects such as:
- Harmon Tower, Las Vegas – Provided critical analysis and testimony on structural design issues, as well as alleged construction issues.
- Millennium Tower, San Francisco – Expert evaluation of foundation concerns and structural integrity with regards to the reported settlement of the tower.
- Las Alturas, Trinidad – Assessed design deficiencies and construction failures, supporting legal proceedings.
Our proven expertise ensures that clients receive reliable, in-depth support in resolving construction disputes and mitigating risks associated with structural failures.
On-Call Services
Severud Associates provides on-call structural engineering services to many clients in both the private and public sectors. Banks, real estate development organizations, government agencies, and building management companies are among the many clients who benefit from having experienced engineers and support staff readily available to address structural engineering projects or issues in a timely manner.
Parametric Analysis
Data has become an essential tool for decision making in today’s modern world, across all industries. Clients are looking to engineers in all fields to deliver them the information necessary to make key business decisions and develop building designs. In the field of structural engineering, the presented data may vary; it may be structural steel tonnage for various floor framing configurations and column spacings, it may be economy scale applied to a repetitive connection type, it may be structural optimization for lateral drift or serviceability of a high-rise, or it may literally be anything else. The potential uses of data derived from parametric design (also known as algorithmic aided design) are virtually limitless. Computer-aided algorithmic design allows us, as designers, the ability to run millions (or even billions) of simulations to collect meaningful data. How this data is collected and presented is up to the user, but the ability to automatically run these simulations is available through the use of today’s computational power. The possibilities of parametric design are relatively endless and we feel that all projects, no matter how small or large, may benefit tremendously from this type of analysis and design methodology presented.
Parapet Inspections
Effective January 1, 2024, all New York City buildings with parapets fronting the public right-of way are subject to an annual parapet observation report. Owners are required to keep parapet observation reports for at least 6 years and to make them available to DOB upon request. Severud Associates staff are experienced in the inspection and evaluation of parapets, including the determination of the causes of observed deficiencies, performing stability analysis, and describing methods of repair.
Parking Structure Inspections
New York City Local Law 126 of 2021 added new requirements for the inspections of parking structures. Included in the firm’s staff are several Qualified Parking Structure Inspectors (QPSI’s) who have been involved with the NYC-mandated inspections since their inception. Staff assigned to parking structure inspections have the experience and expertise to evaluate the condition of all types of parking structures, including the determination of the causes of observed deficiencies, measuring section loss, and performing stability analysis. The QPSI’s are familiar with the process of filing Parking Structure reports with DOB, including initial filings and amended filings after repairs have been made. Severud Associates can also assist in preparing repair drawings for the correction of routine maintenance issues or unsafe conditions.
Peer Review and Value Analysis
Severud Associates performs reviews of the work done by other structural engineering firms to help ensure that projects conform to the owner’s requirements, meet applicable building codes, have clear documentation, and are readily constructible. The staff has the experience and expertise needed to validate basic assumptions, confirm calculations and analyses, and identify potential issues. Working with a project’s design team, Severud’s engineers can suggest alternative approaches that may result in a more efficient structural design, decreased costs, and better overall value.