Mixed-use podium residential design is one of our bread and butter specialties at DCI. We have designed dozens of successful wood podium projects ranging from senior housing projects, student residences, condominiums, to apartment buildings in a myriad of settings.

Cold-form steel is the workhorse material for commercial tenant improvement projects and is being used more frequently for residential and podium projects. Our team has provided structural design services for a variety of cold-form steel projects, many of which are apartment and condominium buildings.

Our award-winning concrete designs are a testament to our team’s distinctive talent with this material. DCI has completed numerous cost-effective concrete projects (even a sustainable building) made possible with thoughtful, efficient design. Our team’s contributions range from concrete podiums to concrete high-rises to industrial tilt-up.

For highly schedule-driven projects, steel often offers a competitive advantage when it comes to the construction schedule. Our various in-house technical committees have an excellent understanding of the benefits and tradeoffs of steel design solutions.

Our team of mass timber experts are leveraging this sustainable building product for projects all over the west coast, some of which are the first of their type both regionally and nationally. Our advocates are educating city officials, developers and architects on mass timber’s benefits, which include thinner floor systems, accelerated construction schedule, simpler modifications for future tenant improvements and a more natural environment for tenants, just to name a few.

The nature of construction is to build up, so naturally high-rise is often the standard when it comes to pushing the limits on design, constructability and performance. Striking a balance on all three while minding cost and schedule is the question – and engineering is the answer.

Our team is experienced with very diverse seismic evaluation, retrofit, and historic preservation projects that range from the renovation of old commercial buildings to life safety upgrades for higher education buildings and hospital facilities. Our seismic experts make it a priority to keep up with the latest seismic technologies and research regarding material seismic behaviors and construction techniques as they apply to existing building upgrades.

At DCI, we are committed to helping clients arrive at cost-effective design solutions that employ sustainable design practices. Our basic services include the coordination of documentation for the submittal to the Green Building Council to obtain project certification under the LEED rating system. However, we understand that LEED certification is not the only way that a project can attain true sustainability. Our experience with green building practices is at the forefront of structural design and demonstrates that we are capable of understanding and incorporating a variety of sustainability standards into our design.

Our team frequently takes on the structural “constructioneering” support tasks that are necessary to help contractors provide efficient means and methods in delivering projects on time and under budget. We often provide services for the design of temporary structures, tower crane foundations, temporary shoring, and temporary bracing for erection, lifting, or transportation. Our engineers also provide specialty structural engineering services for the design of design-build components such as stairs, cladding, and glass.

Many members of our team of licensed structural engineers are qualified to provide damage assessments after significant fire, wind, and seismic events. We frequently visit tree-damaged structures to assess conditions and help property owners understand their options. Additionally, we have team members who are experienced in post-earthquake damage assessments, which have been required after recent historically significant seismic events.

At DCI, our structural team has provided services for a variety of long span projects, including sports arenas, auditoriums, and religious facilities. Through collective knowledge and experience, many of our engineers are well-versed in the design requirements for long span projects to maximize unobstructed floor space.

Our team is well-versed in the benefits and challenges that come with using BIM technology for projects. Our BIM experience is diverse and has included various levels of development (LOD), depending on the project type. By eliminating discrepancies early, projects can meet deadlines and improve cost reliability. We are committed to using BIM technology whenever it is appropriate.

Our clients dream big and we help them realize their dreams. We frequently perform the studies necessary to help our clients assess and determine the feasibility of a new project, whether it is an addition or expansion to an existing building or a wild idea for new construction. We examine the concepts and existing conditions during the conceptual stage of the project in order to identify impacts that significantly affect cost and schedule. We can then contribute to a conversation about the costs of the project, and give the client all the information needed to decide if it is the correct course of action.

Our team has worked with architects and interior designers to provide structural engineering support for numerous tenant improvement projects, including offices, medical clinics, shopping centers, retails shops, restaurants, and exhibition centers. We work very closely with the architects and contractors, and we pay close attention to delicate interior details and constructibility. Our team’s experience includes all types of drop cloud ceiling, hanging objects, and all equipment gravity support and seismic bracing.

DCI possesses the depth of experience necessary to design industrial structures. In fact, our various industrial project span across four continents around the world. We have a knack for understanding each project’s unique requirements and designing the right facility for each situation. Our diverse projects include heat recovery systems, steam water distillation systems, mining conveyors and crushers, wastewater treatment plants, aircraft hangars, waste-to-fuel plants, bio-diesel plants, and cogeneration plants.

Our team has a great deal of experience with life science research and medical facilities, which require special consideration of the structure’s vibration characteristics. We are extremely adept at developing structures that meet stringent vibration criteria without significantly impacting the cost. We have performed successful vibration analyses for various research facilities, hospital operation rooms, vivariums, and other vibration-sensitive structures.

DCI believes value engineering is an ongoing process that begins and ends with communication. From the beginning of the design process, we prioritize solutions that bring the most value to a project, whether through reduced construction cost, innovative concepts, or effective scheduling. We help trim the cost of a project by analyzing existing drawings and finding different solutions that would be more cost-efficient.